!I .I.I ur ~nun aub ~trln """ OOur 1Jlirf1rnt IDrranurr ISSUED BY t~uratinuat ffiampa4Jtt ffinmmtttrr DAVID C. BARROW. WARREN A. CANDLER. HOKE SMITH. W. B. MERRITT. W. J. NORTHEN. M. J_,. DUGGAN. T.]. WOOFTER. II CLEMENT PRINTlNC CO., ATLANTA II Our Boys and Girls; Our Richest Treasure. TEACHERS' SALARIES. a I think there is but one difficulty about our teachers. Th ~ day we pay them enough and give year's work to them, our schools will rapidly graduate them and fit them for the work, and they will seek it and do it well. You can find some patriots, some lovers of their fellowmen, who would go out and work in a country school five months for nothing, and do it faithfully, but the necessities of life preclude that a force of that class to the extent of from five to ten thousand could be organized in any State-no not even in the most patriotic State of the Union. The people of the Western States have shown wisdom by Jot making such an experiment. They had sense enough not to expect it. And whenever you feel that your child is not properly trained, stop for a moment and consider whether the teacher has been properly paid. V\T e must provide for eight months schools throughout the country. We must raise the money by State contribution and by local assessment. Better school houses can be given, lmilt partly l}y the people in the locality, but aid for their buildinsr furnishes a noble opportunity for those of us who have anvthing to spare.-(Hon. Hoke Smith. Extract from address at University Summer School, Athens, Ga., 1904.) SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF LOCAL TAX. J. Y. JOYNER, Superintendent of Public Instruction of North Carolina. 1. It provides more money for better houses and equip- ment, longer terms, more teachers, better salaries, better teach- <:>rs and better schools. 2. More and better teachers and longer terms make possi- 'hle better gradation and classification, more rapid advance- ment. and more thorough and extensive instruction. 3 Preparation for college, or better preparation for life, through high school training, may ,thus be obtained for all children at home under the most favorable env' ent at much less expense than such preparation , t~~ d \\\'~- - ty LIBRARIES O-F--G--faRG\~ tor only a few children of the com!nunity at preparatory boarding-schools out of the community. 4 Good schools provided by local taxation are the best inducement to the best citizens to remain in a community '"here they can get the best advantag-es for the education of their children at home, and the best advertisement for the best class of immigrants from other communities and other States to become residents of such a community. The tide of immigration and of prosperity flows from ignorant communities with poor schools to intelligent communities with good schools. S Every cent of money, therefore, invested by local taxauon in a better school, bv inviting a better class of immi-grants and preventing- the disastrous drain upon the best blood nf the community by other communities with better facilitie~. enhances the value of every cent of property in the community by increasing the demand for renting and purchasing it by the best people. 6. Every cent of money raised by local taxation for schools by any community remains in the community for the improvement of the community schools, and is invested, through better schools, in the minds, souls and characters of the rising generation, thereby increasing the general intelligence and efficiency of the entire community, and elevating its character intellectually and morally. 7 It stimulates local pride and self-help; it cultivates self-reliance, independence, public spirit and co-operative effort; it makes the community feel that the school is distinctly the community's school as well as the school of the State and county. 8. It ties closer to the school in pride and interest every man that pays an additional cent of school tax, makes him feel more keenly his individual responsibility and his individual rig-ht to have his child in school, and quickens his natural instinct to get the worth of his money by sending his child to schooL 9 By providing longer terms, better equipment, and better schopls, it increases attendance a.nd inspires public confidence. 10. It is the cheapest and best way to educate any child, because it provides for his education at home, under the restraining influence of home environment and in association and sympathy with the children of his home community. It is the onlv way to nrovide fop the adequate education of all of the children. For less than it would cost the biggest tax-payer in almost any special local tax district to send one child to any 4 boarding-school out of the community to be prepared for college, he could send all of his children, under more favorable cnv ironment, at home, and at the same time make it possible ior his neighbors to get the same educational advantages at lnme for all of their children. SELF-HELP IN COUNTY EDUCATION. Our genuinely esteemed friend George D. Rucker is the editor o The Alpharetta Free Press and he is also the school commissioner of Milton county. In his joint capacity he is conducting a campaign for educational advancement which is so forceful and so sincere that we are glad to join the circulation of The Georgian to that of The Free Press to give it additional currency and effect. This is the opening gun of the e_ducational campaign