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THE CHROinCtl ^ To Bf • Cleon Nown- papa*/ConpleCe, Nownp* ■Ml RdUUo. / VOLUME XXXV + If Ton Don't Reid • t^re CHRONICtB Ton DonH G«t ^/ The Nown. CLINTON, S, g, THURSDAY, MI^Y 2, 1935 - . NUMBEK 18 SCHOOt TRUSTEES ENDORSED AT CmffiNSMASS MEETING Several HiUHired Patrons Gather for Mheting Called Upon Senator Nance^s Request To Discuss School Financial Condition. Nance Attacks^Trustees and Threatens To Remove Them From Office. Trustees and Citizens Heard On detailed Operations of Schools Which Are Less Than Eight Cents Per Day, Per Child. R^lii- tion of Confidence Overwhelmingly Voted Trustees. HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING • ,Six hundred citizens gathered in th* Florida Street school last Friday night for a consideration of the school situ ation in Clinton. The meeting had been called by the local board of trustees at the request of Senator Carroll D. Nance of this county, who in a letter to the chairman ol the board stated that he desired to come before the tax payers and trustees to “settle this 6ch<ml matter for once and all.” The meeting opened with prayer by Rev. Edward Long. R. W. Wade was made chairman and R. L. Plaxico, sec retary. ' The chairman stated the published notice had announced that the meet ing had been called in accordance with Senator Nance's request. He extended the floor to Senator Nance and re quested him to state the object of the meeting. \ Senator Nance replieil that, he pre ferred to speak later and ^shed to hear first from the board of^rustees. , B. H. Boyd, chairman of the board of trustees, then gave a statem^t set ting forth'the financial sUtus of the of the school system. In his opening remarks he stated that it was schools. He stated that in making up the budget for this year which was done last spring, the trustees estimat ed that it would cost f50,659.26 and that at the end of the past school month $42,834.89 had been spent Ac cording to the county treasurer since his last report to the Trustees, he had collected $4,436.83 in taxes and $86.00 in poll and dog tax. He estimated to the trustees that this school would 'get $8,826.00 from the three-mill levy, $1,275.00 from the one-mill levy, and $2,959.00 from state aid.’ He stated that at the end of last month Ihe.dis- irict was overdrawn $5$88.94, and that he had kince paid a claim for sal- esthnated adiool diatnet of $$68J8. In addition to this the Rosenwald Endowment had promised this school $400.00, and there is a balanw on hand of $660.00 of the fees paid in byThe Negroes. “We have estifnated the necessary expenses,” Mr. Boyd said, “for teachers sklarioft board of trustees misused the money and that was .the reason the schools were threatened with doing. “You need not worry, however,” he shouted, '‘the schools will run for the full nine months. I will see to that.” Speaking to the teachers, he said, “You girls will be paid, even if I have to pay you out of rhy'own pocket, but I am going to put the present board of trustees out.” Addressing his remarks .tp the board, he "said, “I legislated you in and when 1 get back to Columbia on Tuesday I am going to legislate you out, and put in a board that will do what I tell them.” Senator Nance asked members of the" citizens committee if he had not granted their estimated request last fall and they replied that he had. A full explanation as to unforseen ex penses ^t entered into the operation of the spools was given by the board. At the conclusion of Senator lance’s talk, W/ W. Hams, member of the board of trustees, addressed the audi ence and showed in detail the operat- I ft I I :v. JSK. . • --JlS. ■.'.v’tiXiK:'-'**' not his intention to make a political speech as had just been heard, but that he was making his appeal in be-, half of the boys and girls of the com munity and their schools. We have a splendid school system in Clinton, not perfect, oi course, but it ranks with the best in the state and each year is given a high rating in the Southern Associaticm of Schools and-Collies. The way to jiiSge a school ie not by granite’or brick 6y cHtics, but by their finished prodpct, tl^e boys and girls who come forwai^ fiti^m thmn as grad uates and the standing they make as they pursue higher education. Accord ing to the Southern Association's re port, be said, the percentage,of fail- aries of $4,950.31, a note of $1,400.00, liad paid interest of $224.70 which, ^ - .. . ♦. rr ♦ «»«««* to hto wouW If*" of Clinton MthiSed bnlnneo to the CMdtt of tWi «nterin« col wn* 2.4, RXt* UOyvI XvF m. MtMi A* transportation, janitor service,"apd in- actmiiet. cidentals from April 1 to July Ist, 1936, will be .