The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-04-01

his work under the same leader
should SO on for two years more. He
then presented Gov. Manning.
Gov. Manning was greeted with the
most enthusiastic applause, the crowd
standing to cheer him as he arose to
begin his speech.
When the applause had subsided
Gov. Manning thanked his friedns
and fellow townsmen for their more
than cordial reception, saying that he
would be wanting in appreciation il
he did not feel deeply such a well
come from those who had known him
longest and best. Referring to Mayor
jennings introduction he said that
this was not an occasion for the in
Of political discussion,
and that when he was invited to make
speech President Belser had indi-
Gated the line on which he would be
expected to talk, and this line was far
from political, and he expected to ad-
mere as closely as possible to his sub
1ect. He felt, however, that it would
not be out Of place for him to di-
gress for moment to say that his en-
trance into public line had not been
inspired by selfish ambition or a de-
sire for personal agrandizement.
While he was free to admit that he,
like all normal men, had his ambi-
tons. the deepest and most sincere
desire of his heart and mind had been
and still is to be of service to his State
and his fellow citizens, and that
when he sought the responsible Of
lice that the confidence that the peo-
ple had reposed In his sincerity OF
purpose had conferred upC = him his
purpose was to give the State the
best service of which he was capable
to the end that the laws might be
lairly enforced and that respect for
law and order might once more reign
supreme In South Carolina. His am
bition was also to give the State a
and progressive admin
stration SO that the people might be
prepared and fitted to meet the
,hanging economic conditions that
this age of change has brought about
Next to the enforcement of law and
he restoration of public confidence in
The wisdom and necessity of the uni
'ersal respect for law and orderly
procedure in the execution of the
law, nothing was nearer his heart
han the cause Of education---practi
;al education that would reach and
Danefit all the people and that would
make the problem Of living easier
and conditions more favorable to the
development OF an intelligent and
prosperous citizenship. Born and
reared In Sumter county and for
many years a resident Of the town of
sumter 1t was not strange that he
should hold SO strongly to such opin-
ols on law enforcement and educa-
ION. for Sumter has had and main
'ains q reputation for obedience to
aw and respect for the obligations of
Sood ciuzenship in all that that term
implies and also for an enlightened
md resultful fostering Of education
hat is second to that Of no town with-
n hie knowledge. When he reflected
IN the record that Sumter has made
n these TWO particulars, not to men
ion others almost as important, he
vas proud to be a citizen OF sumter
md TO claim sumter as his home.
ror the future he was pledged TO
he same principles that had in the
past guided him in public life as in
MS personal relations to his fellow
men and his endeayor would be to
AIRY forward the good work that has
been started.
Continuing he took up the subject
II, industrial and agricultural pre-
paredness for the problems of the fu-
,ure, which are many and complex in
his era OF rapid change. The great
~ part OF his speech was devoted to
he urgent necessity for the farmers.
bankers and business men to unite
md work shoulder to shoulder to be
'eady to meet the revolution in busl-
hess methods and farming practices
that tho coming Of the boil weevil will
render obligatory IL this State is to es-
cape the distress and disaster that
have been the lot Of the States to the
west of us that neglected in blini in
difference to make ready for the de-
struction of their one crop system of
agriculture. He recited number OF
Instances of sections in the western
falf of the cotton belt that have been
demoralized and for time PRACTICAL
ly ruined by the boil weeyil. He as
sired his audience that nothing il
more certain than that this State
must undergo the same demorali.a-
tion unless foresight and intelligent
are used to forestall the
that is ahead OF lis. He
discussed some OF the methods that
other boil weevil infested sections had
adopted to save themselves from COM
pkete and irredeemable ruin, after the
disaster was upon them. and told how
difficult 1T was to work back to pros
perity after almost all the resources
OF section had been lost by reliance
on the all-cotton system Of farming.
He said that he expected to leave
next week on a trip through the boil
weevil section in company with COM
mittee of experts from Clemson Col
lelse for the purpose Of obtaining first
hand information. that he believed
he would find Of great value In his ef-
forts to help the people of South
Carolina to prepare to avoid the mis-
take other sections had made Of wait
ing until the WeeVil had dona tic