The Anderson intelligencer. (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, January 09, 1901, Supplement, Image 12
schools to become too mechanical and inelastic, thc irregularity in
attendance at the country schools renders it impossible to have
graded instruction or systematic work. Since the State offers free
education in order that its people may be titted for the duties of cit
izensuip. it is wordy of consideration whether, within proper limits
of term and ag?:, it should not require attendance at the schools.
The ideal is a well articulated system extending from primary
grade to college; ai hast one well equipped school in every commu
nity, accessible to every citizen of school age; a term of at least
eight months, and the requirement that, within reasonable limits,
the communit) avail itself of thc advantages offered by thc public ;
a County Hoard of Education, removed fron, local prejudices,
charged with the duty of assigning teachers to vacant schools and
of inspecting the schools. At a later period each school should bc
equipped with a circulating library, and should be prepared to give
technical training in the industrial arts. We are far from thc ideal,
hut our schools arc making gratifying progress; and the whole sub
ject has been much embarrassed by the race problem. Wc should
address ourselves faithfully to the development of the system.
"Thc glory of founding educational systems cannot bc ours; but thc
effort for improvement, by building wise practice upon sound the
ory, is within the reach ot each one of us." Whatever you effec
tively do for the improvement of our educational system will bc so
tnuch wisely contributed to the welfare of the State and thc ad
vancement of civilization.
The report of the Stale Superintendent ?if Education wi'.! acquaint
you fully and in detail with the condition and needs of our schools.
This report contains a full and intelligent discussion of the whole
subject of the common schools and those things which are neces
sary to make them more efficient. In tile estimation of thc State
Superintendent one of the most pressing needs of thc country
schools is better supervision of the work done. This is a very im
portant matter and cannot be too strongly impressed. To*secure it,
however, it is necessary to have and to sp? I more money, so that
men trained for the work could be employeu. The salary of County
Superintendents ranges from $300 to $600, while thc town Super
intendents receive $900 and upwards and their fields of supervision
are incomparably smaller and far less complex, and hence their re
sponsibilities are less. And yet unless thc s?lection of these County
Superintendents could be made on account of merit and regardless
of personal or political affiliations and not be subject to change
upon the political whims of a changing public sentiment, increased
pay would not be a guarantee of efficiency in thc management of the
country schools. The management of our schools should be as far
removed from political influences as possible and men should bc put
in charge who arc devoting their life to the work. Thc office of
County Superintendent of Education being an elective office, only
as thc people come to realize the importance of efficiency and com
petency as essential qualifications ir. the man who fills it, can we
hope for or expect good results. Very few men have the courage to
run counter to public sentiment and all .re more or less influenced
by those things which affect their own interests. Provision should
he made as already suggested for a County Board of Education se
lected in such way as not to be influenced by local or political pre
judice who would have the duty of inspec'ing thc schools and ap
pointing teachers to vacant schools. There is no more importan:
subject to demand your most careful and earnest attention than the
education of thc children of the State.
The country common schools for white children were kept open on
an average during the past year for 21 weeks and the negro schools
for 15 weeks. Thc previous year thc white schools averaged 19 weeks
and thc colored schools 14J/?2 weeks. The enrollment in the white
schools during thc past year was 126,289; m tnc colored schools,
155,602; total, 281,891. For the previous year the enrollment was:
whites, 123,398; negroes, 146,477; total, 269,875. It will be seen
that wc are making progress slowly. The town schools in nearly
every case run for 36 weeks. It docs not seem to me that thc coun
try people should be satisfied with less for their children. The ex
penditures for white schools during last year were $700,540.60.
while during thc year previous they were $576,353.26 ; for the negro
schools last year, $202,178.93, and the year previous $193,461.39.
This shows some gain in thc matter of expenditures for common
school education. But when wc consider that thc enrolment is con
stantly increasing, thus calling for the employment of more teach
ers, and when we consider that our schools now run only 21 week?
when thc regular school term throughout thc country is considered
to bc at least 36 weeks, it is borne to our minds that wc have yet to
spend considerably more money on our schools if we would bring
them up to what our people expect and ought to expect. *
There were 3,270 white teachers and 2,294 negro teacher? in thc
schools iast year over against 3,000 white teachers and 2,003 negro
teachers the previous year-a gain of 270 white teachers and 291
negro teachers.
