The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-06-10
|COOPER'S PLATFORM
LAURENS MAN In GOVERNORS
RACE TALKS OFISSUES
Will ENFORCE THE LAWS

Having Pledged the Requirements Of
! the Party in Order to Become a
Candidate Solicitor Cooper Gives
Out Statement to the People Of
the State.
Solicitor R. A. Cooper Thursday
fled his pledge as candidate for
governor in the coming primary, and
sent his assessment to the treasurer
of the State Democratic executive
committee. Unless he is delayed by
reason of attending court, which con-
venes about June Is, Mr.. Cooper
stated that he expects to take part
in the opening meeting Of the CAM
paign.
Solicitor Cooper was asked Thurs
day is he cared to make any pu5sic
statement at this time with reference
to his candidacy. He said:
t'The people Of the State seem to
expect that each candidate shall give
out his platform. I wish to say In
the outset that I sincerely trust that
| the campaign on which we are about
to enter may be free from factional-
ism and partisan strife, and that
each candidate may be measured by
the standard Of his fitness for public
service. There are too many ques-
tions Of vital Importance to the peo-
pie Of this State, which should be
discussed in the campaign, for US to
devote our time to a wrangle over
factionalism difference.
!; ttI am simply stating a self-evident
proposition when say that the most
important question before our people
to-day is the education Of the white
children Of the State-proViding the
opportunity for every white child In
the State to secure the rudiments Of
an education, fitting him or her for
the duties Of life. We should con-
tinue to raise the standard of our
common schools until they each pro-.
vide an education equal to that now
afforded by our best graded and high
schools.
eft is a sad commentary on our
State, but il is, nevertheless, true,
so am info1 med, that we could not
accommoate in our schools the white
children of the State. believe the
State should at once provide ample
facilities for the education of the chill
dren, and then we will be in posi-,
ton to enact and enforce a compul-
sorry school attendance law.
'It would be useless to attempt to
compel the attendance Of all children
Of school age when we are without
facilities to accommodate them. Com
pulsory education is well on its way,
but first let the State give the people
the opportunity, and provide the facil-
tiles, and then the compulsion part OF
it. A majority of the children Of this
State only receive such education 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
for taxation. It is impossible to go
fully into the question In short
statement Of this kind, but I believe
that some plan can and ought to be
devised by which we can approx
mately secure equality j. our assess
ments.
cit is conceded on every hand that
there is no more important matter
than the improvement Of our public
highways. The farmers transporta-
ton tax is one Of his chief difficult
ties. The building of good roads
will not only enhance the value OF
farm property, and add to the COM
forts and convenience Of farm life,
but will increase the prosperity ct
the nation along all lines. In this
connection I think that Clemson col
lege, which is, or ought to be, the
source of our agricultural training,
should establish and operate demon
stration farm schools in every county
| in the State.
Gin this way the average farmer
could improve his method Of farm
ing and also take advantage Of the
many economies in the preparation
of soil, use Of fertilizers, etc. Glenn
son is doing a great work, but It's
benefits can be further extended
along the lines I have suggested.
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
ters which look to our material pros
perity, ought to and will beconsid-
cred.
"The chief function Of the gov
ernor Of the State is to look after the
enforcement of the law. If elected
governor it shall be my controlling
purpose, without fear or favor, to see
that the laws are duly enforced, not
in some sections Of the State, but
from the mountains to the sea; not
in a spirit Of harshress and yindic-
tiveness, but in mercy. This being
the chief duty Of the governor, it
should be the paramount issue in the
campaign for the selection Of gov
ernor.'
New Reouiren1ent Brings Money.