The Bamberg herald. (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, January 10, 1901, SUPPLEMENT TO Bamberg Herald, Image 6
schools to become too mechanical and inelastic, the irregularity in
attendance at the country schools renders it impossible to have
graded instruction or systematic work. Since the State otters free
education in order that its people may be fitted for the duties of citizenship,
it is worthy of consideration whether, within proper limits
of term and age, it should not require attendance at the schools.
The ideal is a well articulated system extending from primary
grade to college: at least one well equipped school in every community,
accessible'to every citizen of school age: a term of at least
eight months, and the requirement that, within reasonable limits,
the community avail itself of the advantages offered by the public;
a County Board of Education, removed from local prejudices,
charged with the duty of assigning teachers to vacant schools and
of inspecting the schools. At a later period each school should be
equipped with a circulating library, and should be prepared to give
' * > ? i r- . e ,i. ^ :,i i
tecnmcai training" in tne industrial arts. \\ e are iar irom me iuccu,
but our schools are making gratifying progress; and the whole subject
has been much embarrassed by the race problem. We should
address ourselves faithfully to the development of the system.
"The glory of founding educational systems cannot be ours; but the
effort for improvement, by building wise practice upon sound theory,
is within the reach of each one of us.'' Whatever you effectively
do for the improvement of our educational system will be so
much wisely contributed to the welfare of the State and the advancement
of civilization.
The report of the State Superintendent of Education will 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 tilings which are neces??
ninrn Tn t?ir? PCtimatinn P)f the State
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Superintendent one of the most pressing needs of the country
schools is better supervision of the work done. This is a very important
matter and cannot be too strongly impressed. To secure it,
however, it is necessary to have and to spend more money, so that
men trained for the work could be employed. The salary of County
Superintendents ranges from $300 to $600, while the town Superintendents
receive $900 and upwards and their fields of supervision
are incomparably smaller and far less complex, and hence their responsibilities
are less. And yet unless the selection 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 the management of the
country schools. The management of our schools should be as far
removed from political influences as possible and men should be put
in charge who are devoting their life to the work. The office of
County Superintendent of Education being an elective office, only
as the people come to realize the importance of efficiency and competency
as essential qualifications in 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 are more or less influenced
by those things which affect their own interests. Provision' should
be made as already suggested for a County Board of Education selected
in such way as not to be influenced by local or political prejudice
who would have the duty of inspecting the schools and appointing
teachers to vacant schools. There is no more important
subject to demand your most careful and earnest attention than the
education of the 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. The previous year the white schools averaged 19 weeks
and the colored schools 14weeks. The enrollment in the white 1
schools during the past year was 126,289; in the colored schools, 1
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 we are making progress slowly. The town schools in nearly
every case run for 36 weeks. It does not seem to me that the country
people should be satisfied with less for their children. The expenditures
for white schools during last year were $700,540.60.
while during the year previous they were S576.353.26: for the negro
schools last year, $202,17^.93. and the year previous ^193,401.39.
This shows some gain in the matter of expenditures for common
school education. But when we consider that the enrolment is constantly
increasing, thus calling for the employment of more teachers,
and when we consider that our schools now run only 21 weeks
when the regular school term throughout the country is considered
to be at least 36 weeks, it is borne to our minds that we have yet In .
spend considerably more money 011 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 teachers in the
schools last 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 committee
rooms of the Legislature, and the space is not ample for the
duties which are required of this department. The Superintendent
of Education is guardian of a number of important records and it is
necessary to have the space to keep these. The department of education
should be put on the same basis as the other State departments.
The Summer School work has assumed such large proportions
and the correspondence and other clerical work of the State
Board of Education has so much increased within the last year that
the duties of this office have been considerably enlarged. Moreover,
there is a statute requiring the State Superintendent of Education to
collect in his office books, school apparatus, furniture, appliances of
various kinds for inspection by teachers, school officers, and trustees.
This cannot be done unless the Superintendent has sufficient
room to display them.
The reports of the various State Colleges will be presented to you
through the Annual Report of the State Superintendent of Education
and for detailed information as to them you are respectfully
referred to this report. It is gratifying to note that the attendance
upon all of these institutions is good and the management wise and
i'-r .,? Mnmcr.n V4TOfiK* SllSTIOllded ill
SUllMiiClUl \ . iwAtuists at vituuvn hvh, x
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 be resumed with the beginning of the year.
At Clemson a textile department has been added in which is
taught, in addition to the usual instruction in mechanics, mathematics
and English, the manipulation of cotton machinery, designing
and dyeing, and the textile students are also taught to weave various
fabrics.
At the South Carolina College there is pressing need for a new
steward's hall. 'The new dormitory at Winthrop is nearing completion.
The South Carolina Military Academy will ask a slight increase
in the appropriation given to that institution so that the price
for pay cadets may be reduced from S300 to $250.
In order that you may intelligently act upon the appropriations
which will be asked for these various State colleges it is very important
that you should acquaint yourselves with their needs, and
this you can do only bv a careful study oi the reports which
will be submitted titrough the Superintendent of Education. It will
be impossible lor me in this connection lake up a discussion
the demands of each, college separately. It is your duty to guard
carefully the public treasury, but it is not always wise economy it an
institution is to be maintained by the State, to make niggardly appropriations
which will cripple the influence and the good work of
the institution. It is your duty to make these appropriations with
an intelligent insight into the needs and demands of the 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 the
rapid growth in manufacturing enterprises we are already a large
manufacturing State. The relation between the labor that is employed
in these enterprises and the employer is not merely one of
master and servant, but there are rights and privileges and duties,
obligations and opportunities, on both sides which should be carefully
guarded. There has been no conflict between employer and
laborer in this State and nothing should be done to disturb the ami.w.ku*
P.nvprnmonf- rrvnfrnizes ttie fact
1 1 tl I l O U 111V.1; livyw V .Mkik. v<v/ v? ^ ^
that it is the duty of the strong to care for and protect the weak. It
is certainly the right and the privilege of government to provide for
the inspection of any and all enterprises or corporations deriving
their life from the State and to sec that they do not impose upon the
weak. Of course this should be done with a proper regard for the
property rights of the corporations.
There is 110 doubt the employment and constant labor of children
of tender age 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 to 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 advantages of school., the situation for the future becomes
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 011 the streets presents almost as alarming
an 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 the expense of the stockholders, and
some of them will not employ children under twelve years of age and
they require the parents of such children to send the children to
school. This is the tendency in all the mills in this State. These
rhilrlrpn should he nrotected. but it is not well that they should be
Vi4'*V" V" " I 7
idle, and I doubt the wisdom of a rigid law laid down by the Legislature
prohibiting absolutely their employment. It would be better
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 the State. This would permit them during the vacation
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?the protection and the education
of the children of the mill districts. But better to have a prohibitory
law as%to child labor than that nothing should be done for the protection
of these children. $ The 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 out of the mills, and a law
making attendance upon school compulsory would ftave their cooperation
and accomplish the desired results. With our present manufacturing
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
the statement of the Board of Directors and the State Commissioner,
\
which will be submitted to you. will show.
The Dispensary system and the management of the liquor question
have occupied much of the attention of each Legislature since
the system was inaugurated. The Dispensary has also been an issue
in every campaign in the State 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
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could be brought to bear against it lias been presented Dy some ui
the ablest intellects of the State, and yet after a thorough canvass of
each County and a presentation of the case to the people the system
has been endorsed by decided majorities on four different occasions
and the 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 the people and the verdict every time has been
decidedly in favor of the Dispensary under the management of the
State. This reference is made to emphasize what seems to me to be
the duty of every patriotic citizen who loves liis 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 concerns. The
Courts have held that under the police regulations the State has a
right to take charge of the sale of whiskey. The question when reduced
to its last analysis is not one of principle but of expediei^py.
What is the best method of dealing with this evil so as to secure the
best results. That is the question.
The present system, as it may be improved from time to time, is
the best 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 enforcement
of the law. As public sentiment grows in its favor it will beeasier
to enforce it. The mayors and intendants of the towns and
cities of the State, in response to a circular which I issued during
November, state that the law is well enforced and that the sentimcnof
the towns is for a strict enforcement. The exceptions are the
cities of Columbia and Charleston and a few Counties in which the
sale of whiskey is prohibited by law. In fact in those Counties in
which n<> dispensaries are established it would conduce to a better
ont'nrrenu-nt of law and there would be less illicit sale of whiskey if
dispensaries were established. Ill the cities named the Dispensary
cannot be rigidly enforced so long as public sentiment upholds violators
of the law and grand juries tail to iind true bills and petit juries
to convict when cases are made and the evidence furnished. As
public sentiment grows in favor of the law in these cities and the prejudice
against it dies away convictions for violations will be had
and it can then be more rigidly enforced.
As a rule, however, the law has been well enforced, and it lias been
with a small constabulary force but with the aid of the municipal
officers. All law is violated. If there were no violators of law and
this were an ideal country there would be no need of law or courts to
try and punish offenders. The United States Government with its
illimitable resources has failed to stop all violations of the revenue
laws.
The present law might be made a little more explicit in some particulars.
i?,r in some respects it will lake a judicial deliverance to determine
what lias been repealed and what re-enacted by the amend
mcnt adopted last year, and yet in its practical operations the lawhas
worked very well.
While it is important that the laur shall not be violated by illicit
sale of whiskey, it is equally important that those charged with its
administration shall conform to its requirements. If this were more
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 not
violate the law every day, not with any criminal intent. The law requires
that. "Before selling or delivering any intoxicating liquors to
any person a request must be presented to the County Dispenser,
printed or written in ink. dated of the true date, stating that he or she
is of age. and the residence of the signer, for whom or whose 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 true name
and signature, attested by the County Dispenser or his clerk, who receives
and files the requests. But the requests shall be refused, if the
County Dispenser filling it personally knows the person applying is
a minor, that lie is intoxicated, or that he is in the habit of using intoxicating
liquors to an excess; or if the applicant is not so personally
known to said County Dispenser, before filling said order or delivering
said liquor, he shall require the statement of a reliable and .
trustworthy person of good character ana habits, known personally
to him, that the applicant is not a minor, and is, not in the habit of
using intoxicating liquors to excess." The County Dispenser takes
an obligation to the effect that he will and another afterwards that fie
does comply strictly with this provision and all of the other provisions
of the law.
It has become customary for County Dispensers to sell to any one
who applies to purchase without being identified or without signing
the application "in his own true name and signature" and without
stating "for whom or whose use it is required." Ample provision is
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 of Directors
on the recommendation and with the advice and consent of
the Senator and Representatives from each County. That brings the
case right up to the door of the members of the General Assembly.
This is a business matter and as careful and as prudent business
? ' , i * :<
judgment should be exercised in the 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 place in
charge of his private business. Politics and partizanship 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 dispensaries,
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 would
then be responsible to the people for a proper conduct of the business
placed in their hands. . M
In the management of the Constabulary it has been my aim and
purpose to secure men of discretion and judgment, who would per- }
form their duties without fear or favor, and at the same time without :
Kfl+i.roofln fti<itr?c#?1vpc anH the citizens! and it is a
L-dUSlUg LUllUil. L LIVIVV vww iitviiikibi > vu v.v. 7 ? ? T, . . . .
source of gratification to me that there has been no conflict. I sub- k mit
herewith a table showing the number of Constables employed, j
the total cost of the Constabulary, and the number of seizures for
each month during the past year, including eleven months, ipasmucb, . * >as
the fiscal year has been changed to end November 30. ; '1
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& i Number of seizures ? sr
tS ! -j k> -j to 3 to ? <10 3 - for this month. C.S' - j
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! ? i StSSSSgSSSg : Amount of gallons.
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for this month. ' , ' *' <
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2! 88Sgg22SS82 . No. of doz. here. | -1
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: I gSSooSlgggg ! of gallons here. ' ;_r
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j j Number of convictions for - ,
! ^iSS^SSSrtEJ^r; .-IS* ! violations of Dispensary *.*'
j ^ ~ ~ "* j Law obtained this month.
i Number of cases sent up to''
1 2 Lata-utau-uara Circuit Court and not re*.
I oo^'jiT?~j^itoo.S ported in column for con- i
L _]?victions. ,
j ? l^oSsiislw Amount of fines imposed- ,
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I I Ills: ?11: if Amount of fines paid. , (
8 8888: 388: 38 *
; Number convicted who ?
2 ! went t0 J*"1 or chain- ;
? *csMsioicw?j?jto? srantr and paid no fine.
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From the report of the State Board of Directors it will be seen 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 >vill be guided
by a love for your State and an earnest purpose and a sincere aesire
to do that which will be lor the best interests of the greatest number,
and not be actuated by prejudice or partisanship.
STATE HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE. J''
The issue of the Seventy-seventh Report of this institution calls
attention to the fact that it is one of the most venerable of its kind
in the United States. Begun as an experiment by the State, it has
long since demonstrated its importance and usefulness. The growth
of the institution, however, appears to have been confined largely *
to the last cjuarter of a, centurv. Of the 2*609 patients adinitt^d