Our State Department of Education is too much cramped for
quarters. The State Superintendent is at present occupying com
mittee rooms of the Legislature, and thc space i* not ample for the
duties which arc required of this department. The Superintendent
of Education is guardian of a number of important records and it is
necessary to have thc space to keep these. Thc department of edu
cation should bc put on the same basis as thc other State depart
ments. Thc Summer School work has assumed such large propor
tions and the correspondence and other clerical work of thc State
Board of Education has so much increased within thc last year that
the duties of this office have been considerably enlarged. Moreover,
there is a statute requiring thc State Superintendent of Education to
collect in his office books, school apparatus, furniture, appliances of
various kinds for inspection by teachers, school officers, and trus
tees. This cannot be done unless thc Superintendent has sufficient
room to display them.
Thc reports of the various State Colleges will be presented to you
through the Annual Report of the State Superintendent of Educa
tion and for detailed information as to them you arc respectfully
referred to this report, lt is gratifying to note that thc attendance
upon all of these institutions is good and the management wise and
satisfactory. Exercises at Clemson were temporarily suspended jw
December on account of the appearance of scarlet fever among the
student body but it was not of a serious nature and the regular work
at the college will bc resumed with thc beginning of thc year.
At Clemson a textile department has been added in which is
taught, in addition to the usual instruction in mechanics, mathemat
ics and English, thc manipulation of cotton machinery, designing
and dyeing, and thc textile students arc also taught to weave va
rious fabrics.
At the South Carolina College there is pressing need for a new
steward's hall. The new dormitory at Winthrop is nearing comple
tion. The South Carolina Military Academy will ask a slight in
crease in thc appropriation given to that institution so that the price
for pay cadets may be reduced from $300 to $250.
In order that you may intelligently act upon thc appropriations
which will bc asked for these various State colleges it is very im
portant that you should acquaint yourselves with their need*, and
this you can do only by a careful study of thc reports which
will be submitted through the. ?Miperintenncnt o? Education. It will
he impossible for me in this connection to take up a discussion of
thc demands of each college separately. It is your dutv to guard
carefully thc public treasury, but it is not always wise economy if an
institution is to bc maintained by thc State, to make niggardly ap
propriations which will cripple the influence and thc good work of
the institution. It is your duty to make these appropriations with 1
an intelligent insight into thc needs and demands of thc institution
' CHILD LABOR.
The question of child labor in our cotton mills is one that has
been attracting a great deal of attention recently, and properly so.
Conditions in this State have changed very much in the last few
years. We are no longer simply an agricultural people. With thc
rapid growth in manufacturing enterprises we are already a large
manufacturing Slate. The relation between the labor that is em
ployed in these enterprises and the employer is not merely orle of
master and servant, but there are rights and privileges and dut'es,
obligations and opportunities, on both sides which should be care
fully guarded. There has been no conflict, between employer and
laborer in this State and nothing should bc done to disturb the ami
cable relations which now exist. Government recognizes the fact
that it is thc duty nf the strong to care for and protect the weak. It
is certainly the right and thc privilege of government to provide for
the inspection of any and all enterprises or corporations deriving
their life from thc State and to see that they do not impose upon the
weak. Of course this should be done with a proper regard for the
property rights of thc corporations.
There is no doubt thc employment and constant labor of children
of tender agc in our factories is injurious to them and will result in
untold injury in the future. To interfere with the government of the
family by legislation is dangerous. And on the other hand unless
something is done t. ? protect the tender children of vampire parents
who spend their time in idleness and live off the labor of their little
children who are required to work in our mills from year to year
without the advantage, of school, the situation for the future be
comes alarming. To force these children out of the mill and make
no provision for their attendance upon school but allow them to
spend their time in idleness on the streets presents almost as alarm
ing au aspect as to permit them to labor. In a great many of our
mills the officers and managers have provided schools and teachers
and libraries and churches at thc expense of thc stockholders, and
some of them will not employ childr? n under twelve years of age and
they require thc parents of such . children to send the children to
school. This is the tendency in all the mills in this State. These .
children should be protected, but it is not well that they should be
idle, and I doubt the wisdom of a rigid law laid down by the Leg
islature prohibiting absolutely their employment. It would be bet- .
ter rather that all children between the ages of seven and thirteen
years whose parents or guardians work-in a, textile, manufactory
should be required to attend school during the school term, if this
can be done under our Constitution without extending compulsory
education to thc State. This would permit them during the vaca
tion to relieve older sisters or brothers and give them a little rest and
not take the means of support from the family,and at the same
time accomplish the end sought-thc protection and the education
of thc children of the mill districts. But better to have a prohibitory
law as to child labor than that nothing should be. done for the protecr
tion of these children. Thc mill owners themselves realize the dan
ger of child labor and arc doing what they can to force attendance
upon schools and to keep the children .oui of the mills, and a law
making attendance upon school compulsory would have their coop
eration and accomplish the desired results. With our present manu
facturing interests and their constant increase this becomes a serious
question and deserves your most earnest consideration. It should
be considered without prejudice or passion and. by counseling with
those who arc interested I am sure a wise solution can be reached.