$10,531.17, plus $375.00 insurance premiums. If our estimates are all cofrect,” he said, “end there is paid to the county treasurer what he expects for this school district, $8,812.29 wiU be needed to complete . the present school term.” Mr. Boyd further stated that In checking up with the citizens commit tee that offered its assistance, it was found when this committee estimated the amount of funds necessary to op erate the school for nine months, the board had overlooked reporting to It certain expenses that continued through the summer months and the additional expenses made necessary for the four-room addition to the Academy Street school building. The estimate used by that committee for the nine months as'given by the board was $46,498.25, the summer expenses and addition to the building not being included in the estimaU. The summer expense was $l^fe00 and the additional amount spent on Academy Street school $2,595.80, making a total of $60,593.06, showing that the estimate and the tx^rd of trustees budget made in the spring of 1934 were about the same. In conclusion the (Chairman, speak ing for the board, stated that all school funds are handled by warrants on the county treasurer, approved and recorded fey the county superintend ent of education. Any nne so desiring, he said, can find all records of the schools in their offices. Following Mr. Boyd, Senator Nance came forward to address the audience. He sUted that he was here on trial to defend himself. He had been ac cused, he said, of being responsible for the financial condition of the Clin ton publis schools, but that he was present to show where the responsi bility 'lay and that it did not rest upon him. He sUted he was a friend of the t public schools, had advocat^ a 3 per c«iit sales tax for their aid and re cently voted for the liquor license bill wfaidh would provide additional funds for their maintenance, and that he had stood on his platform of economy and ivlief to the taxpayers. It had always been 'his policy, he stated, to carry out his promises to the people, that ; he had been elected in 1982 on a plat form to reduce taxes and that this promise had been faithfully kept. He then went into a recitation of tax fig ures, showing that he and “his” dele gation, had saved the taxpayers of the county enormous sums. Senator Nance said ha had made Mijuple provision for running tha fi^h*?**i* nina nsooths but that tha while the average for the state was 12.3, and for the entire association 12.96. The report frequently comes from various colleges, he said, that thi_ Ctinton _i»yi and girls ranle at the very top in their schblastic work and leadership ability in various col- Continuing, he stated that while the charge ' of extravagance had been made, the facts proved the contrary. State Track Meet Here Saturday .1 Presbyterian College To Be Host ! To State Cinderpath Stars for Annual Contests. j The board of trustees for the past seveinl years (of which he was^not the colors are raised, and then What is expected to be the most successful South Carolina state track meet ever held here will open with the freshman finals and the varsity trials on Friday, May 3. The 4wo day meet wiH <^pen Friday at 1:30 with the frosh ploe vault. The first track event will be the 120- yard high hurdles at 2:30 o'clock, which will be a freshman trial flight. Varsity trials will be run Fri^y in the following events: 100-yard dash, 22()-yard daah, 220-yard low hurdles, 120-yard high hurdles, 440-yard run. Varsity finals will begin on Satur day at 2:00 P. M. A grand parade of all the teams contesting will take place at 2:15 led by the college band. Tire captain jrf each team will march one pace in front of hit team, carry> ing his school's colon. The proces sion will enter the field through the west gate, follow the track around the south curve, and then turn to face the stands nearest the gymna sium. The national anthem will be played member) has been economical and conservative always in expending the people's money as • evidenced by the fact that only $141,000 in bonds has been invested in buildings and equip ment, while many towns this size have erected handsome'and more ex pensive buildings. To whom do the