Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-09-28

9-2s-2t
Organized Labor for Education
The South Carolina branch of the
American Federation of Labor in its
convention in Greenville has, as usual
adopted an excellent educational pro-
gram. 1t recommends larger appro-
priations for schools, higher stand
ards of certifcation of teachers, in
creased provisions for the night
schools, medical inspection in the
public schools and old age pensions
or insurance for teachers.
The position of labor everywhere
in the world is directly related to
progress in education. The laboring
mans child can not and does not look
forward to an inheritance of great
wealth, but if the child has inherited
a good mind and body, its chance in
the world is better than one based
upon the expectation of property, if
tits mind and body shall not be denied
adequate training.
In this democratic republic, shift
ing and changing in the relative po-
1%istions of men are the amending pro-
~cesses. Most of the property holders
in South Carolina today are the sons
and daughters who were penniless or
lin moderate circumstances. The
American families occupying high
places on account Of inherited wealth
are so few that they are almost a
negligible factor in affairs, notwith-
standing that they receive exaggerat-
ed attention and advertisement. The
spokesman for organized labor in
South Carolina seem to have a clear
understanding of this condition, they
are aware that the natural inheri-
tances of brains and health are of
first Importance and that the youth
having them will make the best of
them if not handicapped by igno-
rance.
Will the working people of South
Carolina always follow their able and
enlightened leaders? Will they go to
the polls and vote for governors and
Legislators who believe in medical in
spection in schools and compulsory
school attendance? Will they support
for Office men who insist on taxing
property for the support of educa-
ton?
Unhappily, demagogues who make
the loudest outcries about high taxes
are frequently most effective in their
appeals to poor men who have the
most to make. from the redistribution
of profits through the channel of tax
alton. In Spartanburg county four
cotton mills have lately spent more
that 100000 in the erection of new
school buildings for the children of
their operatives. That probably is q
larger sum than 1000 operatives d.
rectly pay into the public treasury.
There is no other way by which work
ing men and women so surely receive
again a large share of what their
labor has produced comparable with
that of taxation for public benefits.
The state college, the public school,
the public hospital, and the good road
are of infinitely more Importance to
the poor MAI than to the rich man.
Wealthy South Carolinians are
sending their daughters to college at
a cost of $1,000 or $500 a year,
but at Winthrop are 800 or 1000
girls who would not be in college at
all were taxes not levied to maintain
the institution. The girl at Winthrop
has a better chance than many an
other who is in an expensive finish
ing school.-The State.
buttons unfavorably or that would
seriously retard the important work
og building the state system of high
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