which Commissioner Rucker declares shall not end short of the educational uplift of Milton county: Elsewhere in this issue .of The Free Press Miss Jes- sie Norris, of Westview academy, one of the best teachers in this county, has an article in the interest of local taxation for schools. Miss Norris points out a school and gives us a clear picture of it before it was supported by local taxation and another picture of it now, when it is so supported. The two pictures remind one of a skeleton and a man in the best health. Stated in a few words. the trouble with our schools is simply this: They have not enoug-h money behind them. Money is what is needed, and it makes no difference where it comes from, just so it is not "tainted.'' If some bighearted man would endow our schools; or if well-to-do citizens in every community would subscribe liberally to pay the teachers; or if the state would appropriate four millions of dollars to the common schools every year, as it should do, then local taxation would not be necessary. But, ,if we wait for money from these sources, our children will grow up in ignorance and we shall be guilty of the grossest neglect of outy. We see no rich man who is even thinking about endmving the schools of Milton county. In only a few places in the county are there men who will supnlement the nublic fund with amounts sufficient to sen1re the services of the best teachers. Two years ago the constitution of Georgia was so amended (cursed be the day when it was!) as to limit the power of the state to tax. and it is not at all probable that we shall ever he able to induce the legislature to cut off other appropriations and increase the appropriations to common 5 schools to such extent as will make them what they should be. vV e see only one way to get money for the :;chools, and that is by local taxation. If there is any other way, .let some one point it out. We know the people of Milton county are progres"1 ve in educational matters. We know they are enthusiastic and far in advance of many other country counties of the state. They do not 'wish to see their schools lowered in efficiency. But, listen, fellow-citizens: If we do not provide means for raising more money for our schools, so a~ to extend the school term and pay the best reachers respectable salaries, we shall soon be far behind the times. An unprecedented tidal wave of prosperity is sweeping over the country, and high-priced living has forced wages and salaries to double. \71/ e have n'o right to expect competent men and women to remain in the teaching profession when they can get twice or three times as much money for their services in other lines of work. Ten years ago the best teachers worked for $50 a month; now they get $roo a month, and could get more if they would go into other fields of endeavor. The best teachers are remaining in the profession only because they possess the genuine missionary spirit, without which even the best educated teachers are failures. The Free Press begins this week an educational campaign such as has never before been made in Milton county. We are going to discuss in these columns all matters that bear upon progress in educational matters, having as the object in view local taxes for our schools. We invite teachers and citizens to contribute articles that will help the cause to succeed. If before this good year I907 shall be -numbered with the things of the past we can put into operation a school system that will give to our children that which is rightfully theirs, we shall indeed be worthy servants. Let us try. There is the holesome gospel of self-help in Editor Rncker's appeal. The old spirit of dependence-of lying down on somebody to wait for help-is not a part of this virile age. Perhaps Editor Rucker maybe ri"ht in h1s belief that the State should educate its children. But we are sure that E1litor Rucker is right .in the proposition that if the State will not educate the children of Milton Conntv then Milton must educate its own children. And so in this saving gospel of manl-iness and independ- 6 ence, we salute our contemporary and wish him Godspeed, and rnay his example be multiplied among the counties of the State. -The Atlanta Georgian. HEAR THE EVIDENCE BEFORE YOU RENDER A VER- DICT. Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 21, 1907.-Hon. Geo. D. Rucker, C. S. C., Alpharetta, Ga.-Dear Sir: Will you kindly give me a little space in your paper that I may answer the many enquiries from your county regarding local taxation for schools. I think it is yery proper that your citizens should seek information on this important question, and I appreciate very greatly all the enquiries which come to me from your progressive county. I have made school problems a study aN my life, and I have investit;ated many plans of school OJ?eration. Civilization brings many problems and propositions for the individual, the community, the county, and the State. These problems can be solved only by careful inquiry and business judgment. It is a remarkable fact that throughout the State our best men, even though they may have no children to educate, favor local taxation, for the purpose of establishing better school systems. A striking example of such a man is found ir, Judge Thomas G. Lawson, wnose magnificent address on local taxation may be found in the annual report of the State school commissioner, for the year 1902, pag-e z8. As a Christian citizen, and