The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-03-25
ITEMS OF INTEREST
FROM CAPITAL CITY
GOVERNOR DEFINES HIS POSiTlOA
AS TO SCHOOL TAX.
Correspondence With State Superln-
tendent-A Few Observations on
Newberry and Politics.

fondenC-A rev UDScINoAVHS 0AA
Newberry and Politics.
Special to The Herald and News.
Columbia, March 24.-The following
correspondence between State Super
intendent of Education j. E. Swear
ineen and Governor Cole. L. Blease
is of a great deal of interest, The
correspondence speaks for itself:
March 10, 1913.
tHon. Cole. L. Blease, Governor; Hon.
s T. Carter, State Treasurer; Hon.
A. W. Jones, Comptroller General
Columbia, S. c.
gentlemen: The general assemolS
hos levied 2 one-mill State tax for
schools. The governor, the StNee
treasurer and the comptroller gener-
al have been authorized to borrow as
much as s15O,OOO to carry out the pur-
noses of the act il anticipation OF TAX
collections this Iall
81 am in daily receipt of letters ASK
mo whether the rural graded school
applications, the term exteEslon ap-
nlications and the library requlsltlons
now on file with the State superintend-
snt OF education can be paid.
4.If the money to settle these CLAIMS
can not be secured, the schools must
close and some $4,000 white children
will suffer.
"I hereby earnestly request you
gentlemen to give this mater prompt
attention by borrowing $4,000 to en-
able school district trustees to carry
out the contracts already entered ln1o'
and to continue their school session
as planned during the months OF
March, April and May, 1913.
every respectfully,
81. E. Swearingen,
estate Superintendent of Education
and Secretary state Boaro.
Governors Reply.
>Hon. J. E. swearingen, State Super
intendent of Education and Secre-
tary State Board, Columbia, S. c.
"Dear Sir: Your letter of March ~
received. am absolutely and wholly
absolved from any responsibility what
ever for the condition in which the
legislature has left the public schools
MY annual message to the legislature
sny veto message upon the bill thar
was passed, and special message
sent upon that subject, are high eVl-
dence of the fact that knew what an
awkward and bunglesome condltlon
the legislature was putting things IN
TO- and | pleaded with them not to do
if If they had followed my advice, as
evidenced by these documets referred
to, we would have beer in the pest
condition ever reached by the educa-
tional department of South Carolina.
But cheap politicians do cheap WORK.
and when they see fit to injure the
schools in order to deprive me OF a
little credit the people must he'd them
and not me, responsible.
81 regret the condition things are
in. But who put them in that condl-
tion?- Who endeavored to keep them
from that condition? I stated posi-
lively to the legislature that l would
not Join with the State treasurer and
comptroller general in any transac-
ton, and asked the legislature not to
place me in that position, and stated
if it did that l would not serve. The
legislature did it, and I will not serve
81 think it very unfortunate that the
little children should be put to any
inconvenience or their education de-
TERED for one moment by cheap poll
tics and cheap politicians, but let
those who are responsible bear the
burden. Thank God, my record is
clear, and instead of injuring the
children, I pleaded, for their welfare
in this regard.
VERY respectfully,
s'Cole. L. Blease,
Governor"
In the News and Courier of Sunday