The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, January 13, 1917, Image 2
?MMOR
umhe ras.
In Annital Message to General Assembly,
Governor Manning Reviews State's
Affairs of Past Yean
Entotixirat.of.LawA Strengthening Those Already in Force is
Qhftef TlMtm^oi Executive's Statement?Discusses r duca
Hont flliMii J TTIni linn Laws, Registration, Law Enforce?
ment, National Guard, Good Roads, Prohibition, Rural'
Crtfifs, Torrens System, Boil Weevil and? Other Matters
?Will Send Spec at Messages on Other Subjects.
Columbia, Jan. 9.?Richard lj'
Manning, governor. In his annual i
mensage to the general assembly of1
South Carolina today at nohn recom?
mended a program of progressive leg^
tsletioo and reviewed the condition of
the State government. The addrea*
was read In the house of representa?
tive* and in the senate with a large
number of spectators in the gallleriee
of both houses. Thero were seW
oral questions that the governor
did nof touch upon, which will bo 1
doolt with later In special message*}
The guyerner only discussed those
question! that demand early and earnt
est srtteotlon.
The governor in hie message die*
* eugsjsd education, primary election*
low*, registration, law enforcement!
the *fnt|6na| Guard, prohibition, goo-1
retd* the: Torens system, rural oredi
Its. boll weevil, the Lever sot, the
State warehouse system* the State!
Hsepitai for the Insane, salaries and
urged strict economy.
''PVem a careful survey end obser.
vatiesi of the: entire State, I recom*
mmul that the present law, known as
the gal Ion-a-moot*)- act. should be
sSusssfd and strengthened 1* several
ftarflcirtntaV' said-the governor, dis
cusHosj ipohibMioa.
Assjbns the more Important recom*
mendatlont made by the governor
were:
^ A State-wide compulsory education
lava i
A* State board of examiners to sei
euro fhore oampetant teaehere for the
l| Mil II 1 111 Ml SSI
f 4**sNfuJMS*fc* egrt^turej cours?
es I* th? schools.
The Australian ballot ay stem for]
te* eitles amd towns of the State.
UberoJ support foe the schools.
The- right to suspend local officers
who fail to enforce the law.
liberal support for the National
Guard.
A Ant but stricf law regulating the
importation of Whiskey."
A1- StatS highway department to en*
able South Carolina to share in the
fetNral? appropriation. Is among the j
matters' submitted for consideration.
The^ governor* also called attention to
other highway legislation.
A' short term rbrai credits law.
A^ continuation of the cuttle tick j
eradication campaign.
Severnl* acts' ts strengthen the
State Wmrehoneef system.
Creation' of a State Institution for'
tho cere of. the* feeble-minded.
Carefut Investigation of the work
or ttio state tuberculosis sanitarium
at State Park.
14' 'nil appr nrintions for the sup*
port of the Confederate veterans.
rire insurance leafslation which
??t iri'adjust oUr difficultles, protect our
hnrtetest* and be fair to all parties
eoru*?rdtdi
Increase in salhrien for State ofll? ;
claJa lo meet the high cost of living
tnteft must be held down to ;i
minimum whl< h is consistent with ei
flcieMy.
Tale enactment or repeal of the
Staid income t ix law*.
Tfn* rdesedge delivered by the gov-.
ernor contains about 7,000 word*.'
add'was given c|o*p atfnt'oh by the I
meiubers arfa fbe spectators while'
Ithe decum??rit \n?s t?e4ne; read.
After pointing out that the prohibl
tl?n^htw should be amended In nevcf- ]
al particulars tho governor" point:
the necessity for the appointment of
constsJblm to aid tho local officers In
enforcing the terms of the act. "We
neW a law that run be effectively and i
rigidly enforced?' said the governor.
Gov. Manning d Isen seed conditions
at the S\ate Hospital for the Insane
and urged that n liberal appropria?
tion lie made to continue tHe pro?
graming of improvement, rte asfced
t:^at the Uglslattre visit the institu?
te in a body and see for themselves
v/hM has* t?e#n accomplished during
t' ? last two years;
Thr message hf foil 'ollows:
Gentlemen nr tHe tie. t Assembly-.