schools belong? he asked. For whom are they oper ated? North give employment to tha Teachers, not for the trustees, not for the county delegation—they are oper ated for the children, our boys and girls—our most precious assets. The people of Clinton have always been capable of managing thCir schools, he said, and they do not need the coun ty senator and “his” delegation to op erate them. These. members we^ elected as members of a legislative body in Columbia and not as guard ians and dictators for the schools of the county, he'^^d. " What is it costing this^ district^, to operate its schools? he asked. The to tal cost for the schools’ operation this year is $58,741.06, with an enrollment of 1900 children. This means that we are spending annually per child $28.30; per month per child $2.85; per week per child 54c; per day per child less than Se^Is that extravigance 7 It is less than the average man spends per day for cigarettes, cigars or cold drinks ? Now let’s see 'what your taxes are, you are hearing much about, he added. The assessed valuation of the district is $l,700jp00, which means that 1 mill raises in round figures $1,700. If you own pne^rty that is returned on the Munty tax books at $1,000, you pay $17.50 ^ler year school tax; if .your assessment is $500, you pay ^.75; if your assessment is $250, President John MeSween will welcome the visiting teams. 'Tlie first field event will be the one mile run at 2:30. Medals will be larded winners of first, second, and third places. The victory cup will be awarded to the captain of .the.winning, team at 4:87, and the flag will be lowered at 4:40 P. M. to complete the meet. Seven or more teams .will be ent ered, with Clemson, Carolina, and Presbyterian $ivCn the choice as pos sible victors. The "nger outfit has . been undefeated in the state this year. Carolina has lost to Clemson and P. C., and P. C. has lost only to Clemson. Each of the above mentioned teams holds five of the existing state rec ords. Eight records fell last '^year and several will undoubtedly fall this Saturday. Folger, Clemson, has al ready run the low hurdles in leas than the record for the flight. Bill Clark, Presbyterian, stands an excellent chance to J^nash his own record of 50.5 seconds for the 440 set last year. Green, Clemson, or Cardwell, Caro lina, is expected to at least come with in striking distance of the state mile record. If Colin Hudson, Hose two miler, is in top shape by Saturday, the 10 minutes, 13 seconds, record for the distance run may also topple., . With thrills galore in prospect for both field and track events, one of the largest crowds of the year is ex pected to witness the 1935 edition of the South Carolina state meet. Nance Proposes *His’ School Bill It was ’ reported here yeater-' day that ,Senator C. D. Nance look steps Tueaiiay to carry out his threat made at the mass meeting here la.at Friday night ' to legislate the present board of trustees of Hunter School Dis trict No. 5 out of office. The bill he introduced in the senate is reported to provide for, the appointment of a new board consisting of the following: W. C. OXLEY. • J. F. JACOBS. HORACE PAYNE. DR. S. C. HAYS. S. W. SUMBREL. Mr. Sumerel is the only mem ber of the present board named in the Nance bill. The Chronicle as it went to press last night had not been able to procure a copy of the bill for piAlkation t(t?3ay, Mrs. D. C. Barksdale Passes At Laurens Thomwell Is Track Winner / Columbia, April 2B.—Thornwell or phanage’s versatile track crew cap tured their fourth state high school track crown in^five years by the score of 51 3-5 in the class B and C finals held on University field Thursday af ternoon. The boys from Clinton woiT seven of the 13 first places and dou bled the score of Easley High, which was Necond with 26 1-10 points. Co lumbia’s University High placed third with 23’ points. Sixteen high schools, winners in their district meets, sent over 150 men to the finals. Officials stated that it wi^s one of the l^st meets of its kind ever held. I.aurens, AprH 25.