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

compulsory att dance should bx
made Statewide. but should allow
districts that are unprepared or un,
willing to enforce compulsory attend.
ance. to petition for exemption.
The need for compulsory attend.
, ance is emphasized by the fact that
on January 1st, instant, under the
provision of State law regulating child
labor, about 2,4O0 children were dis.
charged from work in the cotton
mills. These children cannot work
i'm the mills under the State law
they should be'in the schools.
Increased appropriation and heavy
enrolment do not insure competent
teachers. The prime Importance OF
the school is it's thorouglness, and
effectiveness. The present system of
examining and certifying teachers
has been pronounced unsatisfactor y
by the State superintendent and
County Superintendents.. again
recommend the creation of q State
Board of Examiners for Teachers,
whose duty it shall be to protect the
pupils by guaranteeing competent
teachers, as well as to protect the
profession OF teaching against possible
ignorance and incompetency. @t
1t is reasonably certain. that Con-.
gress will establish d Federal systs y,
OF vocational education in co. opsrll
ton with'the States, The State B0styd
of Education should be. given author :
ity to cooperate in this important
movement. ft .s" 49, G. - vt.,,,-i
The Legislature. at It's last session.
provided for the teaching of agric.ii.
turs in the common schools, This
law has not bseri put into operation,
and will, urge for your careful con.
sideratiOn such amendments az may
be- putsintoa thisalaw Ito make. this
wofiss practicaE and effective., ?: 4,
The training in agriculture in the
conamoh schools is too Important toabe
neglected. further. We cannot afford
toFlago behind in. the progress and
new ffidustrialissn. that now stirs the
nation. 3,.
- ;. <.s y-
Primary Election Laws f.., (.
L desire to call your attention :, to
our primary election laws In South
Carolina the primary election IT, de.
cisive. and is' the electiea which del
termines who your officials shall lie,
and the policy Of the State govern
ments7 Under these conditions, 1t III
Of the first Importance thatrthe UNI
trammehed willsofi the people shalsbe
honestly expressed by their ballots,
and that these ballots shall be fairly
countedf The eiector should be able
to express his choice independently
without compulsion, fear or reward.
iaaa laasasAosxn.that-w aAasn0
safeguard In every way our 'prinasy'
election SO that each and every man
entaed by law to .,ote shall have. the
right and opportunity to- vote yoncei
that no man shall he allowed to vote
more than once, and that the inde-
pendence 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 1t necessary. from time to
time. to safeguard elections so as to
get the untrammelfcd and sindepend.
emit will Of tiie voters. AS far back
as 1894 I recognized this necessity
nd urged upon the legislature then
the adoption Of the, Australian Ball
lot:SNstem. After twenty-five years OF
observation and earerience, I again
cornmend'that' system to your consid.
Grafton. for cities, towns and large
communities: l. believe that at pres-
erit 1t is unnecessary to apply it to
the small rural communities.
RCgistrntiHa.
The Constitution provides that reg.
istration which shall provide for the
enrolment of every elector once In
ten'years. and also an enrolment DUR
ing each and every year of every elec-
tor not previously registered, under
the provisions Of this, Article" shall
Inc provided for. This provision should
rot be ovorloOked; and urge you TO
pass the necessary legislation at this
session Of the legislature, to be put
into effect in 1918. l,~.,-,
Law Enforcement. s.. :>'
The enforcement of law devok'eB
'tpon the executive branch' of the govL
'ernment and upon the regularly con-
stitutcd Officers charged with that
IsSkA