The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-12-26
CLOSE THE SCHOOLS.
GOV. MANNING SAYS GIVE TWO
WEEKS HOLIDAY.
fucl Situation SO Acute Governor
CANS upon Schools, Chambers of
Commerce and All Civic Bodies to
Ala in Relieving it-Action of Col
icScs.


TWO extra weeks to conserve even tho
depleted supply of fuel now on hand
Gov Manning yesterday issued an
official statement to the trustees of
the colleges and schools of South
Carolina. The statement voices a rec
ommendation to the school board that |
to make up for the time thus lost the
school session 10 continued for two
weeks past the regular time for clos
ing in the summer and that the teach.
ers be paid for Tie two weeks that
they will not be working in tho re
quested holiday extension. The gov
ernor's statement is as follows:
THE fuel situation in South Caro-
lima is acute, and radical steps may
be necessitated shortly to relieve the
emergency 1t behooves every South
Carolinaian to cooperate in every way
to alleviate the suffering Of the poor
er classes of domestic users who,
through lack of ready money, were
unable to lay aside supply OF fuel.
''In an effort to conserve the small
supply of fuel now on hand and to
assist those who are unable to Sc
cure coal or wood I call on the
trustees Of every college, either State
or denomihational, and all schools
rural and urban, public and private
to extend their Christmas and New
Year holidays two weeks In order
that the pupils and students may not
suffer because Of VI curtailment OF
their hours, 1 recommend that the
| schools extend their sessions two
weeks into the summer months from
the regular time for closing.
''As few of the women teachers Of
the State receive compensation
worthy of the great and sacrificing
service they are rendering the cause
of education, hope that the trustees
of the schools will pay these teach
ers for the two weeks the schools
close during the holidays. 1 feel as
sured that these women, patriots as
they are, will be willing to render
further service, If necessary, to make
up for the two weeks salary, even to
teaching the fortnight in the sum-
mer months.
Chambers Of commerce and other
civic bodies in the towns and cities OF
the State are requested to lend their
full cooperation in this period Of fuel
crisis. I would suggest that they hold
community gatherings at which the
people will be requested to pledge
themselves to the use OF a minimum
number of fire places in their homes
Also, it would be wise, I think, for
such civic bodies to call on farmers
and others coming to the towns with
empty wagons to load them with wood
Of any description for sale in the
towns.
| Il call upon the mayors and in.
tendants OF the cities and towns OF
South Carolina and the elective coun-
ellis Of the various municipalities to
emulate the example Of several Of the
cities of the State in the establish
ment of municipal woodyards, at
which fuel can be sold at cost. This
will greatly reduce the amount O.
suffering among the poorer class of
citizens
knowing that South Carolinians
willingly suffer privations for the good
of their State and the common veal
feel assured that any appeal made
to them for cooperation in the pres
ent fuel emergency will be met bv
them with the fullest acquiescence
am confident that the trustees of the
educational institutions of South Car
olina, the chambers Of commerce and
other civic bodies of the towns and
cities and the governing bodies of
the various municipality will render
all assistance to b. b. Gossett, State
fuel administrator, in his efforts to
reduce the privations incident to the
fuel shortage"
Asked in what way the schools and
colleges in the vicinity of Columbia
would comply with Gov. Manning's
request yesterday for all schools in
this State to extend their Christmas
holidays to assist the conservation of
coal, DR.. S. c. Byrd, president of Chi
cora College, last night stated that
some time ago he had proposed to
several other college presidents that |
the schools remain closed for the
entire month Of January.
Dr. Byrd said that because he be-
lieved unity the best way in which
70 handle any such situation his col
lege had not adopted the plan be-