The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-06-03
HON. r. A. COOPER
ANNOUNCES PLATFORM


governor, filed his pledge with the
state chairman and sent his assess
ment to the state committct the latter
part of last week. Shortly after doing
SO, he issued statement as to his
views on the question of the day. lie
said:
"Thc people Of the state seem to OK
pect that each candidate shall give
outset that l sincerely trust that the
campaign on which we arc about to
enter may lie free from factionalsm
and partisan strife, and that each can
li,latc may be measured by the stand
ard Of his iitncss for public service.
There are too many questions OF vital
Importance to the people Of this state,
which should be discussed in the cam
paign, for us TO devote our time to a
wanglc over factional differences.
IL am simply stating a self evident
proposition when say that the most
important question before our people
today is the education OF the white
children Of the statc-providing the
opportunity for every white child in
The state to secure the rudmcnts of
an education. fitting him or her for
he duties Of life. We should continue
20 raise the standard of our common
schools until they each provide an ed
Ication equal to that now afforded by
our best graded and high schools. 1t is
n sad commentary on our state, but ii
IS, nevertheless, true. so am in
formed, that we could not accommo-
date in our schools the white children
of the state. | believe the state should
at once provide ample facilities for
the education of the children, and then
we will be In a position to enact and
enforce compulsory school attcndanc
law. 1t would be useless to attempt
10 compel the attendance of all chill
dren Of school age when we are with
out facilities to accommodate them.
Compulsory educatino is we'll in its
way, but first let the state give the
people the opportunity, and provide
the facilities, and then the compulsion
part OF 1t. 4 majority of the children
Of this state only receive such cluca-
ton as our common schools afford,
and they should be the very best in
our power to give them.
Attention should be given to our
present system Of assessing property
Tor taxation. 1t Is impossible to go
fully into this question in short
statement of this kind, but believe
that some plan can and ought to be
devised BY which we can approximate
y secure equality in our assessments.
1t Is conceded on every hand that
there Is no more important matter
than the improving Of our public high
ways. The farmers transportation
AK is one Of his chief difficulties. The
building Of good roads will not only
enhance the value OF farm property,
and all 10 the comfort sand convc-
nicnccs Of farm life, but will increase
the prosperity Of the nation along all
ines. In this connection, think that
Clemson College, which is, or ought
20 be, tho source of our agricultural
raining, should establish and operate
demonstration farm schools in every
Ounty In the state. In this way, the
average farmer could improve his
method OF farming and also take ad-
vantage of themany economies in the
preparation of SOIL use of fertilizers
etc. Clemson is doing great work {
hut its benefits can be further extend
cd along the lines I have suggested
I hope that the national government
will, with as little delay as possible
enact a rural credit law, so that our
farmers, many Of whom do not now
own their farms, may become home
owners. These, and many other mat
'ers which look to our material pros
Dcrity, ought to and will be consid-
cred.
"The chief function of the governor
OF the state Is to look after the en-
FOrcement of the law. If elected gov
ernOr, It shall lbe my controlling pur-
nose, without fear or favor, to see
hat the laws arc duly enforced not
n some sections Of the state, but from
the mountains to the sea: not in a
l,Ik ~