The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-07-15


our educational SYSTEM" averred Men
del l.. Smith in telling Of his advO-
cacy of IL law which would allow each
school district to vote on the question
Of putting a system of compulsory
school attendance into effect. Speaker
Smith said that his plan of local
option compulsory education was in
dOrsed by DR.. Edward S. Joynes of
the University Of South Carolina,
'One of the most distinguished edu-
Gators the State has ever known"
Speaker Smith told of the inequali-
ties in various school districts in
wealth and, consequently, in school
equipment, insisting that it would be
gross injustice to force State wide
system of compulsion on school dis
tricts not prepared for 1t.
Speaker Smiths declaration that he
would see that the verdicts of juries
were carried out, except where mercy
would be justice, was applauded and
cheered.
Lowndes j. Browning charged that
Mendel L. Smith had been one Of the
most effective defenders in the house
of representatives Of the State dispen-
sary after it had been proved a rotten
institution and the people of the State
were trying to get rid of it," Mr..
Browning declared that NJ. L. Smith
had afterwa ably aided in the fight
for Statewide prohibition in the
house.
Il am glad now to welcome Mendel
l.. Smith into the folds Of local op-
tion where 1 have been all the time"
said Mr.. Browning, who averred that
race besides Speaker Smith "who had
stood on all three sides OF the liquor
question and would have stood on
more sides had there been any more"
John G. Clinkscales averred that to
the avarice or selfishness Of parents
was due the fact that 10000 white,
children were not attending school,
He said that Mr.. Carson, superintend-
ent Of education of Saluda county.
had told him that in this county there
was room in the schools for all tn :
white children who were not attend
ing now. He asked his opponents
who say Statewide compulsory edu-
! N hnr nf hn 70 70
whether If elected governor they
would veto Statewide compulsory
education law. Mr.. Clinkscales said
that both w. H. Hand and w. X.
Tate. two men closely in touch with
the States educational system, both
advocated compulsory education. He
cited two county superintendent Of
education j. Walter Doar and Elbert
H. Aull, both appointed by Gov.
Blease, who had been converted to
the cause OF compulsory education
since they took offices which put them
in touch with educational conditions.
Answering Mr.. Manning's question
what he meant by Statewide COM
pulsOry attendance Mr.. Clinkscales
said he wanted law which would
compel all children between the ages
Of seven and II to attend school for
a minimum term Of three months.
South Carolina can never become
a great State until the law of the land
is shield Of protection for every
man." declared Robert A. Cooper.
mistaken mercy is the grossest in.
Justice said Mr.. Cooper, who said
that if he were governor the verdicts
Of juries would stand until he were
convinced tha. they were wrong.
Mr.. Cooper was applauded vigor-
ously
John T. Duncan made the crowd
laugh by poking fun at his opponents.
Referring to their little Platforms"
he said he had built one and invited
all of them to get on and those that
didn't he would put them under He
again iscussed what he calls the
system
w. G. Irby. Jr., said there were men
in Columbia two years ago who asked
Mr.. Richards where he stood and he
spoke faster to keep from answering
MY friend Richards reminds me
of young mule which has just gotten
into harness and can not stand. When
his hide gets tougher he will stand the
twitting." said MIR. Irby. He asked
the farmers whether there was any
newspaper Oligarchy." saying the pa
pcrs were writing complimentary
things about Richards. He referred to
Mr.. Richards recent conversion to
Bleaseism and to his effort ito tie
himself upon Blease's coattails," and
said he had asked Richards where he
stood years ago, but he had failed to
answer.