The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-01-13

eievating the moral tone and stand
ards Of our citizenship and will up-
build our material and industrial re-
sources. In these efforts 1 can as.
sure you Of my ready, hearty and
earnest cooperation.
The past year has been signalized as
one Of unusual and far-reachins
events. and the obligation rests upo..
| us to join together in fervent, thanks
to Almighty God for HIS guidance and
for the blessings He has bestowed up
on u.s. BY His benencience We have
been blessed with health;, the, earth
has yielded crops sufficient to, sustain
Us, and In all lines of industry we
have made progress. Our people ex-
hibit the spirit Of thrift effort and
self-reliance. They recognize as,never
before the value Of education, both
as q political and economical neces-
sity. and demand greater education.
al facilities which will better equip
our boys and girls for the, duties and
responsibilities OF life. Our blessings
have been abundant, both in national
ard State affairs. 40 people we
hcve been saved from the unspeakable
rain of war; We. have. contemplated
with horror the accompaniment ci
war; With its daily devastation; witt,
Iits suffering ana, tortured women;
with Its slaughter ofsmen, by thou
sands. and with economic ruin. while
our country. has BEEN at peace with
the world, For ta,ss, and all other
EzDrssslsa - suuu -,
Him whose ssnencsltt rtsovldshse has
linerrinsly guided US. we turn /. now
to q consideration of those specific
duties that devolve' upon us as SER
wants Of our commonwealth. ..
II is not my purpose atEtlns time to
repeat the findin SO and rscomnienta-
tions or the different departments OF
the State government. bat briefly TO
indicate those subjects which, in my
Judgment. demand your early and
earnest attention.
Education. 49,.
commend to your special consider
alton the report Of the State Sr perrin.
tendent Of Education. That report is
highly interesting and Instructive. and
exceedingly encouraging II cannot
too strongly stress the importance of
the work in the common schools, be-
cause the education Of the vast ma
jority of our boys and girls is limit
ed to that education which they OBJ
tain In the common schools. and only
a small minority of them can obtain
the advantages Of college education.
The duty Of the State to educate
It's citizens Is clear. Our educational
system Is growing in efficiency and
support beyond the highest expecta-
tions of its advocates. The scholastic
year shows that the public school,
revenue amounted to over four mil
lions OF dollars. The school fund has
more than doubled within the past
eight years. A local tax has been
secured in over 1900 school districts.
This result is due to tho interss,
which the public is now taking. in ed
ucation, and the wise policy adopted
by the General Assembly. which bases
tho State. aid upon local taxation,
and demonstrates the wisdom Of a
policy of self-he,p. . ,a- ....
Liberal appropriations to tho
schools for securing longer terms, bet
ter buildings and stronger teaching
corps. .,..,. 80 .-. .....
The enrolment for the year ex-
ceeds 100000, and gainAof over a.
600 pupils in IL months was better
than could have been expected. This
result has been obtained chiefly
through increased efficiency OF the
schools, and the local option compul-
sorry attendance law. Nearly 10 per
cent. OF the school districts of the
State have come under the operation
OF this law and have shown the de-
STABILITY and practicability of COM
puisory education. Over one-half OF
the districts OF the State now have
adequate md comfortable school
houses. II every such community
! would accept compulsory attendance,
over oOo' districts should be operatih,
uiider this law before July I, 1917
'rhe boys ana girls out of sclioo'
cannot he hefpcds by taxation for pub
1, lie education. In my opinion, the
1 time has come when the statute fol