The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-05-07
MANNING WARNS AGAINST
SECRET ORGANIZATION
COMMISSIONER WATSON ATTACKS
"R0CKS OF IGNORANCE"
enforcement of Law Had to be Re-
stored" Says Manning-"Pitiful
Stand of State in Education"
News and Courier.

News and Courier.
Leesville, May "a warning against
the reported secret organization OF
farmers and an admonition for the
farmers to organize in the open like
men" was sounded by Gov. Richard /.
Manning this morning in his speech
at the opening of the three-day Ctau-
tauqua in this thriving little city of
the prosperous Ridge" country OF
South Carolina. The governor heartily
believes in organization and co-opera-
ton among the farmers, but wants
such organizations in the open and
above board. He cited the experience
of the farmers of this State in the past
with secret organizations being used
for the political preferment and ad-
vancement of certain men which meant
the death of the organization.
81 know nothing of such secret or
ganization and nothing of its purpose
but l want to warn you against it, "
said the governor, recalling the times
in the past when the farmers organl-
cations had been KILLED" by certain
men "riding into Office" on the backs
of the farmers and the farmers gaining
nothing for themselves. Gov. Manning
urged the farmers to organize and CO.
operate along lines which would bene-
fit them, in the purchase of supplies,
in, the marketing of their products and
in the advancement and improvement
along agricultural and other lines, but
to fight shy of ''secret" organizations,
which, he indicated, usually meant that
somebody was building a machine with
the hope of getting an Office and who
really cared nothing for the welfare of
the farmers.
Man Who Does Things.
introduced by former Senator D. N.
Crosson as the "man who does things" I"
Gov. Manning was received with
cheers. His entrance into the school
house. where the speaking took place,
was greeted with voluminous applause,
and he frequently had to suspend lis
speech for tie cheering to subside,
The people of Leesville gave their
governor a role-heatred reception
and showed plainly their appreciation
of his visit and their thorough enjoy
ment of his speech.
The governor talked on education,
agriculture and law enforcement, pre-
facing mis- remarks with the statement
that enforcement of law had to be re-
stored in South Carolina, and it had
to be regarded before we could make
any substantial progress along any
line This remark drew cheers. The
governor referred to the pitiful stand
of the State in the education column
of the States today, but spoke with
appreciation of tie awakening Of the
people to the great. subject of educa-
ton and their determination to have
universal education The speaker said
this was an age of transition and that
South Carolina was on the eve Of
great progress along educational lines,
and predicted tlat the shame of IL
literacy" would soon be wiped out.
The governor referred to the necessity
of an educated and intelligent citizen
ship with the spread of democracy. He
deplored the apparent tendency of too
much dependency on the government
to take care of all troubles and urged
the education of the citizen to rely on
his own endeavors. TIE government,
said the speaker, should be the leaders
of the people, but the people should
not depend on the government for
everything, referring to the clamoring
of the people last fall wien the Euro
pean war first came on. He congrat-
ulated the people on the way they had
borne their trials and had come out
with confidence firmly established, and
said it was a vindication of the Amer
lean system of government.
Col. Watson C0mplimented.
Commissioner E. j. Watson followed
the governor and he was introduced
as the ''man who We are all proud OF
and who stands head and shoulders
above the other agricultural commits
sioners of the country" Col. Watson
was received with cheers and at once