as a partiotic citizen, a business man realizes that a child when educated becomes a happier, a more useful, and a more valuable member of society. In most instances where lo.cal taxatibn has been voted recently in this State, there are a few men, who have no property to tax and who have many children to educate, who vote against the measure. This is the most puzzling question of school conditions with which I have dealt. I hereby offer a nrize for the best explanation of the conduct of such men. I am sure that taxpayers of the State would pay their taxes still more cheerfully if all patrons of our schools showed more appreciation of schol advantages. Local taxation is no uncertain ..experiment; counties which have tried it want no other plan. Tuition and private subscription will no more efficiently maintain a long- term school than a tollgate and an occasional collection will keep satisfactorily the county bridges in repair. The time has come for a forward movement in educational work We must do this to keep step with other States and with other counties of our own State. A very careful investigation should be made of this question by every voter. It is an 7 awful responsibility to oppose measures looking to the better~ ment of schools, without making an investigation. This matter should receive as careful study as the business man gives to a n;anufacturing enterprise in which he is about to invest his money. Reader, what do you think of a juror who had heard only rumors in regard to a case upon which he was to assist in giv- ing a verdict, and who said to the Judge, "May it please your Honor, I should like to be excused until the hour of considering the verdict. I do not care to hear the evidence, and the argu~ ment of the lawyers, nor the Judge's charge; my mind is made up already?" Some men have voted against local taxation who knew less about the matter than this juror did of the case he was to pass judgment upon. In order to give the fullest information to the citizens of your county on this question, I desire to make this proposition: lf there is in your county a citizen endorsed by the county hoard of education, and by the county officers, a man known to have business judgment, and sentiment favorable to education, ,dw wishes earnestly to study the problem of local taxation, I \\ill through the generosity of friends of education, arrange to pay hi.s expenses on a visit to one or two counties in this State where local taxation for schools is now in operation. Such re port as he will bring back will be valuable information to those <..vho want to know the truth. The advantages of local taxation are fully set forth in the 1Jarnphlets which I have recently sent you for distribution. H there is any objection to local taxation which is not answered in these pamphlets. I shall be pleased to take 1.1p the matter !urther. either throttgh your cohtmns, or through individual correspondence. Yours very truly, W. B. MERRITT. A STATEMENT BY BOARD OF EDUCATION TO CITI~ ZENS OF NEWTON COUNTY. "There is that scattereth, aud yet increaseth; and there is that withholdesth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty." -I'rov. II :24. Recently the directors of a manufacturing concern in Georgia issued a staten;ent to the stockholders calling attention to the condition of the plant, its earning capacity, the nature of its output, the condition of its operatives ancl other matters which concerned its well-being and calling attention to the means of bettering the investment. It was shown that while the product of the mill 1vas fairly --==--------- ;good, yet by the introduction of improved machinery it could be greatly advanced as to quality and increased as to quantity. The demand for the present inferior goods called for an increased investment, while it would be impossible to supply the demand for the improved product without greatly enlarging the plant. It was shown too that the most skilled operatives were being drawn away by the better wages offered either in other lines of work or by other manufacturing concerns. When these facts were laid before the stockholders they, :by a large majority vote, decided to bring the mill to a higher .degree of efficiency and earning capacity, by the enlargement .of the buildings, the intrqduction of improved machinery and the retention of the skilled operatives by rpeans of better wages. \Nhy did they vote this increased as:oessment on themselves? Because they thought it would be money in their pockets. The Board of Education of Newton County, as Directors of the Common School Educational System of the County, wish to call attention of the citizens of the County-the stockhelders of this manufacturing concern-to the condition of the plant and the great need for its enlargement and the bettering of its ot ali on our own shoulders, but have here at hand powerful age11cies who, when we in a legal manner say the word, will take half the burden upun their own~ But here comes the stumbling block to every progressive move in public education. To accomplish this advanced step that we should in our public schools, more mo~ey is needed. lTnder the law it can be raised only by taxation, and "there's lh:c rub." I knovy 1:ot what will scare the average man quicker or worse-threaten him with death or with an additional tax be it ever so small. The former deatn will cause him to pray a Eel 1eseech; the latter, taxes, to quarrel and