The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1916-01-12
ANNUAL MESSAGE
Of GOVERNOR
MAKES MANY RECOMMENDED.
TIONS TO GENERAL ASSEM-
BLY, NOW IN
SESSION

In accordance with the require
ments of the Constitution, the Gov
ernor on yesterday transmitted to the
General Assembly his annual mes
sage, recommending for their consid-
Grafton such measures as suggested
themselves to him. Beginning his
message, the Governor says:
81 desire, at the outset, to unite
with you in giving thanks to Almighty
God for the blessings that have been
vouchsafed to us during the past
year. 1t is a matter of profound graf
itude to note among our people a
spirit of greater unity of purpose,
better understanding among them, an
increased respect for law and order,
and a determination on their part to
improve educational facilities
and to develop our resources. Permit
me to assure you of my earnest desire
to cooperate heartily with you in
these endeavors, and to press forward
progressive work that will make all
of our people better and more eff
cient citizens. During the past year
we have been blessed with health; and
no serious outbreak of disease has
interfered with our labors and the
pursuit of happiness. Abundant har-
vests of grain and provision crops
have rewarded the labors of the hus-
bandmen, and we have been blessed
in securing reasonably profitable
prices for u chief money crop-cot-
misunderstanding the unfavor-
able conditions, the high ocean freight
and the lack of demand in foreign
trade, brought about by the wa in
Europe. Our people have exhibited
a spirit of thrift, self-reliance and eff
fort which has brought it's reward in
greater prosperity than could have
been anticipated a year ago. In
earnestness and reverence we lift u
hearts in grateful acknowledgement
to God for all these blessings vouch-
safed to u.s."
Under the head of law enforcement
the Governor calls attention to the
recently enacted prohibition law.
While advocating local s~elf-govern-
ment, he calls the attention of the
members to the fact that a law of this
kind will not enforce itself, and he
suggests that measures be enacted to
enforce it's provisions.
He next refers to the report of the
Superintendent of Education, stating
that the work in this department is
most gratifying by reason of the bet
ter attendance, increased enrolment,
longer school terms, better equip
ment and better school houses. The
Governor says:
"This has been brought about by
a splendid cooperation of those
charged with the administration of
the public school system-superinten-
dents, teachers, patrons and taxpay-
ers. A continuance of such coop
Grafton will soon put u public school
system in a position to remove Us
from ignorance and illiteracy, and
augurs we'll for the future of our cit
liens in education and efficiency.
The policy of building up the weakest
units of school administration by in
creased State aid, should naturally
follow from the increase in local sup
port.
I commend to your earnest con-
sideration the recommendations by
the Superintendent of Education, for
changes in the High School law. The
statistics in his report are interesting,
and should be instructive.
The importance of the work in the
common school can be realized when
we consider the fact that the vast ma
jority of our boys and girls receive
only such education as "a be obtain
ed in the common schools, and only
a small minority of them obtain the
advantages of college education. So
that if we are to train and educate
the large body of our rural population
that training and education must be
given in the common schools. Hence,
l urge upon you the necessity Tor
providing for the work and efficiency
of the common schools, and this work
is of paramount Importance. School
buildings, efficient teachers and a
minimum term of seven months must
be kept before 20 uas objects earn
estly to be realized. Education is
the basis of our progress, and the
common school is the foundation from
which an educated citizenship must
rise to manage the affairs of our.
State and Nation. We must make Sc
cure this foundation"
The governor calls attentino to the
compulsory school attendance law,
which he thinks should be allowed to
rest as it stnads for the present, for
the reason that he does not believe
the money and equipment in many
districts warrant further enactments.
He favors raising the age limit at
which minors may be employed IN
textile plants from twelve to fourteen
years. He believes that the appoint
ment of Supervisor of Mill schools
will work for the cause of education.
He favors the Nicholson bill for the
ce%rtification of school teachers, and
believes that school teachers should
be trained in the High Schools.
The Governor asks an investigation
of the reports of the institutions OF
higher learning, calling attention to
the fact that these institutions are
steadily growing in favor and that