—Mrs. Kate Bolt Barksdale, 78, widow of Dowds C. Barksdale, died Thur.sday shortly be fore 11 o’clock at the family hopie on I Sullivan street, after a prolonged ill- I ness. ’ ^ . ! Funeral services were held from the jre^ence Friday morning at 11 o’clock iwUn her {rastor, the Rev. William D. ISpinx, of the P’lrst Baptist church, in {charge of the rites. Intennent follow- e<l in the family plot in the Laurens cemetery. Mrs. Barksdale was a native of this county, a daughter of the late William and Parthena Bolt, who were among the leading citizens of their day. She had been a resident of Laurens up wards of 60 years, beloved by friends and neighbors for her noble traits of character and the gentlewoman that she was. She had been affiliated with the .Bapti.st church since young girl- rhood, and had held her membership I with the First Baptist church here for many yoars. She had been a faithful mem^r tFe Wbman^s Missionary society and had served as president in 1902. Mrs. Barksdale is survived by four sons, Edgar 1). Bark.sdale, William 0. Barksdale, J. Alloa Barksdale and L.- C. Barksdale; two daughters. Miss Lucia Bark.sdale and Mrs. C. M. Bur- NATION HEARS ROOSEVELT President Ai^rts United States On Road To Normal Times. Links Work-Relief Drive With Social Security. Washington, Auril 28.—Sounding a new note of optimism. President Roosevelt tonight outlined his work relief program to the nation in a sp^h plying “no sectional, no po- jlitical di.stinctions” in distributing the $1,000,000,000 fund. Speaking from the oval room of the White Hou.se in one of his radio fire- the president said that "never, since my inauguration in March, 1929, have I felt so unmistak ably the atmo.sphere of recovery.” He summoned all citizen.s to keep a watchful eye that.the work program should be “the most efficient and cleanest example of public enterprise the world has ever seen,” and laid down a six-pronged diagram of prin- cipU^s to govern the spending in his work program. Then Mr. Uoos^lt pnumeratefl a .series^af legislative pro posals he expects congress to enact at this session. Topping thi/list was his economic security /fegislatidn, which alijady has been Passed by the hou.se., Tne president/^d this mea sure was unextricablyinterwoven with the four billion dollar works program. The other bilh/whose enactment he called for wer/ those to extend and revise NRA; to do away with certain types of "unnecessary” utility holding companies; to broaden the interstate commerce commission and extend ite regulation to busses and trucks; and toi^ amend the federal reserve banking The chi^f executive said t^at for the firiit time in five years relief rolls had declined instead of increasing du ring the winter months and that" they "are still declining.” Rorida Street 1 Winners Picked The annual story-delling contest of Florida Street school was held last The principles that he laid down to govern the allotment of money, the four 'billion dollar fund were: “The projects should be, qseful. “Projects shall be of a nature that a con.siderable proportion of the mon ey spent win go into wages for la bor. "Projects which promise ultimate return to the federal tieasury of a considerable proportion of the cost.s will be sought. „ “Funds allote<i for each project should be actually and quickly spent and nof-held""Over"iiTttH later years. “In all cases projects mu^ be of a character to give employment to those on relief rolls. “Projects-mast Ih* allocated tO lo-' calities or relief areas in relation to the number of workers on relief rolls in those areas. gess; four gramkhildren, all of'whom j R'00''‘*vclt sketched, the machin-i reside at laiurens, with The exception carry on the of a grandson, Sojyar Barksdale, saying he expected the division Kershaw. Dr. B. O. Whitten - *4^ • Highly Honored At a meeting last week in Chicago of the American Association on Men tal Deficiency, Dr. B. 0. Whitten of this city, was; made president-elect, thus succeeding to the presidency of the as.sociation'one year’hence. This is an organization composed of super intendent, staff mtrmbers and social workers connecte<l with.the various institutions throughout Canada dnd the United States. The association was organized many years ago for the sci entific Study of the educational,^ socio logical, medical and p.sychological as pects of mental deficiohey and epi- of applications and information to sift the applications, where 'they would go to the allotment division for a fur ther sifting and allocation of the mon ey. Afterwar(L.he .said, the proper gov ernment agency would be notified to supervise or carry out the work and the progres.s division headetl by Harry L. Hopkins, would keep a close watch on the purchasing, employment, wages and, finally, the shifting of the work ers back into private .employment as rapidly as