kick. People forget that there are good taxes and bad taxes; just taxes and unjust taxes; taxes that benefit and taxes that oppress. If we would consider this subject of taxes as we should, we would ~top kicking all the time. at all kinds, but would weigh and consider, commend the right and condemn the wrong. * * * The cry is made that "\Ve are too poor to endure the taxa.tion that we already have. This additional burden would have to be borne almost altogether by the poorer classes of people. -,,lc] we just can't." \Vhv, a dollar of taxation looks to some people larger than the rising of the full moon. Also the heav iest kicker is usually the one that pays but little taxes. To prove this let us see. It has already been shown that the total tax valuation of all kinds of property in \iVayne County for the year 1906 was $.:~..62o,o2?. Of this the Railroads, Telel?'raph, Telephone and Express Companies pay on $2.068,048. The other $2,533,974 represents the tax valuation of the nroperty of 1854 taxpayers. These r854 include our local corporation, companies, firms, innividuals and non-resident nropertv owners. According- to the Dip-est. this number is ciivided as follows: 6s are assessed on $5,000 or over; r62 at from. $2,000 to $5,ooo; 270 at from $r ,ooo to $2.000. These Lt97 taxnayerQ. who accordinv to the Digest. nav on $r,ooo worth of property or more. bear the burden of the county's taxes on approximately another $r,ooo,ooo. The 16 . --------=~- -~-~~~~---------------- li'emainlng 1,357 taxpayers are assessed at anywhere hom $10 Lo $999 We from this then can compile the following interesting J1gures which speak so plainly for themselves that "He who nm:,: may read." They are so plain and simple that anyon:: may understand: Total Digest of 1906 . . . . . . . . $4,620,022 Railroad, Telegraph, etc. . . . . . . .$2,o86,o48 -497 Local Taxpayers . . . . . . . . r,ooo,ooo 3,o86,o48 Amount of pr~perty on which 1,357 pay taxes $1,533,974 Here we have the very interesting figures that in round ammbers the Railroads, the Telegraph. Telephone and Express Companies, our local corporations such as Banks, Turpentine ~Concerns, etc., and those other individuals who are on the Tax Digest for $r,ooo or more pay over two-thirds of the entire taxes, while the more numerous smaller taxpayers, 1,_357 out of r,854 in all, pay less than one-third. The fact is, when we hear uf fortune and wealth but every child within the borders of the German nation. Then and there was laid the foundation of one of the greatest school systems in the world today, reaching fwm the lowest primary grades to the highest universities that crown the earth. The result of this school system has been to give Germany :'t~premacy in art, in science, in music, in every department of hnman endeavor and the brand "made in Germany" is feared throughout the commercial world. Less than two generations ]';{S::~ed and again France and Germany met in the shock of battle. The conflict was short, the battles were decisive and in the city of Paris the king of the German people dictated his own terms of peace to the people ofFrance. He regained the lcst territory: Germany regained her lost wealth; she regained her place and rank among the nations of the earth. The two greatest tributes ever paid to public education were the declarations of the two most conspicuous leaders of the German people in this conflict. Count von Moltke, the great field marshal of Germany, who led her armies upon the battle fields of the Franco-Prussian war, said in a public speech not long after the war: "It is simple truth, it is simple justice to declare that the victories of theFranco-Prussian war were won by the school masters and the schools of Germany." 20 hinte Bismarck, the man o iron blood who made united Ger~ many possible in urging more liberal support for public educa~ twn, said: "The nation that has the schools has the future.'' Leibnitz, the great German philosopher, once said: "Let me control the schools of Europe for twenty years and I will change the civilization of Europe." The marvelous progress of the empire of Japan during the last half century abundantly demonstrates the truthfulness of the declarations of both Bismarck and Leibnitz. About fifty years ago, Commodore Perry of the United States of America, compelled the people of the sealed islands of Japan to open their ports to foreign commerce and to estabLsh diplomatic relationship with other nations. Until that time the people of Japan had led an exclusive and isolated life. They had built a kind of Chinese wall about themselves. No foreigner was allowed to land upon their shores and the people were kept within their island walls while their intellects were restrained within fixed bounds. But at the point of the bayonet and at the mouth of the cannon they were compelled to break up their exclusive life. There are those still living who remember well the visit of the first Japanese embassy to this country in r86o, and the visits of similar embassies to EurolJean courts the following year. When the commerce of other countries began to enter the ports of Japan the rulers were not slow to see that in the march of human progress the people of Japan had fallen far behind and the Mikado, following the example of the fine old German king, established a system of universal education running from :the lowest prim?