The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-01-13
Governors Annual Message to
South Carolina Legislature

his politics, square deal.
81 shall fight for the election of
judges by the people. 1t is the only
way to keep them from ultimately
belonging to corporations. The peo-
pie should have as much right to say
who shall construe their laws as they
have to say who shall make them.
Education.
The most important matter which
can engage your attention as the re-
presentatives of the people is the
proper education of those who will be
the voters and the mothers of the
next few years. South Carolina has
made marked progress along educa-
tional lines. Our schools and colleges
have experienced growth both
wonderful and gratifying. Even
news paper which has preached that
nothing good could come to South
Carolina during my administration,
said during the last commencement
season: There is no reason to de-
spair of South Carolina. Never before
in the States history were schools OF
every degree, from kindergarten to
to university, doing work conpar-
able with what they are doing now,
and it is as sure as the day follows
the night that the people and the
standards of their citizenship are
steadily improving" For a detailed
statement of the condition of the
States various higher Institutions OF
Tearing, l refer you to their annual
report, and the condition of the
public schoolsis setforth in the report
of the State superintendent of educa-
ton.
My position as to our educational
institutions has been stated to you
fully so often that it hardly needs
repetition here | favor liberal but
not extravagant support of our high
er institutions, and l favor liberal
and adequate support of our, free
public schools, so that'the little coun-
| try children, many Of whom can never
receive any training except that OF
the country schools, may secure an
education which will prepare them
] for the battles of life. There can be
no question that the country schools
have been too much neglected. There
can be no question that they have
received too little in comparison
: with the big appropriations layished
!uron our higher institutions. l would
! not do aught to injure one OF our
State institutions, but the people Oh
South Carolina today are demanding,
and justly demanding, n no uncertain
germs, that the children Of the
country districts. and of T2e mill VII
! lagos shall receive their just share
u The States appropriations for
educational purposes. We should
support cur higher institutions, out
we should steer clear of eXtraVa-
0ahce, and we should provide ade-
ouate facilities to give every white
CHILD in South Carolina common
school education, in comfortable
sGaoolhouses, under the training OF
good teachers who are paid sufficient
SALARIES to do the work. The people DO
not need and they do not want COM
pulsory education; what they need
and wnat they want and what they
demand, and what they are going 10
have is adequate school facilities
One Mill Tax for Free Public
Schools.
resDectfully recommend that you
pass an act levying an extra tax OF
/ one mill for the use OF the free pupllc
schools OF this State--not an abortion
such as you, passed last session, but
real act that will do the people
some good, along the line of my re-
commendation. to you at your last
session, watch recommendation Is
fresh in, your memories, or which
you can easily refresh your memories
Apon by reference to !ny message IN
your Journal of 1913.
Now, gentlemen, l impress upon
YOU the necessity of this l mill taX,
and of your making it permanent
The country people want it; they are
demanding it, and they most assured
" should have it. Your last act
amounted to nothing except prac-
ticaI!y useless tax upon the people.
Look at the schools which
received the money How many
! schools received it How many
town schools got large amount
OF it-and today you are hearing 1t
said that the special tax will be taken
off in districts which are able to pay,
and this money used instead.
My purpose, gentlemen, was to help
the weak country schools, where
there is no special tax, and where the
people are not able to pay any-tne
weak country schools where there are
no ligh schools, and wnere the chill
dren have little or no chance to get
any education except what they may
be able to secure in their home
country schools. And l again appeal
to you along this line.
Some, l understand, have said they
would not vote for it because it would
be helping Blease. 1t will be no, help
to me, gentlemen. am too old to go
10 any school w-not too old to
learn. l haven't any children to re-
ceive tie benefit Of this money, nor
have l brother or sister whose chill
dren would receive any benefit from
it. But l have thousands OF friends
in South Carolina who have children
/ u,,,o will no ranaGfed by it. and | have