In eWrormlly '\<ifrf custom, and in
response to an obligation Imposed by
the CdhHtltfitlorl upon ftl<* air gflvdrnoi?,
l submit fhf* >'rihr corfsiilenitiou the
following meswAge.
, I' extend to yn?f .? \catrn |flStillst I
greM you i\n men inspired by a dMIre
to transact the business of the State in
_ -
a thorough, economical and efficient
way, that will appeal to the best
judgment of our people and give that
service to t?c State which will aid In
elevating the moral tone and stand?
ards of our citizenship and will up?
build our material and industrial re?
sources. In these efforts I can as?
sure you of my ready, hearty and
earnest co-operation.
The past year has been signalized as
one of unusual and far-reachini
events, and the obligation rests upon
us to join together in fervent, thanks
to Almighty God for Hts guidance and
for the blessings He has bestowed up?
on us. By His beneflcience we have
been blessed with health; the earth
has yielded crops sufficient to sustain
us, and in all lines of industry we
have made progress. Our people ex?
hibit the spirit of thrift/ effort and
self-reliance. They recognise as never
before the value of education, both
as a political and economical neces?
sity, and demand greater education?
al facilities which will better equip
our boys and girls for the duties and
responsibilities of life. Our blessings
have been abundant,-both in national
and State affairs. Ae a people we
he ve been saved from the unspeakable 1
ruin of war. We have contemplated
with horror the accompaniments c?
war, with its daily devastation; with
its seflering and tortured women;
with its slaughter of men by thou?
sands, and with economic ruin, while
our country has been- at peace with
the world. For thane and all other
^Pxpressfig^P^
Him whose enfleftcertt pYovidenee has
unerrmgly guided us, we turn now I
to a consideration of those specific
duties that' devolve upon us as ser?
vants of our commonwealth. I
It is not my purpose at this time to
repeat the findings and recommenda?
tion.- of the different departments of
the Ststc government, but briefly to j
indicate those subjects which, In my
Judgment, demand your early and
earnest attention. i
Education.
I commend to your special consider- I
ation the report of the State Sr peril,
tendent of Education. That report is
highly interesting and instructive, and I
exceedingly encouraging.' I caunot
too strongly stress the importgnoe of
the work in the common schools, be?
cause the education of the vast ma?
jority of our boys and girls Is limit- I
ed to that education whioh they ob?
tain in the common schools, and only I
a small minority of them can obtain I
tho advantages of college education. I
Tho duty of the State to educate J
its eltlzena is clear. Our educational I
system is growing in efficiency and
support beyond the highest expecta-1
tions of its advocates. The scholastic
year shows that the public sehoo
revenue amounted to over four mil-]
lions of dollars. The school fund hast
more than doubled within the past I
eight years. A local tax has been
secured in over 1,600 school district^. I
This result is due to tho interest j
which tho public Is now taking in ed?
ucation, and the wise policy adopted
by the General Assembly, which bases
the State aid upon local taxation,'!
and demonstrates the wisdom of a
l>olioy of self-he'p.
Liberal appropriations to tho
schools for securing longer terms, bet?
ter buildings and stronger teaching
corps. j
The enrollment for the year ex?
ceeds 400,000, and a gain of over 41,
oao pupils In 12 months was better
than could have been expected, Thi
' result has 4*een obtained chiefly
I tferough increased efficiency of the
schools, and the local option compul?
sory attendance law. Nearly 10 per
cent, of the school districts of tho
State have come under the Operation
of this law and have shown the de
s?mbHity and practicability of com?
pulsory education. Over one-half of1
the districts of the State now have
edceilate fcgsj corhtortal?le school
houses. If every such community
would accept compulsory attendance,
over Ioo districts should ho ope rat in.
under this law before duly 1. ItM*
The i?oys artrt girls out' ot eettfcb'
OOnrsM he helped by taxation tor pub
i He education: In my opinion, the
i tints has come wheu tho statute lor
compulsory at* dance should bo
made- State-wide, but should allow
districts that are unprepared or un.
willing to enforce compulsory attend?
ance, to petition for exemption.
