The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-01-09

children cannot work In the mills un
der the State law-they should be IA
the schools.
Increased appropriation and heavy
enrolment do not insure competent
teachers. The prime Importance Of
the school is its thoroughness an(
effectiveness. The present system OF
examining and certifying teachers has
been pronounced unsatisfactory bs
the State Teachers association, ths
State superintendent and county su
perintendents. 1 again recommend
the creation of State board of ex-
aminers for teachers, whose duty ~
shall be to protect the pupils by guar
anteeing competent teachers. as we'll
as to protect the profession of teach
ing against possible ignorance and in
competency.
1t is reasonably certain that con-
gress will establish a fec deral system
of vocational education In co-opera-
ton with the States. The State board
O. 1ucation should be given author
# to cooperate il this important
cement.
The legislature, at its last session.
provided for the teaching Of agricul-
trre in the common schools. This
law has not been put into operation.
AID 1 will urge for your careful con-
sideration such amendments as may
be put into this law to make this
work practical and effective.
The training in agriculture in the
common schools is too important to
be n elected further. We cannot af-
fcrd to lag behind in the progress
and new industrialism that now stirs
the nation.
Primary Election Laws.
desire to call your attention to
our primary election laws. In South
Carolina the primary election is de-
cisive, and is the election which de-
termines who your officials shall be,
and the policy of the State govern
ment. Under these conditions, it is
of the first importance that the un-
trammelled will of the people shall
be honestly expressed by their bal
lots, and that these ballots shall be
fairly counted. The elector should be
able to express his choice independ
emily without compulsion, fear or re-
ward. Experience has. shown that
We should safeguard in every way our
primary election so that each and ev-
cry man entitled by law to vote shall
have the right and opportunity to vote
once; that no man shall be allowed
to vote more than once, and that the
independence Of each voter to vote
as his conscience dictates shall be
preserved.
Many States of the union, as a re-
suit of observation and experience,
have found it necessary. from tine
to time, to safeguard elections Sc as
to get the untrammelled and inla-
pendent will of the voters. AS far
back as 1894 I recognized this nee
essity and urged upon the legislature
then the adoption of the Australian
Ballot System. After twenty-five
years of observation and experience.
I again commend that system to your
consideration, for cities, towns and
large communities. I believe that at
present it is unnecessary to apply it
to the small rural communities.
Registration =.
The Constitution provides that Greg
istration which shall provide for the
enrolment of every elector once III
ten years, and also an enrolment dur
ing each and every year of every cleo
tor not previously registered under
the provisions of this Article shall! |
be provided for. This provision
should not be overlooked, and I urge /
you to pass the necessary legislation