The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-01-12

tecting the people of our State agains
disease shall direct your attention to
few of the more important fea-
lures. There is the work being done
in the rural districts of this State in
the education Of the people general
ly as to the necessity Of proper san
ltation in their homes; this work has
been carried out in Orangeburg and
Greenwood counties with good re-
suits. I recommend that adequate
appropriation be made for carrying
on the work of suppressing and treat
ing infectious diseases, such as diph-
liberia, typhoid fever, cerebro- spinal
meningitis" and rabies. with serunis
kept by the State Board Of Health.
We have the smallest death date from
diphtheria of any State in the Union,
due entirely to the fact that diphtheria
antitoxin can be obtained free by
anybody.
The Care of Tuberculnr Patients,
The work that is being done by
the State for the treatment of tu-
bercular patients at State Park is
bringing commendable results. This
work. partly educational. has done
much to arouse the public mind, and
has laid the groundwork for the ex-
termination of this disease. We
should SEQ to it that this work grows
year by year, and I therefore urge it's
continuance on a larger scale. Can
we excuse ourselves If every effort to
this end is not made?
Confederate Veterans.
The decreasing number and the in
creasing age and infirmities of the
Confederate Veterans in South Caro-
lima make it the care Of the State to
see that their comfort and we'll being
are given every attention. I COM
mend the faithful and tender care you
have and will continue to bestow on
these men, whose sacrifices and SER
vices in the past entitle them to every
consideration at our hands:
Prohibition.
The National congress has recently
passed a joint resolution referring to
the legislatures Of the various States
the question OF writing into the Unit
ed States Constitution the absolute
prohibition OF the manufacture or
sale OF intoxicants In the United
States. This. proposed amendment
must be ratified blythe legislatures of
two-thirds Of the States before it be-
comes effective. I shall transmit this
amendment to you promptly.
urge the general assembly to rati.
fy this amendment by proper resolu-
ton, and at the. same time to provide
means for lis rigid enforcement In
South Carolina. : {.@
The Suffrage Question.
In my Judgment the question OF
granting the suffrage to women is one
that should be Under the Jurisdiction
of the States, and not the federal gov.
ernment. The right of the State to
regulate the suffrage is a fundameh-
tai principle of local se1f-govern.
ment, and the State OF South Caro-.
lima should reserve this right to her.
self
War.
Let us turn now to the war. I dc
So with a full heart, and I know
that. without any word from me, the
war presses upon your thoughts night
and day. It is not my purpose tt
recount at length the reasons for our
entrance into it. They have been Civ
en- clearly by our great and trusted
president.
Each State must do its share in ths
unification Of the nation, and so 1t /.
proper for me now to place this sub
Ject before you, as the law-makint
body Of South Carolina, to the enc
that we may do with q clear under
standing what I conceive to be ou
duty in placing this State and eaci
county and township upon a war foot
ing.
Our country endured, much and en-
dured It for long time before takfn,
up the challenge. SO often and s,
wantonly flung in her face. We wer,
challenged ON the high seas by tn
destruction Of our ships and the cruel
merciless slaughter OF our men, wo
ren and children; we were challeng
cd abroad by assaults and indignitie
to our diplomats and consuls; we wer
challenged at home by the secret
malevoient agents Of the ain mbassador
OF Germany and Austria.