The need for compulsory attend?
ance Is emphasized by the fact that
on January 1st, instant, undsr the
provision of State law regulating child
labor, about 2,400 children were dis?
charged from work in the cotton
mills. These children cannot work
in the mills under the State law?
they should be in the schools
Increased appropriation and' heavy
enrollment do not insure competent
teachers. The prime importance of
the school is its thoroughness and
effectiveness. The present system of
examining nnd certifying teachers |
has been pronounced unsatisfactory
by the State Superintendent and
County Superintendents. I again
recommend the creation of a State
Board of Examiners for Teachers,
whose duty it shall be to protect the
pupils by guaranteeing competent
teachers, us well as to protect the
profession of teaching against poss'h c
ignorance and ineompetency.
It Is reasonably certain that Con
press will establish a Federal systt n
of- Vocational education in co-opera?
tion with the States. The State Hoard
of Education should be given author?
ity to co-operate in this important
movement. >
The legislature, at Its last session1,
provided - for the teaching of agricul?
ture in the common schools. This
law has not been put into operation,
arid I will urge for your careful con?
sideration such amendments as may
be put into this law ? to make this
wotif practical and effective.
"The training in agriculture in the
commoh schools is too important to be
neglected- further. We cannot afford
to lag behind in the progress und
neJw industrialism that now stirs the
nation.
Primary Election Laws. .
11 desire to call your attention to
our primary election lawa In South
Carolina the primary election is de?
cisive, and is the election which de
termines who your officials shall l.e,
and the policy of the State govern*
rnent. Under these- conditions, it if
of the first importance that the un?
trammelled will oft the people shall-be
honestly expressed by their ballots,
and that these ballots shall be fairly
counted/ * The elector should be able
to express his choice independently '
without compulsion; fear or reward. '
?ggewsnsann has shown Jba^ w^sJutn^L
safeguard In every way our primary '
electron so that each and* every, man
entied by law to vote shall have the
light and opportunity to vote once;
that no man shall be allowed-to vote
more than once, and that the inde?
pendence of each voter to vote* as his
conscience dictates shall be preserved.
Many States of the Union, as a re?
mit of observation and experience,
have found It necessary, from time to
time, to safeguard- elections so as to
-:et the untrammelled and independe?
nt will of the voters. As far back
as 1894 I recognized this necessity
nd urged: upon the legislature then
the adoption of the Australian Bal?
lot System. After twenty-two years of
observation and ewperience, I again
commend'that system to your consid?
eration, for cities, towns and large
communities. I believe that at prerf
>nt It Is unnecessary to apply it to
the small rural communities.
The Constitution provides that "reg?
istration which shall provide for the
enrollment of every elector once in '
tern years, and also an enrollment dur?
ing each and every year of every elec?
tor not previously registered under
ihe provisions of this Article," shall
be provided for. This provision should
not be ovorlooked; and I urgo you to
pass tho necessary logislation at this
cession of tho legislature, to be put
into effect in 19IS/.
Law Enforcement.
The enforcement of law devofrveu
?port the executive branch of the gov?
eminent and upon the regularly coh>
ytltutcd officers: charged with that
duty. Experience has srrosvn that-1
He moans now provided* for the en-*
ftrecmcnt of law are not adequate. If
Itws are disrogariled and violated,
our progress in civilization will be re?
tarded. Security of life and droperty
must be assured; the Constitution'Tina
laws of the State must be respected;
end obeyed. If we are to advance
in the great race of human achieve?
ment, and if this attitude towards-law
is to be established so that otrr at>
twtloh can be directed to those coni
strurtlve measures that have been
u.ade necessary try new and changed
eruditions, the law must be supreme}.
The governor i? held responsible for
the enforcement of law, and" he is
expected to require peace officers in
fhe counties to discharge that duty!.
Thl* is in accordance with the print
Mpie of home rule; hut under out*
'?onMItuttOfi; the tmeriffs of the count'
' lei are not subject to suspension of
?einov.il by the goverrior, oven ih
?nsea where they" manifestly fail t<h
entered law. Tti h, while the chic}
i-xocutlve is responsible for the en?
forcement of law, he is not given the
Rcgtsttatlod,
1 authority or power which would ma Icq
his orders effective.
