The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-07-19
CITIZENS ORGANIZE
EDUCATIONAL DRIVE
MEMORABLE LEGISLATURE TO
PROVIDE FOR STATE SURVEY
Leaders Gather at Converse College
to Discuss Needs Of South Caro-
lima Educational System

The State.
Spartanburg, July 15.-More than
800 leading men and women of the
state gathered in Spartanburg today
and organized the Citizens Educa-
tional Association of South Carolina.
J. Rion McKissick of Greenville was
elected president and the following
were named as vice presidents, rep
resenting each congressional dlstrict
First district, Legare Walker,
Snmmerville; second, Bert D. Carter,
Bamberg; third, DR.. George B. Crom-
er, ,Newberry; fourth, j. B. Atkinson,
Spartanburg; fifth. T. B. Butler, Gaff-
ney; sixth, Bright Williamson, Dar-
ington; seventh, Mrs. S. O. Plowden,
Dalzell.
tfSouth Carolina wants the best
there is, and can pay for it, was the
slogan adopted by the association.
The meeting was presided over by
R. GOODWIN Rhett of Charleston. Ad-
dresses were made by Howard B.. Car
Isle, president of the Spartanburg
chamber of commerce.; DIR. Henry
Nelson Snyder, president of Wofford
college; Governor Cooper, George F.
Zeok of the United State bureau of
education, State Superintendent of
Education j. E. Swearingen,- DR.. John
z. White of Anderson and others.
Call for Funds .., =,
Dinner was served the visitors ia
the. dining hall of Converse college,
Efter dinner the committee on res
olutions reported memorializing the
legislature to have made. thorough
survey of the state to find out its true
educational status, recommending the
law making body to give, to education
such legislative and financial support
as it merits. and other resolutions, de-
fining the scope and purposes of the
conference and appealing to press,
pulpit, platform and to the various
civic, social, religious commercial, pa
triotic and other organizations to ex-
ert their strongest influence to arouse
public sentiment to this end.
Practically every well known edu-l
cational Institution in South Carolina
was represented at today's gathering.
Governor Cooper's inspiring address
on the needs and the aspirations OF
South Cardinals educational system
was one of the outstanding features
Of the morning program. The Uni
versity of South Carolina, Furmanl
University, Wofford college, Converse
college, Winthrop college and every
institution that has earned an en-
viable place for itself in the upbuild-
ing of the commonwealth was repre-
sented at the conference, and every
person present paid rapt attention tol
the speakers, who had been chosen to
present to an appreciative audience
their conceptions of what must be
done in South Carolina to lift the
state from the unenviable position it
now occupies in the educational sys-
tenn of the United States.
Rhett Presides
R. Goodwin Rhett of Charleston,
long identified with every movement
tending to promote the common good
Of the state, was chosen to act as
presiding officer of the meeting. Mr..
Rhett's opening address was fraught
with inspiring thoughts and contained
many pertinent and surprising bits of
information regarding the needs of
South Carolina S Educational system
As it exists in 1921.
Mr.. Rhett was introduced by How
ard B. Carlisle, president of the Spar
tanburg chamber of commerce who
Informed the gathering that it has
Been his privilege to welcome to the
city of Spartanburg many assem-
blages, but that today's gathering, he
felt, was truly the most welcome of
all.
Mr.. Carlisle read an interesting ex-
cerpt from historical work which
made mention of a gathering held at
Nazareth church, Spartanburg coun-
ty, in 1895, which had for its object
the same plans as those of the pres
ent gathering. A little group of edu-
Gators gathered at Nazareth church
125 years ago for the purpose of dis
cussing and formulating some plans
whereby the people of the state of
South Carolina might enjoy equal ed
ucational opportunities and live on
terms of educational equality with
the people Of other states of the
union.