The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-01-22
GOVERNOR COOPER'S ADDRESS
Recommends Passage Of Act which Provides for
Minimum School Term Of Seven Months in Ev-
cry School District of the State. Tax
Burden Apportioned to Counties

The inaugural of Gov. r. A. Cooper
|at Columbia yesterday was as follows:
Mr.. President, and Gentlemen Of the
General Assembly:
BY authority Of the qualified elec-
tors of South Carolina as given at the
ballot box, l am here to assume the
duties Of the Office Of chief executive
!Of the State. L would be false to my
feelings If l do not on this occasion
express my sincere gratitude to the
people for the honor which they have
so generously bestowed upon me. II
fail to meet their expectations in rem
dering efficient and effective service.
shall at least make All honest eftor. 10
Justify the confidence reposed in me.
1t shall be my constant ambition and
controlling purpose to serve the best
interest Of the entire state without re-
gard to past political differences or
affiliations. l believe firmly in the
democratic doctrine that public Office
is a public trust, and that no public
servant has right to use power and
authority temporarily entrusted to him
for any purpose other than to promote
the general welfare, prosperity and
happiness Of the people whom he
serves. The oath of Office which have
taken does not permit me to be gov
ernor Of part Of the people, or to at
tempt to be the representative Of any
faction or party. In entering upon the
duties Of the office l therefore, in this
presence, most solemnly declare that
so far as it is humanity possible | shall
forget that any division has ever eX-
listed among the democrats Of South
Carolina, and shalt certainty not con-
tural that we shall differ as to meas
urcs. and as to method, but my appeal
is for unity of purpose. | do not eX-
pcct that YOU shall approve every sug-
gest!on may make, or agree with my
views on every public question. You
are bound by your oath Of office to eX-
ercSe your own judgment in passing
on the various questions which will
come before you from time to time. But
while we may disagree as to specific
measures necessary for the accom-
plishment Of common purpose, we
are certainly agreed in the desire to
enact such laws and to adopt such
policies as will promote the best inter-
est of all the people of the State.
1t is my purpose to deal with the
legislative department with perfect
candor. l shall take you fully into my
confidence on all matters, and recon-
mend for your consideration such leg
islation as seems to me wise and
worthy of your serious thought You
will find me as ready to receive as to
offer suggestions. If the people of
South Carolina are to have at this
time the service from us all that is
sOrcly needed, there must be absolute
harmony and perfect understanding be-
tween the executive and Legislative de-
partmenlS. | cannot hope to accom-
plish anything of a substantial nature
without the support of the general as
scmbly. No legislature, in my opinion
has ever assembled in South Carolina
with greater opportunities, and more
grave responsibilities than that which
faces you today. We are a part Of the
greatest government in the world. We
uphcaval the world has ever known,
and thoughtful people everywhere are
thinking Of the problems Of peace, of
the matter of readjusing ourselves,
both as states and individuals, to new
and changed conditions. The world
as never before, is looking to America
for leadership. If this is an indc-
structable union of indcstructable
states the standard of efficiency Of the
general government can be no greater
than the average efficiency of the sew
eral states.
The war ended as we wished it to
end. 1t ended as right, justice, and the
interest Of humanity demanded it
should end. If the fruits of victory
are to be saved to us, we must now
lay the foundations for world peace
with its varied and intricate problems.
1t seems to me that the first step in
this program is a mental reimbursement
Of ourselves We should SO diciplinc
our minds as to be able to think on
every question with that spirit Of sac
riilcc and diSintcrestcdncss Of purpose
which characterized our people in time
Of war. Let us maintain the pSychol-
ogy Of war in time Of peace. Only in
this way can we approach every QucS-
ton With that breadth of view and sin
&lcdncsS of purpose necessary TO an
able rs 10 see conditions as they really
exist unobScurcd by selfish or purely
local interest. Our aim must be to
give, and not to receive. The common
good, and not a personal interest must
be our concern. DO you have feel
ing Of anxiety about the immediate flu
turc? DO you expect q league OF ma
tions, so much talked Of today. to give
us a permanent peace? Every right
thinking person wants peace of this
character Will we be able to cstab-
lish 1t, Is the vital question Of the hour
Representatives Of the principal gov
crnments of the world are now in Paris
to agree on peace terms But the
question Of a permanent peace depends
on the attitude Of the governments OF