The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-06-20

education J is elevated by in
'elIlse"' "a,a , a.r'' aae more active active, in the
capf J, md discriminating in de-
cif :. III public questions. 1 favor
| - /6eral support of Winthrop, the
= /ersity OF South Carolina, Glenn
n, the Citadel, the Medical Col
/egc and Cedar Springs Institute
and to provide for their steady
growth, which growth will be assur-
cd if proper and adequate support is
given to our primary common
schools and to our high schools,
which are the feeders Of these insti-
tutions of higher learning. These
institutions Of higher learning
should be so organized and co-ordin.
ated as to prevent wasteful duplica.
ton of work.
l wish to stress the importance Of
doing more for the common schools
in the country. l stand for liberal
State appropriations from the State
treasury for free public schools to
give n minimum seven months term
for every white public school, Only
ono county maintained seven
months tcrre in every white school
this year, :'hd this after years of ef-
fort and discussion, but it shows that
this can be done if the money is
available.
Our people arc determined to edu.
cate their children. Two-thirds Of
the school districts have voted
school taxes. 1t is only by the COM
bination OF local tax and State aid
that q seven months term can be
secured uniformly throughout the
State. We have three sources
from which we derive money for
schools:
1st. Tht school district, where
taxes may b. voted by resident elec-
tors and who own property.
Ind. The county, where three
mill constitutional tax is imposed.
3rd. The State appropriation. The
present average expenditure from
$13.39. Twenty counties fall be-
low this average. The average
must be increased to give longer
school term.
favor better salaries for teach.
ers.
! 1 favor 4 larger number Of public
school teachers. Besides longer
terms and more teachers with bet.
ter pay there are many other inn
provements which appeal to me, and
will be dealt with at the proper time.
l favor the medical inspection Of
pupils under the supervision Of the
State Board OF Education in CO.
operation with the State Board of
Health, with due provision for the
protection of the pupil. / favor
giving to the counties the right to
vote on the question Of compulsory
home rule. An examination of our
resources and our equipment in
buildings and otherwise will not
warrant general compulsory attend
ance, as we could not take care of
the children If they were compelled
to attend school. But this county
option would give opportunity for
immediate adoption of compulsory
attendance in the counties that are
ready for it, and in which public
sentiment would support it. At the
same time it would enable us to de-
vclop a sentiment that would take
care of compulsory attendance at
later date.
:. .fculturc.
Agriculture is the foundation Of
our wealth. itighty-fivc per cent OF
our people arc dependent on it; but
II per cent of the white farmers Of
South Carolina are tenant. We want
more humc-ovncrs, more farmers
who live on their own farms. The
towns are growing satisfactorily,
and the number of home-owners I'm
towns is steadily increasing. Build
ing and Loan Associations hefp the
town man to own his homo. but
there are no such associations to
promote home-ownCrShip in the
country. | favor Il land registration
act that will hc IA guarantee for the
and boundary linCs-this would he
optional, rut compulsory - but il
adopted would enable Il land owner