The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-01-08

obligation imposed upon me by the con-
yaitution, and in conformity WITH an UNI
broken custom. / also desire to discuss
with you measures Immediately affect
ing our State government, the welfare
ct our people and the development OF
x0yr nation, Of which our State is an in
tegral part.
/ extend to you warm greeting. This
year you come from homes and from
duties thatAneed you and your services
more than ever before. But as the eff
fective operations of the State and its
officials depend upon you and me, to-
gether we must see that the business of
the State is carried on efficiently and
economically and that the part we
should perform Up this crisis of the ma
tion is Viewed with a broad vision.
Let us fervently thank God for our
, blessings and pray to HIM for strength
and guidance to realize Our responsible
itiesa1d for courage to meet them. The
opportunity for great service to the
State and to the nation now urgently
presents itRlf, and in the work that lies
baore us J desire to assure you of my
earnest and hearty cooperation.
Since the general assembly adjourned
last February our country has been
drawn into the,Eorl war, but Of this
land the tasks Asposed upon US thereby
7 shall speak later with defniteness.
! Just now, however, let me recall that
some of your number .areSnow following
the flag. ! -ith me you honor their pa
sFiotism. and conservation to national
duty which prompted them to go into the
.eryice of their country, whose para
mount business is war: They are Sen
ator Christensen of Beaufort and Rep
resentatives Lloyd B. Harrison and A.
W. Horton of Spartanburg, Morris c.
Lumpkin ,ef. Riehlanda Elmer M. Fripp
of Beaufort, Oscar K. Mauldin of Green
vile, F. Marion Whaley and Edward ?.
Passailaigde of Charleston, W. B.
aRitshie, ,7Jr., of LaurenS, W: l.. .McCuteh-
Sen of Sumter and Herbert L. Smith, Jr.,
of .GeorgeSawn. These chosen repre-
sentatives of our people from various
sections of the State are participants i'll
the fight for democracy, freedom and
sliberty against irresponsible govern
ments, @AN in their mad lust for world
domination, regard not the sanctity of
trSAties, who destSoy oN ships and mer-
eilegsly narEa Spocent, non-eombatant
,nea,:Women and ehiJdren. These mem
ebers of oses general assembly deserve
and have our honor and our gratitude.
In order that s&r State may play its
Null part in co-opeating with the ma
R6ohal goveFa2ent ~ Aimperative that
I'VE enact laws covering these objects.
There are, however, oaRer matters di-
sgetly affecting ousxtate, to which l
invite your attention. shall speak of
some OF these measures here, and in
subsequent message viii deal with ed
aeation, State institutions, finance, tax
alton, enforcement Of Law and other
State mkte,S
1kmong the many urgent calls and fine
opportunities for war service during the
present emergency, there is grave dan
ger that the yearly internal needs Of
South Carolina be lost to view. This
must be prevented at all cost. Never
has fhers been large, necessity for in
creaSed vigor aPd energy in pushing for
ward the constructive elements of State
progress. The&severe strain of shaping
a great democracy for war, the presence
of three large army camps and two ma
val stations in South Carolina, the rap
idly mounting cost Of living, the disor-
ganization Of transportation and uncer-
tainty Of labor, the ever-elosing grip of
a war-ruled scheme of Hfe-an combine
to blind our eyes and close our ears to
the appeals Of educational, sanitary,
charity and penal conditions in South
Carolina.
The world war is conflict of intelli-
senee and skill, for which the schools
fare the recruiting ground. These works
are internal, a9d unless they are pushed
forward our Stats.@& not progress. The
J. necessity for them is greater by reason
Of war conditions th@ ever before.
Z, Australia Ballot.
In a democratic form Of government
it Is essential that the untrammeled, in
dependent will of the electors be ex-
pressed at the ballot box. Every sa e.
guard should be thrown around our cleo
tions, so that each. and every man en-
titled to vote shall have the right and
opportunity to vote once, that no man
shall shall be allowed to vote more than
once at the same election, and the in
dependence of essTl voter to vote as IL.
conscience dictates shall be preserved.
LAS far back as 1894 I recognized this
Necessity and urged the adoption of the
yAustralian ballot system, which has
been adopted in Charleston with highly
satisfactory results, I urge you to ap-
ply this system to cities, towns and the
Naansa ommanities in the State.
| / 3 gistration law be
R n A s I gard of registra-
4 q. ]. I !.
# + # .] q I person entitled