THE DISPENSARY.
The Dispensary has been well managed during the past year, as
thc statement of thc Board of Directors and the State Commissioner,
which will bc submitted to you, will show.
Thc Dispensary system and the management of che liquor qucsr
tion have occupied much of the attention of each Legislature since
thc system was inaugurated. Thc Dispensary has also been an issue
in every campaign in the Slate since it was passed and has been
more strongly opposed possibly than any other law that was ever
placed on the statute books of this State. Every argument that
could bc brought to bear against it has been presented by some of
thc ablest intellects of the State, and yet after a thorough canvass of
each County and a presentation of the case to.thc people the system
has been endorsed by decided majorities on four different occasions
and thc principle is incorporated in our organic law.
Under the Constitution the. Legislature may license individuals
or corporations to sell under the rules and regulations governing the
Dispensary, or it may prohibit the sale and manufacture of liquors.
Both of these plans have been thoroughly .and exhaustively argued
and advocated before thc people.and thc verdict every time has been
decidedly in favor of the Dispensary under the management of t^lie
State. This.^reference is made to emphasize what seems to me to ba
the duty of every patriotic citizen who loves his State and believes
in democratic doctrine and republican institutions, and that duty is
to submit to the voice of the people and go to work earnestly and
conscientiously to improve and perfect a law which has received so.
many endorsements from those whom it directly cor. "*rns. Thc ,
Courts have held that under the police regulations the State has a
right to take charge of the sale of whiskey. Thc question when re
duced to its last analysis is not one of principle but of expediency.
What is the best method of dealing with this evil so as to secure the
best results. That is the question.
Thc present system, as it maybe improved from time to time, is
the beat solution yet devised, and is growing in public favor; much
of the prejudice that has existed against the law is being removed,
and many of those who oppose the system are in favor of the enforce
ment of the law. As public sentiment grows in its favor it will bc
easier to enforce it. The mayors and intendants of the towns and
cities of thc State, in response to a circular which I issued during
November, state that the law is well enforced and that the sentiment '
of thc towns is for a strict enforcement. The exceptions are the
cities of Columbia and Charleston and a few Counties in which thc
sale of whiskey is prohibited by law. In fact in those Counties in
which no dispensaries arc established it would conduce to a better
enforcement of law and there would bc less illicit sale of whiskey if
dispensaries were'established. Iii the cities named the Dispensary
cannot bc rigidly enforced so long as -public' sentiment upholds vio
lators of the law and grand juries fail to find true bills and petit juries
to convict when cases arc made and th? evidence furnished. As
public sentiment grows in favor of the law in these cities and the prf
judicc against it dies away convictions for violations will bc had
and it can then bc more rigidly enforced.
As a rule, however, the law has been weil enforced, and it has been
with a small constabulary force but with thc aid of the municipal
officers. All law is violated. If there were no violators of law and
this were an ideal country there would bc no need of law or courts to
try and punish offenders. The United States Government with its
illimitnu?r resources has failed to stop a!! violations of the revenue
laws. ' /
Thc present law might bc made-H liitlc*ni?,r? explicit in som*? par
ticulars, for in some respects it-will take a judicial deliverance, to de
termine what has been repealed and what r?-?nacted by th? am?n?>
????????????y**1"*"'-*
ment adopted last year, and yet in its practical operations tne'law'
has worked very well.
While it is important that the law shall not be violated by illicit
sale of whiskey, it is equally important that those charged with its r
administration shall conform io ii? requit cmciiis. Ii this were mor? -?
rigidly done public sentiment would grow more rapidly in support of
the system. I doubt if there is a dispenser in the State who does ito*
violate the law every day, not with any canina! ??ient. The law re
quires that, "Before selling oi"delivering any intoxicating liquors to'
any person a request must be presented to ,the Co^ty^Dispenscr,
printed or written in ink* dated o? the true datfj stating- that he or she
is of age, and the residence of the sign ?r, fori^vhorh or wltose use .it
is required, the quantity and kind required, and his or her true name ;
and the request shall be signed by the applicant in his own t-ue name
and signature, attested by the County Dispenser or - his clerk, who re
ceives and files the requests. But t^erequKt? ^?a.ll'be rcfus|!d;;va?ti|ev;
County Dispenser Ailing it personally knows thv' person applying"Js
a minor, that he ia intoxicated, or that he is ijfs thc habit bf using in- '
toxicating liquors to an excess; or if the applicant is not so person
any Known io s>aiu -ooumy j-uajTcnact, uciuic uuui^ semi ui uti or uc
livering said liquor, he shall require the statement of a reliable and
trustworthy person of good character and 'haf?tslTknown personally
to him, that the applicant is not a minor, and is not in the habit of
using intoxicating liquor s to excess." The fctaunty Dispenserta^ts ?
