The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-02-26
NATIONAL GUARD
NEEDED IN STATE
Legislature Strangely lndif-
ferent to Maintenance Of the
Militia.
GOV. COOPER REMINDS
LAWMAKERS OF DUTY
This is No Time for the State
to Be Without Adequate Mill
tary Force to Preserve Order.
(By Harold Booker.


the general appropriation bin has
caused a great deal of talk in legis-
ative circles and the senate has been
asked to add an item to the bill max
ing such provision.
There is growing feeling that
National Guard is going to be very
badly needed in the State during. the
next year OR two. There are some
who fear that this need Will DC
greater during the next twenty-lour
months than in many years. They
declare that to fail to make provis-
ION at this time for the possible DIFF
ficuiiies ahead will be little short OF
criminal carelessness.
Every reconstruction period brings
it's Problems The one following the
war with Germany is expected to be
not different from the other recon
struction periods in that respect
Solnc Of the problems may be- the
sane as those faced in other recon
structicn periods, notably the period
following the civil war.
Gov. Cooper recognizing the Sc
l.iousncss OF the situation last week
sent Il special message to the general
assembly urging that provision be
made fer the National Guard. In this
message he declared that the Nat
ional Guardsmen on their return from
France would he surprised and disap-
pointed to find that no provision had
been made for the continuance col
their old organization. The governor
also touched upon tho probable nee.
Of a National Guard in this para
graph:
"Othcr reasons which I think
should cause US to give this matter
most serious onsideration. as every
member OF the general assembly. and
every thinking man IN South Caro-
lima. 7 feel sure. has been thinking,
: lre the potentialities in the pres
mt conditions Of society. a tremen-
dous adjustment is in prospect. and
,uci adjustments 10 not come
! smoothly. Tn the light of conditions
! which forecast possibilities ] fee.
| justified in saying that at no time
within tho past twenty-five years e&-
vas hing fought has there been
Gna,d DO not mean for this re-
mark 20 BE- construed as u prediction
! of serious trouble. indeed. do not
Ianlicipate serious infractions OF
peace but wc should. if we would be
! wise. sec that any period OF read
! in$tmcnt is surcharsed with possibili-
f! ties. ana should take them all into
consideration. due respect for our
own welfare and q proper :tpprecia-
ton Of service rendered demands the
! reinstatement and adequate support
OF the National Guard"
There have been Developments in
lCoiunbia recently that have cmpha-
sized the possible need OF Nation
III Guard to preserve the peace, or
t der, and ideals of the people OF
South Carolina during the coming
months
A mass meeting is to be held IN Co
lumbia this week at which a cam
paign for the recall OF the commits
started. There has been much dis
satisfaction with tho present city ad-
nliniStration. or at least sone mem
hcrs Of it. It first got in bad BY al
lowing The Columbia Railway. Gas
and Electric Company tho local pub
lie utilities monopoly. 10 raise the
rates on gas Indignation has been
very high lately because of this ac
ton Then the council tried to put
over q 40-mill levy. which aroused
the ire Of many. The latest cause
Of discontcn; was the effort TO fire"
Chief OF Police Richardson. The lat
ter seems 10 have the sympathy and
support Of an overwhelming major
IT,; Of the citizens who take no stock
in the charges preferred by council I
that he had allowed the efficiency OF
the police force to decrease. AS Il |
result Of n mass meeting held last !
week city council Friday voted to |
tai1e. control the police department /
from Counclnpn Coleman who had I
asked for Richardson's resignation !
ter HIS declared that Richardson
shall have fair chance 20 deliver
the goods.
ottoman IIomclc personal ropr"-
sentative OF Secretary Of the Interio:
Lane is in Columbia today for tho
purpose Of comforting With members I
OF the general assembly in regard
To soldier settlement. His visit is FOR
the purpose OF requesting tho gencr-
al assembly to endorse one Of tho
bills now before congress. introduced :
by Congressman James +. ;;vrncS Of !,
ihc Second South Carolina district. !,
Coy. Cooper has signed ffty-fve
bills passed by the general assembly
at the present session. Two acts OF i
Statewide interest signed by him late :
Saturday afternoon wcrc the needy .
school law. appropriatins S123, 900 I.
annually 10 provide teaching force /.
sufficient TO guarantee to weak .
schools seven months terms and the :
bill appropriating $50. 600 for voca :
sional education. .