I hedllevc that the governor should
ho held responsible for the enforce- ;
ment of law. If he is held responsible
for it, he should be given the power I
to require local peace officers to dis?
charge their duties, or, upon failure
to do so, to suspend such officers.
I will, at a later time, make a spe?
cial* rc*port to the General Assembly
of events that transpired in November j
in Anderson county, where, as a result j
of- $h& sheriff's failure to execute the
order of the courts and to maintain i
Peace and good order, it became
necqscary to call out the National
Guards to protect the civil authorities
in exocutlng the orders of the courts,
which was clearly the duty of the
sheriff to perform. 1 therefore, com?
mend this subject to your considera?
tion,
Ifi under the constitution, these
deficiencies can be supplied, I urge
such action. If, after careful investi?
gation and study, this cannot bo done,
then L would urge that you submit to
the people of the State an amendment
to the Constitution that will permit
a remedy for this condition. This
will-require time. For immediate re?
lief-, ||| urge that authority be given
the governor to appoint constables, in
hie discretion, with State-wide juris?
diction, to er force the prohibiton law,
and also, in case of failure of the
peace officers in-any county, to enforce
aH laws. The governor may then use
constables for this purpose. I believe
that the people of South Carolina de?
mand enforcement of law. This pub>
lie sentiment should be respected and
encouraged. Tlie means to make en?
forcement of. law effective should be
provided. I again pledge my best ef?
forts to uphold and enforce the laws.
National Gnard.
*t *' jS j a ?? ) ? ? ? - I
9 -t**' ?# | * - "* * . I
> The'South Carolina National Guard-I
haa demonstrated its value during the
past year, both to the Nation and to
? the State. . Its- members have made
serlQUS sacrifices in responding to the
call of the Nation and the State, in
.tho protection of life and property.
The sacrifices of both officers and men
in the emergencies of the past year
have proved * their loyalty, efficiency
and - patriotism. I state frankly that
:without the South Carolina Nationall
Guard the governor would have been
powerless to enforce the laws and to
.protect life and property.
? X recommend that the National
j Guard be liberally, supported. I re
gard it as a very important part of the
beAMfient, under existing conditions.
I will communicate with you further
cn this subject later.
Prohibition.
k*. ?> - ... i
At the last session of the legisla?
ture I asked you to make adequate
provision for the pay for special con- {
stables wherever and whenever need-1
ed to enforce tlie prohibition laws of
the State. I repeat that the number
?T deputies now provided for by law
win not be sufficient to enable sher?
iffs, magistrates and other local au?
thorities to prevent the illicit sale of
liquor. Besides the inadequacy of the
number of officers allowed under the j
existing law, these officers are not suf- I
Ilcicntly responsible to the governor i
for their acts. To remedy imme-1
d lately this defect, the governor should
be authorized to appoint constables
with State-wide authority to enforce
the prohibition laws and all other
law's when necessary. The prohibi?
tion law should, in my judgment, be
arrtehded in many particulars. Ex?
perience has shown the weak and de?
tective points in the enforcement of
the present law. It is my firm belief1
that your honorable body will take a?
sane and conservative view of the
matter. The simple enactment of a
law, however ideal in its provisions,
'will not accomplish the results aimed
?at. The law itself should command
tho respect and compliance with it of
the public.
Our purpose is to minimize the
evils of liquor. We need a law that
can be effectively and rigidly en?
forced. From a careful survey and
observation of the entire State, I rec?
ommend that tho present law, known
'as the "gallon-a-mdnth law," should
be ' amended and streiJKthened in
irrt any particulars. It is not my pur?
pose to go Into the details of those
amendments, but in a general way I
would advise that the quantity of li?
quor allowed each person per month
be reduced and that as a substitute
for liquor, wine and beer, with stated
percentages of alcohol, be permitted
as an alternative. That the importa?
tion of liquors, wines and beer by
minors, college' students and women
iother than the heads of families bo
prohibited; and that such changes in
}tho ?'vw regulating the transportation
ot liquor be made so as to enforce a
istrictobservance with the purpose and
object of the law.