an obligation to the effect that he will and another afterwards th^rhe
decs comply strictly with this'provision and all of ihe other provis
ions of the law.
lt has become customary for County Dispensers to sell to any One
who applies to purchase without being identified* ot; without *!gnin? :
the application "in his own true name and signature" and without
stating "for whom or whose use it is required." Ample provisions
made for the course to be pursued for violations in the administration.
of the law. The County Dispensers are responsible to the County
Boards of Control and they are appointed by the State Board ci y>|*
rector* on the recommendation and with the advice afid consent, ol'
the Senator and Representatives from each County. That brings thc
case right up to thc door of the members of the General Assembly.
This is a business matter and as careful and as prudent business
judgment should be exercised in thc selection of those. who .are
charged with the administration of .the law as a prudent-business man
would exercise in the selection of those * whom he would plac? in
charge of his private business. Politics and partisanship should have
no part in the selection, . ,
I again commend to you the advisability of abolishing the County
Boards of Control-and of devolving their duties upon the Mayors
or Intendants of the towns, and the County Supervisors of the
Counties, in which Dispensaries are located. The towns and Coun
ties are directly interested in the proper management of local dispen
saries, and the duties thus imposed would not be onerous. I also
recommend that County Dispensers be elected by the people as other
County officers are elected, for a term of two years. They woiiid
then be responsible to the people for a proper conduct of the business
placed in their hands. . v !
In the management of the Constabulary it has been my a:*m aftrt
purpose to secure men of discretion and judgment, who would,per
form their duties without fear or favor, and at the same time without
causing conflict berweeen themselves and the citizens; and it is ?
source of gratification to me that there has been no conflict. T sub
mit herewith a- table showing the mimber of Constables employed,
thc total cost of the Constabulary, and the number of seizures"for
each month during the past year, including eleven months, inasmuch
as the fiscal year has been changed'to end November 30.
ilpili
?mm
..ir f?ii5
Number of seizures
for- this mooth.
Ampunt pf gallons.
JR !
S3S33388S88
?ilsi; Sit: SI
8888: 888: 88
Number of seizures
for this month.
If in bold ea give
No. of doz. here.
If hr kegs give No.
. of gallons here.
Number of coavictiona for
violations of Dispensary
Ln- Obtained this'month;
Number of cases, sent,- un".tpj
Circuit Court and not re
ported ' in column for con
victions.
Amount of fines imposed.
L- c! ci 01 o t; cc -> M toc?
H 3 3 8 j| 3 jjj o 3 g S g
- jiff ff ffffjl^^j^
M 5. o. t. c.s. cu.
j? N>?o.?t?t*'-'; ; ; ; ;
_. a. a. eu C cg-.
3 a s a 5, a a.
I M-pa-.
S ?li?S'i5:::::
nuivuiu ut fine? paid.
Number convicted who'
went to jail or coila
gang and paid no fine.
In'iMisl
From the report of the State Board of Directors: it will be astii that
the net profit to the School Fund from the business for the past year,
after expenses are paid, is $176,012.18, and to the towns, and
counties, $298,166.28. This report covers eleven months, as the
fiscal year has been changed so as to close November 30.
In dealing with this question I feel sure that you will bc guided
by a love for your State and an earliest purpose and a. sincere desire
to do that which will bc for thc best interests of the greatest num
ber, and not be actuated by prejudice or partisanship.
STATE HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
The issue of thc Seventy-seventh Report pf this institution calls
attention io tuc fact that it is one of the most venerable of its'kind
;? thc United Stales. Begun as ?n experiment by the State, it has
. ?Vo ?mi\.\i-rfnt,^A ,./.Aft?h?A<iii Th-. ^w.-^?irt ll
.w"#0 .r*^?**r?* >?^p??*^-???r^* . ??? . ? ..*?#.**. ??a*a?w ?uu li^i.iMinv.?a. i uv j^a %r ?.*
o? the institution, however, appears to have been confined largely
JO tofc; jpuigq;. Qty .century ; Ol '&^:;p$*n#