The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-01-22

and for total for the state DEPART
ment or education OF approximately
TWO million dollars. Governor Coop
er today delivered to the joint as
sembly OF the legislature his second
inaugural address. on the subject OF
educati0n. and he took the or. of
offce the second tirne, standing ~ the
threshold of his sec ond term in Office.
The oath was administered by Assoc
ciate Justice Watts. OF the supreme
court. In his address. which was q
strong essay on the, educational sys-
tom of the state tho governor urged
education rs the first necessity for any
high achievement In life "Our fun
damental need Is education" he said.
There are millions OF idle acres IL
this state" he said: 'therc are vast
other natural resources undeveloped.
There are hundreds OF thousands of
acres of cut-over lands that show the
ruthless hand OF one who cuts in the
absence OF intelligent, forestry laws,
there are possibilities for diversified
agriculture which are untouched,
there. there are chances. almost with
out number. for making this state q
place that will lure the best class of
sebtlers, n place where many may
dwell In the midst of smiling plenty,
where homo owning will become far
moro general. where the common
leyci OF happiness win rise high above
Its present plans But IL Is idle, my
friends. yes. IL IL Idle TO attempt to
achieve the highest life OF which we
are cape Bile unless We first have edu-
cation"
In his address Governor Cooper re-
pcated his desire for relieving the
people of all possible financial pres
sure" "Put we are not so poor" he
added. indeed we could never be as
poor as TO justify us In taking away
from our people the one thing most
necessary for the accumulation OF
wealth
The governor stated that compul-
Hory education. i'm its first year, 1920.
increased the school attendance by
$4,000. bringing the toIal school en-
iollment 20 a half million! ApproNi-
intatci, q thousand lschool districts
,'oted special school tevies last year,
he said. leaving only handful of
districts not doing so.5
The governor asked for the appro-
priation of 100000 To- carry out the
states contract under the high school
act. declaring that there should be
$4,000 boys and girls in high school,
instead of the present $4,000.
he asked for $525.000 to carry out
the hw guaranteeing seven months
OF school term To weak schools.
He asked that $4,000 be appro-
priatcd TOR the provisions OF the
equalization law and the rural graded
school law. lie asked that 500, 900
be appropriated for the building pro-
gram called for under the act OF 1920.
Hc urged also llberality in appro-
priations for the fight against Hitter
acy among adults: for the bettermant
or negro schools; for rural school SUI
pervision; for mill schools. and for the
expenses OF the educational depart
ment. The cost of administering the
scho.. funds In 1920. he said. was
less than two per cent. "Rotrogres-
sion sholld now be unthlnkable." he
said.
Four and "a Half Mills.
The governor told his hearers tina,
the tax necessary to produce the
funds asked for public education this
year would reach u total Of found and
a-half mills, or possibly four and
threo-quarter mills. "A quarter OF a
century ago IL was thought that the
constitut! onal three mill tax would b.
sufficient" nc commented.
The governor suggested that the Of
ice OF county superintendent Of cdu-
cation be nut on y professional full
time basis. He said no person should
be allowed TO hold 4 IS office unless
possessing the necessary qualiGca-
tions. Tho governor expressed the
View that tho county board of cdu-
cation should be elective by the peo-
pie. and that this hoard should en-
ploy the county superintendent Of
education.
The Colleges.
The governor also urged that the
colleges be given careful considcra-
tion when the legislature came to thn
matter OF appropriations. IA beg of
you that in curtailing. az we must"
he said. you consider the whole Of
the educational system in the light
OF the public good"
M Other officials.
Lieut.. GovCrnor-clcCt Wilson &.
Haryey. nf Charleston. was also sworn
into offic', today, as president Of the
senate. Walter r.. Duncan. of Aiken.
was the only other new state Official
&c be sworn into office. He TO-DAY as
srmed th~. office OF comptroller SEN
eial. TO which he was elected lust
xali. without opposition.
The Inauguration ceremonies took
ace before a diSting ,!shcd aud cncc
state officials and "a number Of
Ecs being I'm attendance Mem
&or tfc rfri'eC states Couvrcss
also invited. There were many
4ovcrnor's inaugural address.
Dllows: