University of South Carolina Libraries
The Forecast of a Business Administration Along Constructive and Pro? gressive Lines. ? ?? 1 1 - Enforcement of Law?Honest Primiries?Supt>ort of Public ScheK>le-^ornpulsX>rT Attendance-Medical Inspection? Child labor Law?Tax Commission?Woikmen's Com? pensation Act?Lind Registration and Rural Credits?Re? form in Panal and Charitable Institutions. At. President. Mr. Speaker and Gen? tlemen of the General Assembly . In assuming the duties of governor 1 am mindful of the responsibility of the position. 1 Invoke Dlvlno guid? ance, and earnestly pray that wisdom, courage, and strength mny be given me to see clearly and to do Justly in all that may come to me as duty. Under our form of government we have the executive legislative and ju? dicial branches, each separate and davtinct from the other, and each a ?heck on the other. The governor of the State Is at the head of the executive branch. It Is hie duty to enforce the laws as they stand on the statute books. It Is not bis prerogative to decide whether a law is wise, or beet suited to a com? munity, but he is to see to it that the law la obeyed. I have faith In our people; I believe that they '?ant the laws enforced, and their conscience Is awakened on this subject The watchword of my cam? paign last summer was the enforce? ment of the law. I now declaie afresh my purpose to carry out In good faith, this pledge. I bslltve In home rule? local self-government, end I expect every one who Is charged with en fcrcement of law to do his duty. My deaire Is that in each community the laws shall be enforced by the local authorities. I take this, the very first occasion, to sny to thes* authorities that I stand ready and eager to co? operate with them In thin work, and that they may be assured ot my aid with every available lawful means to attain this object. Lot me add anoth? er word, not as a threat, but as a warning; if in an> community the lawful authorities fail to enforce the laws. It will then be my duty to see that the laws are obeyed. This I la tend to do. The constitution provldee that the governor may make such recom? mendations to the general assembly as. In his Judgnym', are good and proper. The time has come whon we have to meet new condition*, we are living la a time of change and progress. This condition given us now pioblems to solve?new difficulties to meet. We are to be congratulated in having at the head of the nation a man of great discernment, courage, and ability, who Is dealing with national questions In a stateemansllke way. May I hope that we will seek Inspiration from that example to deal with State questions with wisdom and cour? age We are progressive Democrats and we must have the courago to do justly to each and every class of our cltl sens. even If It requires legislation , hitherto untried r>y us. Pi I sea 17 Election Law. In my Judgment, the people of this State, regardleee of psrty, owe a debt of gratitude to the last State conven? tion of the Democratic party for adopting rules and regulatlons govern? ing the primary elections. It Is due to the members of that convention to say that the apprehensions of those who opposed personal enrollment were not Justified, and that personal enrollment, together with tne publicity given to the rolls of tho clubs, saved us from Irregularities and charge* of fraud. So far as 1 know, the last primary election was one in which the will ' f the people was honestly ex preened by their ballot* and these were fairly counted I recommend, therefore, that your hon nable body shall enact Into law for primary elec? tions, such provisions an controlled the last Democratic primary election. In order that, in all prlmaty elections, each and every man entitled by luw to vote, shall have th* right and op? portunity to vote once and that no man shall be allowed to vote mom than once Education. It Is gratifying to know tin progress we are making in ed nation; it in ?van more gratifying to ieuli/?? thnt our people nr*- aroused to Its para? mount Importance; that (hoy are de? termined that the childr??n of aur State shall he educated. Thai is mani? fested in the spirit of self-help^ and esrh year sees 1 sitbst intlal Inen a ?? In tho number of school districts thst tax f hemm I rag for -rhol purpose* ??ur Institutions of higher learn nlng hn\e shown mI? ad SjfOWUi mid ai '?'' 1.did *ork< nvm mam _ _i provide liberally for their support so (that their growth and development can be maintained. But the fact stares us in the face that we are in la period of general business depres? sion and we must Jealously consider every item bf expenditure, to save the people from unnecessary burden. I suggest, therefore, that at this time we should not undertake any en? largement of these plants or any un? necessary expenses. Notwithstanding the progress we are making in educational facilities and the general awakening that has come to us, we must frankly admit that w< are still far short of the po? sition r e should occupy in the work of education. It stands to our shame that the percentage of illiteracy among our citizens is so great. This stain must be wiped out; and to do this, we must tax ourselves liberally for the public schools, in order that their usefulness may be increased, and that the opportunity for educa? tion may be given to all of our boys and girls. We must encourage the spirit of self-help, and every dis I trlct should first impose a local tax I by the vote of Its resident voters be ' fore receiving State tdd. Yet. the ! growth of the public schools will be I determined largely by the amount of j State aid. Weak country schools must > be helped and every community must be encouraged to have at least a aeven months' term, and no teacher should be required to teach more than fifty pupils. The State cannot have an educated and efficient cltlsen sr p unless it extends help to weak and undeveloped districts. Any community voting a liberal tax. and enrolling forty or fifty children, should be assured of adequate educa? tional facilities. It is the duty of tho State to make up deficiencies in such districts. The right-thinking peoplo of South Carolina will sta:id for this expenditure of public money, and will Indorse the position that' we canno: spend public money better xhan in ed? ucating the citlsen. The people real? ise and demand that tho shame of Illiteracy must be blotted out from us forever. Mill Town Schools. The problem of public schools in j manufacturing centres and mill towns demands attention and study. The State cannot longer overlook the needs of children in such commu j nltles, and should encourage the spirit of self-help and public respon sbllity that will bring substantial and marked results In public education, civic growth, and community cooper? ation and development. I recom? mend that the State department of education bo given such additional help in its forces that viP enable it to do in mill schools what has been done so effectively in high schools and rural schools. Attendance. As soon as ample school facilities shall ha*e been provided, the welfare of our people demands that our chil? dren shall be required to attend tho schools. The policy of tho State Is to ? educate all the people at the expense of all the people for the wolfare of all the people. I recommend, there j fore, fho enactment of n compulsory attendar.ee law with local option fea , ture. We must strive to bring each and every community to the point of having school facilities; and, wherever these facilities are acquited, to re? quire school attendance. Ploture to \ ourselves w'.iat It would mean to South Carolina if all of her litixens were educated, and for the at i tainment of this object v.e give our best and unfaltering effort. ildld IgftaW, 1 recommend, as a companion act to the compulsory attendance law with local option feature, that you will amend tho l?w on ehihi-lnhor ??y rais? ing the age limit from twelve to four tern years. Tutittlon and Asaansgaggg, We all agrei that Change is needed in our tax laws. VW ha ??, in |g? oast. given mo e attention lo appropria? tions than to revenue, \\. must lu rrcaae nur revenue nr decrease our expenditures in order to stop the s ec?growlni deficiency, The reports of th<< departments reveal the fact I hat i here t-. neu ? large neeumttlatod Jefhieuc) I ha I must I* provided for Assessments arc now unequal and un? just. Much property escapes taxa? tion; different cldsscs of property are' assessed i t different percentages of their valuo. Increased expenditures for educat onal and charitable institu- ; Hons, as well as increased expenses in i the Judicial department, necessitate the dcvisli g of progressive and mote ? modern methods of raising revenue. , I would therefore recommend that a j tax commission be created to examine I Into this subject and suggest a bill | embodying a plan of revision of our tax laws. In order to acquaint this commission, with existing conditions, I the duties now imposed upon the State Board of ISqualization and the State .Board of Assessors, should be devolv 1 ed upon it. Supervision of the en i forcement of existing tax laws, should I be given, temporarily at least, to this .commission, with power to equalize I the assessed valuation of property be? tween county and county and between tax district and tax district, increas? ing or decreasing assessed valuation, I as may be found necessary. Annual appropriations should be made by the Legislature for State, county, and school purposes, and the tax commis ? sion should be authorized to impose such levy upon the assessed valuation of property, when ascertained by it, as will raise the amount necessary to meet the appropriations made by the legislature. The method of taxation, the levying of the burden so as to se? cure justice between the tax payers, is of as great importance as the lix ing of the appropriations by the leg ] islature. In this connection, as there is now I in force a Federal tax on income, and as the operation of the present State j income tax has been so ineffectual in 'obtaining true and just returns, thus increasing rather than decreasing the inequalities of taxation, I recommend the repeal of the State law taxing in? comes. Workmen's Compensation Art. I realize the hardships and delays and the frequent miscarriage of jus? tice in suits for damages for bodily Injury. Damage suits intensify bit? terness of feeling between employer and employee without a satisfying and just sct'lement between them. Frequently, a. hardship in imposed up? on the employer; and just as fre? quently injustice and unnecessary de? lays in settlement of these cases are imposed upon the employee. 1 rec? ommend the appointment of a com? mission to study this question and to report, by hill or otherwise, to the legislature to convene in 1916, a measure that will bring relief to plain? tiffs and defendants, by a workmens* compensation act. ' Land Registration. The delay in congressional action on the establishment of a rural cred? it system, makes it necessary for us to look to ourselves for help in this matter. As the first and necessary step towards the development of such a system, I recommend the enact? ment of a land registration act that will guarantee title and fix boundary lines. This would enable the land? owner to obtain loans on his real property with as little trouble and expense as he is now able to do on his personal property, by removing the necessity of repeated examina? tions of title. This is a necessary j step before we can provide a system of land banks or rural credits. I deem these measures imporant, if properly planned and safe-guarded, in order to increase the number of home owners in the country and towns, and to furnish means for improvement of rural homes and the conditions of life in the country. Ownership of home means permanency of tenure; permanency of tenure means improve? ment of conditions of life and sur? roundings. If every farmer owned his place and lived upon It. the problems of rural life would automatically solve themselves; isolation removed, homes would be more comfortable; there would be better churches, better schools, better roads, and community life more attractive. 1 realize that this may be classed as progressive leg? islation, and we have limited preced? ence for It in this Country, dating I back only to 1910. 1 do not advise ?these land banks as State Institutions, but that they should be developed by Independent organisations under State supervision. Fertilizers. Under existing laws regulating the manufacture and sale of commercial fertilizers, our farmers have not ade? quate protection, nor do they yet know what Ingredients in fertilisers are best adapted to their lands, and What Ingredients should be avoided. This matter should be considered with great tare; the Interest of the farm* er who is the consumer, as well as the Intercsl of the hone.il manufactur? er, should be carefully guarded. I would recommend, therefore, the cre atlon of a commission I? emisist or representatives of the fertiliser de? partment at Clemson Col lego, of farmers, and of representatives id' the manufacturers, to revise our fertilis? er lau t and to report b> lull to the nexi sesi Ion of th ? leglslu! ore. Auditing. I recommend that uii state Inatlttu tions should be examined und ac? counts audited regularly, i suggest that you devolve this duty upon the State bank examiner, and give that department the necessary additional force to enable it to do this work thor- | oughly and effectively. ! Medical Examination of Pupils. 1 recommend the enactment of a law providing for the medical inspec- I tion of pupils In the public schools, | I under the supervision of the State board of health In cooperation with I the State board of education, and I with due provision for the protec i tion of the pupils. I Penal and Charitable Institutions. It seems to me that it would be wise to consider our penal and chari? table problems as a whole. There is a lack of coordination in the sys? tem of management of the State pen? itentiary, State hospital, reformatory, I jails, chaingangs and alms houses of I the State, counties and cities. We should develop our humanitarian un ! dertakings. In this work we have the 1 examples of other States, notably i Virginia, illustrating what may be ac? complished by having a State board I of charities. I recommend, therefore, ; that you consider the advisability of ' establishing, in this State, such a i board, for, though the proposition in? volves an expenditure each year, If this work is properly done, it would mean greater economy and efficiency in these institutions. National Guard. I favor a strong, well-maintained, well-disciplined National Guard, and urge that adequate appropriation he made for it, to make it an effective, j factor in the State government. c?outh Carolina must have an efficient and ef? fective National Guard. I will, at a later date, submit for your consideration, by special mes? sage, suggestions relating to the State institutions, especially the Hospital for the Insane, to which I am devoting special consideration. I will also communicate with you, later, on the subject of roads, the Confederate Home, the Con'ederate veterans, and the needs of the State board of health; also the Lever bill, cattle tick eradication, and other sub? jects pertaining to the interest of our people. Economy. Permit me to remind you that we are face to face with a situation in l business for which we have no prec? edent. The European war has clear? ly shown how closely allied and in? terlocked are the interests of the na? tions of the world. The general shrinkage in values and in business, has added greatly to the anxieties, cares, and suffering of all our people, and has greatly increased the num? ber of those without employment. Under these conditions, we must, on the one hand, jealously guard the ex? penditures of the public moneys; but on the other, we should be slow to stop public work that is desirable, which would further increase the number of the unemployed. The time is propitious for the State and coun? ties to undertake carefully conducted work on the public highways. This would accomplish a greatly needed Improvement and would give em? ployment to many who have no means of making a living. It is not a time for us to be discour? aged and to look at only the depression around us. If we think that conditions now are grue? some, pause for a moment and consid? er the conditions under which we la | bored in the sixities and early seven? ties. Faith and hard work brought us through these trials, and 1 am con? fident that self-reliance and resource? fulness will dominate and improve this situation. With self-denial, with economy, with energy and courage, we will meet our diillcultles bravely and we will work out our salvation, and will bring about a restoration of business and enterprise to a normal condition. Let me urge you to bear in mind these facts; and let us urge you to that cool consideration of all matters that will bring you to realize that economy does not consist mere? ly in cutting off items in the appro? priation bill, but rather in seeing that the pOO plea* money is judiciously spent and that for every appropriation the State will receive a full and ade? quate return. Conclusion. In conclusion; permit a personal reference. Prom my curliest youth the ambition to be the governor of South Carolina has tilled my breast. To serve my state is my ardeni de? sire-?to join all other patriotic eltIsens in the effort to do her service and hcl|? in Ihe upbuild? ing of her resources and In the char? acter of her cltlsenshlp. I ap? peal to all cltisons lo join me in the determination to place and to keep South Carolina In the forefront a motu;: her sister States in progress, in moral tone, and in an enlightened and educated ulUseuship? 1 am conti dent that 1 voice the desire of a large majority of South Carolinians when I urge our people now to turn their hacks on putt factional bitterness and dissension, to look forward, turning their faces resolutely to the future. The vision of a people reunited must be kept before us; a peop e determin? ed to take advantage of the re? sources which God has put with? in our grasp, to develop these resources; to build up our waste places; to diversify our crops and in? dustries; to educate and uplift our citissnship, and to that end 1 pray that God may give to me and you a rwise and understanding heart, that we may be able to discern the evil from the good, and that lie may give us the spirit to think, to say and to do such things as arc right, and that His blessing may be upon us in our efforts to serve our State. MANNING SENDS CONGRATULA? TIONS. Governor-Elect Sends Telegram to Governor Charles A. Smith. I Governor-Elect R. I. Manning has ; been quite a busy man for some time, but he was not too busy to send a. i telegram Friday to Governor Charles jA. Smith congratulating him upon I his elevation to the ollice of chief j executive of the State of South Caro? lina. Mendel L. Smith, who was elect ; ed judge of the first judicial circuit, (succeeding Judge Ernest Gary of Co? lumbia, was also sent a telegram of congratulations on his election to the judgeship. The telegram to Governor Smith was as follows: Governor Charles A; ; Smith, Columbia, S. C. "Accept my congratulations on your assuming the executive chair." Governor Smith replied by letter. "Hon. Richard I. Manning, Sumter, S. C.i I appreciate and thank you for your kindly message of congratula i tlon. I have the form only. You will have the substance. 1 wish you much success." Cordially, Chas. A. Smith Governor. Mr. Manning's telegram to Judge Mendel L. Smith was. "Judge Mendel L. Smith, Camden, S. C, Accept my I congratulations on your election to ! the Judiciary." The telegram in reply was as fob lows: "Hon. Richard I. Manning, Sumter, S. C. Please accept my sin? cere appreciation of your kind mes? sage." Mendel L. Smith. NEGROES SHOOT AND ROB OLD MAN. Walter Williams and Sam Garey in Jail Charged With the Crime. Camden Chronicle. Because he threatened to report two negroes who had assaulted and robbed him of twenty cents, R. Frohmburg, an aged German, was shot at three times Saturday night while making his way from Sumter to Camden, when about seven miles below Cam? den. The wounded man walked on to Camden, where he was given med? ical attention at the Camden hospital, and found to be shot through the mouth. The old man told his story to the police, and chief of police Whitaker, Constable Sinclair and Policeman Stewart went down in search of the assailants. From this trip they learn ? ed where the men could be found and early Wednesday morning they made another trip and arrested Sam Gary and Walter Williams, charging them with the deed. The police say that the evidence they have against the men is sufficient to convict both. Tns men are now being held in the county jail. The old man states that after he was struck several blows with a stick he told the negroes that he was going to town and report the affair. The negroes replied 'weil just fix you so that you can't tell," and began firing at him. A smaller brother of. one of the negroes witnessed the shoot? ing and ran away, afterwards telling the olficers of the occurrence. On his trip to arrest the negroes Saturday night chief of police Whit? aker had a narrow escape from be? ing killed. He called at a negro house occupied by Scipio Salmond, re? ceiving no reply he waited a few mo? ments when he was fired at through the house, the load tea ring off a board just in front of him. The negro was arrested and brought to Camden and proved to be the same negro who was in the automobile with Sheriff llucka hec ami Mi". K. YY. Man bison when their automobile went into a creek near Darlington. Very Kind of Htm? ('?de Ii. Blease is evidently fixing things so Mr. Manning can start at the bottom and work his way up as he deems best. After all. there is much house cleaning to he done and with the jails ami penitentiary empty the scouring bursh can he applied to better advantage. As te the militia, it ought not to take the new governor long to bring about a loyal rallying to the colors ami to effect a stalwart, soldierly or? ganisation, Hartsvllle Messenger. TOBACCO ACKKAUE INCREASED. Seed for More Than 1,000 Acres UilCM Out by Chamber of 1 oiiiiiiercc. That Sumter will Ijo a .large ami live tobacco market this summer is indicated by the fact that the acreages devoted to tobacco in the territory contiguous to Sumter will be very much larger than last year or any time formerly, if the season is pro? pitious and the crop a successful one. Already through the t hamber of Commerce seed has been given out to farmers who have stated that they would plant 4.53?; acres and the pro? bability is that much more seed will ! be given out in the next few days. Each person applying for the seed, which are distributed by the lesses of , the warehouse free of charge through I the Chamber of Commerce, has been ; given more than enough to plant the acreage which he desired to plant, j but this was in order that he might j be insured of having a .sufficient i quantity of the young plants, j It is stated by the Chamber of j Commerce secretary that a number of farmers have already begun to pre? pare their tobacco beds, and that a ; number of farmers have notified him that they were preparing to erect their tobacco barns so as to be in readiness for the harvest next sum Check IMseaso Spread Promptly. Government statistics indicate a I loss of about l,73f,aga hogs last year from disease. The hogs lost in this way are valued at $GG,417,000. One of the most important factors in the prevention . of loss from ^contagious animal diseases is prompt attention to the trouble. Delay means spread of infection. Any South Carolina farmer finding symptoms of cholera in one of his hogs should notify his county demonstration agent at once and send to Clemson College for anti-hog cholera serum with ffhtet) to have the well hogs Inoculated. In communicating With the veterinary division of Clemson College concern? ing serum, give approximate weight of well hogs. Geo H. Hurst, HSjrjita aj Esjjjsjt; Prompt Attention to Osy or Night Calls: AT J. D. Craln Old Stand. H. Main Phones ShjMtoi Make a 1915 Resolution To let us do all your Jew elery and Watch repairing. Then you will be insured of getting: a good job doneg by an expert. W. A. Thompson, JEWELER AND OPTICLSLn. "S. A II." Scamps Give*. OVER 66 YEARS" EXPERIENCE Patents trade mauks Designs Copyrights Ac. au - r V W 1 ? VUrTnlun I 9 IftW Anyone sending a ske'oh nnd description m quickly ascertain <>i.r opinion free whether u~ invention is probably putcntable. Comraunlca lionsstrtctlyconUdentlal. HANDBOOK on Patent? sept frei. Oldest agency for securing patents. Patents taken through Munn ft Co. receive tpe'eial notice, without charge, Ik the Scientific American. Ahandiornely Illustrated weekly, l.nrccst ctr dilation of any sciontlSg Journal. Terms. $3 a old by alt newsdealers. New York Ingtou. D. C year; four monthB, fL 8old byall_newsdealers. MUNN & Co.36"?*'* H Branch Office. G25 F 8U Washington. Our Foreign" Advertising is in Charge of Jacobs & Co., Clinton, S. C, SOLICITING OFFICES: New York?111 K. 2Rth St.E. I.. GouM Chicago?491 Advent alas Bldc...W. B. Porchor Detroit? Hotel fuller.<'. L. Wtaa st. Louts?i:m Ceutrsl Natl. Bank Btdg., m. k. liana mon Nashville?KU 8th Ave. N.I. M. Riddle, Jr. I Atlanta?Weak1} Memorial Bld.K--.J- 6. Keough Uhevllle, N. ('.?42t H. Main 8t.<;. H. bison Philadelphia?1421 Arch Ht. A.o'Oantel Richmond, Vs.?Murphy Hotel_i. W. Ligon DEATH'"VERMIN RAT CORN Best r:it and mice exterminator ??ade. Kills quickly and absolutely sytthouiodor. MumndflCK ihua preventing decompoat? linn. Better than all the trapa In ihn world. Invist on Genuine RA r >RN. 2*?e,60c, ji at dealers or t>y mail,uost> \1 paid. V BOTANICAL MFC. CO. k^smr 4th <ft Havm St$.t Philadtlphim. Pa.