The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1921-06-29
GOVERNOR DISCUSSES
CRIME WAVE
Militant Sentiment Against
Crime the Remedy
STATE SUFFERS
FROM IGNORANCE

In Address al Grccnyillc Governor
Cooper Says that Militant .Scn.
timent Against Crime is th,
Remedy fer Prevalent Criminal
Tendencies.
Grcenvillc, June Declaring in
his plea for forccfu and righteous
public opinion that South Carolina
suffers today more from ignorance
than from any other one thing, and
remarking that ii the people of this
commonwealth had the information
and education that is needed it
would be impossible to find distil-
lery here or anywhere else in the
state. Governor Robert A. Coopcr
yesterday served as feature speaker
before the Booster Bureau of the
Chamber of Commerce, assembled at
the Imperial hotel for it's June lunch
con.
"Our trouble" Governor Coopcr
said, "is that we haven't the moral
courage to say to violators of the
law, You cannot live in this com
munlty.' TO do that is not the duty
alone of the sheriff and police, but
1T is the duty Of every good citizen.
II we are to preserve our civilization,
we must have in Grccnvillc, and ev-
crywhcre else throughout the state
and nation, healthy, militant pub
lie opinion, and our citizens must have
the courage to do their duty"
at the outset of his brief address,
Governor Cooper said that his physi-
clan had advised.a a complete rest for
him, but that hase.duld not resist the
temptation to respond to the invita-
ton to address yesterdays luncheon.
BEFORE he concluded, the governor
took occasion to thank the people of
the city for their hospitality to Mrs.
Cooper and to him. 81 cannot find
words to express our appreciation"
said he, "and | trust that as the years
come may show that I am not en-
tirely unworthy of your confidence
dIu your esteem.
Recently, have seen in news
paper criticism of our courts, of the
manner in which jurors deal with cas-
es and with criminals. Remember
this: Judges are not Indifferent to
public opinion. Even governors hold
their ears to the ground And so it
is with all of us. Public opinion is
the most powerful things that ever
existed and it is for the people to
make it,"
In the course of his talk, Governor
Cooper took occasion to take another
rap at George Harvey, American am
bassador to the court of st. James,
and to impress upon his hearers the
fact that aHrvcy was permitted to
talk as he did and bring no serious
consequences upon himself pure be-
cause Of lack of the right kind Of
public opinion.
"Has it sunk into your conscienc-
es," asked the governor, chat ann
presumed to represent the American
people uttered omst serious indict-
ment against our soldiers of the late
war and against our country? He has
been criticized for his remarks, but
no real storm of protest has come.
If we had had the proper sort of pub
If opinion, those words of his would
never have been said"
Governor Cooper preached the doc
trinc of civic righteousness, saying
that comcmrcial growth and prosperi-
ty is sure to come to any community
which progresses in the right way
along these lines and has a strong,
militant public opinion.
Words Of welcome to the governor,
who next week cones to Grccnvillc
to make his summer home on Paris
mountain, were saio by b. II. Peace,
president Of the Booster Bureau, and
the states chief executive was in
troduced by George I. Bryan, potcn-
tate Of Hcjaz Shrire temple here
and, like the governd, a past grand
master Of the Masonic lodge in this
state.
During the past 90 Or more years,
Mr.. Bryan said, it has been his privi-
lcge to know intimately Governor
Cooper, and the speaker praised the
governor and his work in this state.