I earnest!: deeire the reduction in
drurikettness and crime. I believe
,that' the*-enactment of a sane t>ut
strict law regulating the importation
!of liquor, strictly enforced, WoUM'j
:Ucing; such' a result. I desire n law]
that will be respected and obeyed, and 1
I again pledge my very beat efforts'
and -service to the administration and
enforcement of law.
Good Roads.
In urging- good roads legislation at
this session, I call your special atten?
tion to the following facts:
First. South Carolina is spending
approximately $1,000,000 a year on its
roads?practically a 3-mill tax. This
sum is raised by county taxation and
is expended on the chain gangs, roads
and bridges entirely through county
agencies.
Second. Forty-two States have es?
tablished State highway departments
to do educational or administrative
work, or both, in behalf of good roads.
South Carolina Is one of six that still
follow the system of county or local
management. Viewing the matter
nationally and for a century and a
quarter, local road management has
resulted in a striking lack of progress,
despite the fact that there is now be?
ing spent in the United States in this
way more than $150,000,000. Only in
those States which have adopted a
State policy has there been real mark?
ed progress in highway construction.
There are now more than 50,000. miles
of State highways, and no State a:!ter
having once adopted a State po.icy
has reverted to the old plan of man?
agement.
Third. Under the terms of the Fed?
eral Aid Road Act no State can re?
ceive its apportionment until a State
highway department has been estab?
lished and the necessary co-operative
machinery provided. Failure to cre?
ate- a State highway department, in
accordance with the provision of this
Federal Act, means the forfeiture of
South Carolina's apportionment of
Federal aid, which, for the five fiscal
years ending June 30, 1921, totals
more than $1,000,000.
Fourth. For motor vehicles there
is now being collected in this State a
perennial Heenes of $1.00 per car. The
Federal government estimates, the
revenue accruing from this source to
have been $16,000 in 1916. Taking
tike United States as a whole, the aver?
age gross revenue return per motor
car registration was $7.46'?more than
seven times that being secured by
South Carolina.
These four facts, among others,
emphasize the need for your giving
careful consideration at this time to
the whole question of better roads. To
meet the situation wiH require, in my
judgment, the enactment of at least
two laws: First/ a law creating a
State highway department and ab?
senting to the provisions of the Fed
eial Aid Road Act; second,\ a motor
vehicle law requiring the licensing of
motor vehicles by the State and the
use on the roads of the net revenue
thus derived.
Torrens System.
,At the last session of the General
Assembly you adopted the Torrens
System of Land Registration. I re?
gard this action then, as- I do now,
as a most important prerequisite to
rural credits and a successful opera?
tion of the Federal'Land Loan Bank.
The act which was passed has not
proved-a practical measure, and I
earnestly recommend such amend?
ments to the Act as will make it prac?
tical and workable and an! economical
means of determining the validity of
title to land.
I trust you will realize the import?
ance of this measure.
Rural Credits.
In my first message to the legisla?
ture I urged the pa* sago of a Rural
Credits Act. Since that time the Fed?
eral government has enacted a lonj.:
term rural credits law. The South,
especially, is to be congratulated on
tho adoption of this law, and South
Carolina is particularly fortunate in
securing the location of this bank in
Columbia Therefore, it will be un?
necessary for the State to adopt such,
a law in addition to the Federal law.
The action of the Federal government
in enacting the Federal Land Loan
Bank is particularly opportune at
this time. Jt will furnish the means
by which those who are tenants may
buy their homes; or those who own j
their land can secure funds to im?
prove their farms, and to adapt them?
selves to a system of diversified farm?
ing, made imperative by reason of the
approach of the boll weevil. It is im?
portant, however, in view of the high
rates of interest which many small
farmers now have to pay for credit,
that the State should provide a short
term rural credits law, and I rocom
mond the enactment of such legisla?
tion.