possible. ‘‘We are losing no time in getting the government’s vast work relief pro gram under way and we have every reason to believe that it should be in full swing by autumn,” he said. The president said there were some imperfections in every job. “'I'here are chiselers in every walk lepsy Thursday afternoon, with a group of meeting Dr. Whitten pre- the Academy Street and Providence of life,” he ajjilexL “There are those in ^very industry who are guilty of school teachers serving as judges. In the primary department* first, place was won by Amelia payhie of | the third grade, second place by Joy Godfrey of the first grade. Upper gri^e winners were: First place, Billy 'Blanton of the seventh grade; second place, Evelyn Stowe of the sixth grade. Each of the first place winners received an award of $1.50. sented a paper to the association fafUce, every profession has which has received comment in thel!^* experience Associated Press throughout various!'" has taught me that the exceptional instances of wrong dnipg in government are probably less nu- HOW THEY RATE CENTRAL CAROLINA LEAGUE Annual Five-Acre Cotton Contest Is Now Open To State Farmers Laurens county farmers who "desire you pay $4.38; if your assessment is to participate in the annual South $100, you pay $1.75; if it is $60, you Carolina five-acre cotton contest this pay o8c. ^ year now have an opportunity to en* Turning to teachers’ salaries, he roll. Cash prizes amounting to $2,000 said that colored porterslh the Capitol at Columbia draw more pay than the Iverage teacher’s pay in this statd. Grammar grade tethers in the Clin ton schools on a yearly salary basis are being paid $14.24 per week. High school teachers are being paid oii the sanM basi8'$17.22 per week. He asked all in the audience who thought that scale was excessive to stand up and express themselves, but not a single person arose. Ckmtinaiiig, he said, as a citizen, ’ (OoB^MOd M p$Ct two) will bfe given. The contest, sponsored by the South Carolina Cotton Manufacturers associ ation in cooperation with the exten sion department of Clemson college, has as its object the prodiiction of bet ter cotton yield'and staple value. Last year hundreds of farmers com peted. First prize of $760 was won by L. R. Rollins, of Kershatv, Lancaster county, who produced 5,200 pounds of lint on five acres. ^ G. B. Williams of Greer, won the $200 first prize for the Piedmont dis trict. “The purposes of the contest,” it is explained, “are the production of sta ple lengths desired by South Carolina textile spinners, 1.5-16 to 1 1-16 inch- es^ and to show that such lengths of staple can be produced at a profit to the farmer when methods of produc tion adapted to pre.sent conditions are followed.” Prizes offered follow: First state, $750; second state, $275; prizes of $200 first, and $125 second, are also awarded in three separate districts in the state. Miss Ruby*Boiweia spent the week end fA Kinards with her parents. W L Pet. Joanna .... 3 0 1000 Greenwood 2 1 667 Ware,Shoals ... .... 2 1 667 Clinton ■ 2 1 667 Watts 1 2 333 Laurens 1 2 333 Matthews .... 1 2 333 Ninety-Six . 0 3 000 Where They Play Saturday Watts at Ninety-Six. Joanna at Matthews. - Greenwood at Laurens. Ware Shoals at Clinton. merous than in almost!-" every other line of endeavor. “The most effective means of pre venting such evil^in this work relief program will be the eternal vigilance of the American people themselv.s,” William MeSween Leader .At Rome BIG FOUR LEAGUE W L Pet. Mollohon 3 0 1000 Goldville .... .... 1 2 ' 333 Newberry 1 3 333 Lydia .... 1 2 3?3 Mrs. Brewer Dixon and children of Talladega, Ala., are visiting her par ents,' Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Bailey. 1 f ■\ 'i ■ ■kr.. William Crews MeSween, son of President John MeSween, of Presby terian college, and Mrs. MoSween, is' a leader in the senior class of the Dar lington .School for Boys, Rome, Ga. Young MeSween’ was end on the varsity foodball squhd. Until incapaci tated by a sprained ankle, he was tjie star pble-vaulter of the school.'^ * As one of tbe associate editors of The Darlingtonian and as chairman of the Forum, senior di.-^cussion group, he has bee^ prominent in literary ac tivities. He is also president of the Darling ton Sunday school class of the old. First Presbyterian church of Dr. Ax- son, father of the first Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, where he was long time pas tor. *\ . i \ -\