The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-03-12

applications, building applica
tions and term extension applica-
tions now on file in the Office Of
the State Superintendent of Ed
ucation for the fiscal year 1912,
and your little joker, added at
the end, 'sany additional fund at
the disposal OF the State Board
gentlemen, if there is man in
either of your branches who
would take a slate and pencil and
add up the figures stated in your
Bill he would easily see that there
would not only be any additional
funds, but there would be deficit.
If l did not have the Bill before
me, I could not conceive of such
E. make shift, and I cannot con
ceive of its purpose. unless it is
on behalf of some astute polite
iaus to keep it from appearing
that the present Governor had
succeeded in doing something fo1
the free public schools, and to
deprive him of the little credit
which be might have got if he
had been able to carry through
his recommendation for a one
mill levy for the free public
schools, in order to help the lit
tie country children and the Lit
tie factory children Of South Car
olina.
Gentlemen, read this Bill; de
liberate over it; think about it,
and, after you have finished, il
there is man in the General AS
sembly who calls himself a states
man, who had any part whatever
| in bringing about this abortion,
and still regards it as a measure
which will be of benefit to the
free public schools and to the
little county and factory boys and
girls, let him present himself at
my Office, for I would like to look
upon him, and would like to re
ward him.
Ipleaded with you, gentlemen
asking for this one mill tax-no1
for myself, for I have no chi!
dreu, and If ! had. would, thank
God, be able to educate them
without depending on a free puo:
lie school or State levy-but
did it for the mothers who are
praying, for the fathers who are
hoping for the welfare Of their
children, and for the future OF
the State. After the Mitchell
Bill, as it was termed, passed the
House, I had a conference with
the State Superintendent of Ed
ucation, and agreed upon a com,
promise, W 'ch I felt would still
carry out wat [ was urging for
the relief of the needy schools.
This was offered in the Senate
as an amendment-the amend
ment which might be termed the
Applet amendment, coming from
the Finance Committee, and |
felt surely there would be nc
further trouble in having the de
mands of justice met. But, gen.
tlemen. you have turned a deaf
ear. But you have not turned a
deaf ear to your higher institu'
tions of learning. For them you
have made extravagant appro'
priations, and for them you have
lavished money for useless pur'
poses.
If the game of politics is to be
played at the expense of the ed.
ucation of the little children OF
this State, God save the State.
Yea, more, if to keep them in ig
uorauce in order to keep from
giving credit to one who is try
ing to help them is the purpose
of some would be statesmen, then
God grant that the people may
rise in their might in their next
election and smite such states
men hip and thigh; for if this be
your idea of helping the poor lit
tie country children and the lit
tie factory children to get an ed.
ucation, then I would ask you,
when you go home, to call your
own children around you, and in
your prayers, as you law them in
their little beds. to ask God that
other people may do by your
children as you here att-mpt to
10 by the little. ones of other peo
pie, who are not able 10 educat''
their little ones, and are looking
to their State for help Ana
when you shall have done this,
and lay your heads upon your
pillows, l hope that your Steep
may not be discarded by any Wis
ION of the dark cloud'of ignorance
lowering over your own little
ones. as you are pernittin" this
cloud to remain and to darken
over the little ones Of others who
are helpless. Gentlemen. l have
done what | could. I could do nc
more.
Very respectfully,
COLE l.. BLEASE,
Governor.