The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-06-23

Ei"o last October in Charleston Wnen
the sherif OF that county informed
ne that il was necessary 20 have
tGem under arms to maintain order
and prevent riot. | did not declare
martial Law, bat ordered out see
companies OF the National Guard,
subject to order of the sheriff Of the
county, so as to add strength and et-
ticiency to the civil authority. Events
! proved the necessity of this action,
and this arm of our government by
its promptness in responding to calls
! for service and by its cool firm con-
duct under trying circumstances, JUS
| tilted the State in maintaining this
organization. and in making it more
efficient and at the same time main
tanning it in such a way as to draw
our men to the service.
The sacrifice of loyal service Of the
Confederate veterans can never fade
from our memories or allow us to
! forget the debt of gratitude that We
owe them. I favor generous policy
toward them. making their declining
years softer and more comfortable,
and relieving them from suffering
and want
l am proud to say that at last
South Carolina has law providing
for registration of land titles, known
as the Torrens system. This law is
not yet perfect, but | shall urge the
next legislature to make such i'm
provements in it as Will give us the
best results. This act provides
less expensive method of examining
titles. The perfection of this meas
ure will be a long step toward the
adoption of rural credit system,
which would provide cheap money
for the farmers.
About forty-three per cent. of our
white farmers are now tenants. The
perfection of the Torrens system and
the inauguration of rural credits will
do much to enable these white ten
auts to become owners of their
homes and farms.
l pledge myself to urge both of
these measures upon the legislature.
Good roads in South Carolina are
a necessity, if We are to continue in
progress along agricultural lines. l
have always favored the building Of
good roads, and will continue to urge
improg ements in our highways.
l favor the work accomplished by
the State board of health. Sickness
and i'll health lead to poverty, pow
erty leads to crime The value of the
work of this board for the preTen-
ton of sickness and disease can not
be measured in dollars and cents.
Lawlessness and factionalism and
ignoble politics go always hand in
hand. A cruel proof of this stared
me in the face when I assumed the
Office of governor An institution.
designed in Christian charity to care
for the most helpless, the most hope
less, the most pitable of our people,
had been made year in and year out
the football of politics.
I refer to the State Hospital for the
Insane.
This pervertion of might mercy
had reacted on every one of the 1900
patients.
These patients come from every
county in the State and there are few
Of us who have not friends or rela-
tives in this institution.
IN the first place it is incorrect to
state that the superintendent's salary
was increased from three thousand
dollars to six thousand dollars. For
this increase the superintendent gave
IN III claim to The use of house
r';.l Ehts, water, fuel, servants,
vegot )les supplied by the State, car
reg and pair of horses, driver and
ar tomobile-perquisites or ex-
t.as conservatively valued at $1,000
per year, and not including the cost
of upl,eep for the automobile.
TIE total saving in administration
expenses was more than thirty-four
thousand dollars the first year, re-
duction of more than eleven times
the cash increase in the superintend-
nets salary without regarding the
perquisites. If the perquisites are
considered. the saving in administra-
ton expenses will be more than
twenty times.
Parenthetically, | might say to the
physicians and prohibitionists that
previously whiskey was used in the
institution by the barrel. Now less
than quart a month is used.
The accomplishments of my admin
istration make long list.
The enforcement of law and restor-
alton of respect for law
The law regulating primary elec-
tions
Local option compulsory school at
tendance, increased efficiency of the
mill schools, the institution of agri-
cultural training in the common
schools, and night schools.
The separation of races in the
mills, the prevention of the discount
ing of pay checks, the Strengthening
of the sixty hour law.
The creation of board of concilia-
ton.
Tho enactment of land registration