Boll Woevih
I have called your attention to the
necessitj' for agricultural education
in the common schools. This need is
emphasized by the appearance at our
very doors of the boll weevil. No way
of checking or destroying it has been j
discovered. Next year will see% this
pest within our State. It is the de?
stroyer of our chief money crop>?
cotton. When once the boll weevil
?reaches us it will be a permanent
factor in agriculture, and will pro?
duce heavy financial and agrtcultur.il
lots. ?????- ? ? "
Realizing- this danger, Clenifton Col?
lege appointed n commission, of
which i was chairman, to visit onr
sister States that have suffered from
Ii??? ravages oi' this destructive pest
Anti-Pain Pills
Will help you, as they
have helped others*
Good for all kinds of pain.
Used to relieve Neuralgia, Head?
ache, Nervousness, Rheumatism,
Sciatica, Kidney Pains, Lumbago,
Locomotor Ataxia, Backache,
Stomachache, Carsickness, Irri?
tability and for pain in any part
? of the body.
"I have used Dr. Mile?' Anti-Pain
PIl's When troubled with headache,
and LA that one pill infallibly
effects relief in a very short time.
I am considerably alfeeted with neu
'rulgia in the h*ad at times, and
find the Anti-Pain Pille of mricff
benefit. Tho Dr. Miles* Remedies
a:e beyrr.d comparison and I recom?
mend them to all my friend*."
GEORGE COLGATE,
219 Oakland St., San Antonie, Tex.
At all druggists. 25 doses 25c. t
' MILES MEDICAL CO., Elkhtrt. Ind.
and to study the plans and methods
of those States in dealing with this
condition. The disaster which ac?
companies the boll weevil will apply
to farmers, bankers, merchants and
professional men and all classes of
our people. That commission, co?
operating with the Federal govern?
ment, with Clemson Colege, our State
Agricultural Department and every
other available agency, is now doing
effective work in leading our farmers
and business men to prepare for this
disaster. The diversification of crops,
the selection of early varieties of seed,
the raising of food crops and the rais-,
ing cf cattle and stock are among the
important steps that are to be taken.
In this connection I cannot too
strongly emphasize the completion of
the cattle tick eradication which has
been carried on so thoroughly and
rapidly by the State and Federal gpvs
ernment. You understand this mat*
ter and I need say no mort than that
it will be necessary for tho State to
appropriate $30,Q00.00 for the work
this year, in order for us to secure a
continuance of Federal aid; and it is
hoped that in two. more years this
work can be completed, our State
cleared of this hindrance to cattle
raising, and thus enable us to meet
the dangers which are immediately
before us. ,
Tlie Lever Act.
I repeat my recommendation of
last year and ask that you make the
necesasry appropriation to continue
the work that is being done in the
Agricultural Extension Department of
Clemson College under the Lever Act,
se that we can obtain the increased
amount of money that will come 10
us from the Federal appropriation
under the terms of this Act, provided
we do our part.
State Warehouse System.
I respectfully refer you to recom?
mendations made in my annual mes?
sage last year on the subject of the
State Warehouse System, in which I
stated:
"Operation of this system has dem?
onstrated that it can be of great and
valuable service. It should be our
aim to perfect the system, to operate
it on .sound business principles, to pro?
tect it against possible abuses, and
to throw around it every safeguard.
Make the State warehouse receipt a
collateral that will be recognized as
safe, so that it will be sought after
as collateral to loans in any of the
money centers and money markets
of this country.
"The liability of the State should bo
dearly defined. It is not necessary
for me to suggest specific amend?
ments to the act. It is well to bear
In mind that our chief source of bor?
rowed money is to be hod through
the Federal Reserve Bank. The re?
quirements of that institution should
j be meL both because they are sound
and reasonable and because these re
quirements and. these safeguards will
the sooner attract attention in money
markets to these receipts as collater?
al, and thus will be sought after by
investors. This will eventually lead
to the loweet obtainable rates of in?
terest. I refer you to the question of
ownership and management?the
manager of the warehouse issuing ne?
gotiable receipts should he a disinter?
ested party and not the owner of the
cotton stored, on which it is pro?
posed to issue negotiable rescoipts. Ac?
curate and reliable grading- and
weighing by licensed graders and
weighers is of great importance. It
may be that those matters might* besft
be. regulated by rules and regulations
of the commissioner and the Board
?i ( 01111 uttsionere, t*> which 1 will re*