The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-01-25

so discipline our minds as 10 be able
to think on every question with that
spirit of sacrifice and disirterested-
ness of purpose which characterized
our people in time Of war. Let US
maintain the psychology Of war in
time OF peace. Only in this way can
we approach every question with that
breadth Of view and single minded
ness of purpose necessary to enable us
to see conditions as they really exist
unobscured by selfish or a purely To-
cal interest. Our aim must be to give,
and not to receive The common good,
and not personal interest must be
our concern Do you have feeling
!, nf anxiety about the immediate fu-
fture? Do you expect O. league of ma
rions, so much talked of today, to
give us q permanent peace? Every
right thinking person wants peace
! Of this character. Will we be. able
TO establish it is the vital question OF
| the hour. Representatives of the
principal governments OF the world
are now in Paris to agree on peace
/ terms. But the question of 3 perna-
/ nent peace depends on the attitude OF
sthe governments Of the world to-
ward one another. The tendency
throughout the world is certainly to-
ward the American idea that all pow
er and authority is vested in the peo-
tple. We can not doubt the patriot
! ism of our people. Their willingness
| TO sacrifice and serve has been so re-
! Gently demonstrated that no question
/ can arise along this line, but the
preparedness of our people to meet
: the issues of the hour may be ques-
toned. The serious problems of to-
day can be traced directly to the neg
iiected duties of the past. Could we
sfave realized ten years ago that
world war Of immense magnitude
was. real danger; we would :, have
been so we'll prepared to meet the is
sue that no war would have come. II
we can now be made to realize the
! dangers that threaten us in: time OF
peace, that Bolshevis.n. anarchy and
commercial greed which naturally
follow in the wake Of war are not con-
/! fined to European nations, but is
real issue in America as wel1,.we will
execution of program Of prepared
) ness which should have been carried
! out years ago.
During the canvass Of the State
last summer I stated repeatedly that
South Carolina could not longer post
pcne the adoption Of an educational
program which meets the demands
Of the present, and adequately pro
vides for the future. This I regard
as the one essential thing for this
general assembly to do. ] am aware
that this has been the favorite theme
Of politicians in all Of cur campaigns
E in the past, and that it is expected OF
the governor in his inaugural ad-
dress to have quite O. good deal to
say on this important subject But,
gentlemen, I beg you to believe that
I am not approaching the subject as
matter Of form, or as following
custom wish to submit to you
some very definite propositions, and
urge your most serious and thought
Ifu! consideration.
recommend the passage of an act
providing for minimum school term
of seven months for every school dis
trict in the State. and an amendment
OF the present compulsory attendance
law so as to require the attendance
at school of all children between the
ages Of eight and IA years during the
minimum school term. This age linn
it should be raised to 6 years within
the near future. It is useless. how
ever. to provide for minimum
school term and compulsory attend
ance law without adequate provision
for enforcement It must be made
TIE duty Of someone in each county to
see that the compulsory attendance
provision is enforced. It isn't neces-
sary for me to urge the Importance
Of school, attendance. A parent, o.
other person having the custody and
control of children who neglects or
refuses 10 give to such children the
educational advantages offered by the
State. is not exercising parental au
thority. but denying to the children
who are to constitute the future cit
iZenship of this State that light and
knowledge which is essentially neces-
SdIH lOl lllc lQlllc well DClIlS .Ol the
State. as we'll as the best interest of
the child Military training was COM
pulsory in time of war. If you would
avoid conditions that lead to war,
make school attendance compulsory
in time Of peace. The Confederate
government from 1851 to 1866 laid
its hand upon the Is year old boy.
and compelled him to put on a gray
uniform. shoulder his musket and
fight for Southern independence. Was
not this interference with parental
authority? A public necessity exist |
ed, and parental authority yielded to |
the superior right Of the State But |
it IS useless to enact and enforce
compulsory attendance law unless
adequate facilities are provided
1t is not sufficient that We provide
q seven months minimum term. We
need. and must have better organ
ization Of our entire educational sys-
tenn. We must have the best talent