-\Y g1;ades to the Imperial University~ The uplifting inf!uevce of education and their ready adoption of western ideas and methods of western progress have producerl results that are amazing. * * * Students of history inquire what causes have produced these remarkable results. It is said on high authority that 90 per cent of the Russian soldiers in Manchuria were absolutely illiterate while 90 per cent of the Japanese were men who enjoyed the benefits of elementary education. During the last ten years every time Russia spent $r on the education of her children in elementary schools she spent $20 on the equipment and support of her army and navy. During the same period every time Jp.pan spent $r on the education of her children she spent only $4 on her army and navy. The world has again learned that the _victories of war rest not upon great fortifications and armored cruisers and other equip_ments but upon the intelligence and capacity of the men behind the guns. 21 Again there is a direct relation between education and crime. Jefferson was right when he said if we do not appro; riate m-,J_ney to e:luc;:tte the people we will be compelled to ap!)ropriate money to prosecute criminals and to punish crime. * * * Not long ago in one of the leading counties of this State in a speech in the county court Eouse I congratulated the people on the fact that they had recently completed and dedicated such a magnificent courthouse. Public buildings are always typical of the character of the people who are represented by them. Dut my heart was pained when' I found that according to the sworn s,tatements of the school directors of the county, that court house cost twice as much as all the public school buildings in the county combined. My friends it is high time in this ~-~tate, that we were giving less attention to crime and crimi1'als and more attention to the half million children who never expect to commit a crime and who never intend to occupy a felon's cell. There has hcen much agitation in the State over the ques-tion of good roads. I have always been an advocate of good roads, and have taken a modest part in the good roads movement in this State, but I declare to you that all over this State people are leaving their country homes they love so well and are moving into the towns and villages and cities not because of the bad roads hut because of the poor schools. I know that the question of taxations is a delicate one and has always been a hobgoblin with designing politicians. There has never been a struggle for English or American liberty that was not made along the line of taxation. Taxation that is unfairly levied and unwisely spent i.s the most vicious form of human tyranny, but taxation that is fairly levied and wisely :;nent is the .hifpest type of modern civilization. Taxation which is levied and collected for public education is the only tax from which the people receive an immediate and direct rei urn. Most of their faxes go from them never to return. The school taxes come back again, bringing with them innumerable blessings and benefits. On one occasion Prof. Huxley was asked the question ''\Vhv should I be taxed to educate another man's children?" Tn r;ply he said: "In the city \Vhere I liYe I am taxed to pay for streets that I never set my foot upon ; I am taxed to pay for lights that I never see; I am taxed to pay for judges, courts, sheriffs and constables whose services I never need, but if I should go before the powers that be and ask to be excused on the ground that I do not need these things I would be laughed to scorn. They would say to me, ah, Mr. Huxley, you must 22 stand up and bear your share of the burdens of civilization. \;\hen I came into this world, I was a small reddish object, with no distinctly abstract or concrete rights of my own, and with no distinct claims on society, and had I been treated as I deserved at that moment, I would have been stamped out of existence as a squalling nuisance. But society cared for me gently and led me into the ways and walks of life. Had it not been for the sacrifices and sufferings of generations of men who have gone before me my share of this world's goods would be a stone cave and a flint axe, and I would have been a naked savage dancing in the moonlight, and I could retain that stone cave and flint axe only until some more powerful savage should come and take it away from me. If, on the contrary, I enjoy all the benefits and advantages of a refined anq cultured civilization it ill becomes me now that my hour of power and strength has come to refuse to do for other little ones what society has so graciously done for me, and if I should refue I think society should take hold of me with a strong arm and compel rne to do my duty." The average man pays a \'ery small amount for public education. We must not forget that the great corporations, the railroads, the manufacturing enterprises, the timber and mining fields bear the great burdens of taxation. It is right that there ,.;hould be taxation fo.r the education of the people and the protection of t11e State. * * * No man can look into the face of a little child and predict in the remotest degree what the future of that child may be, but I hold this to be true-\'Vhether the brain is found in the bumblest cottage or i11 the costliest palace, it .is the duty of the State to provide the _means by which that brain may be adequately trained ana fitted for its place and work in life. Not long ago on the Erie and Grand Rapids Railroad a passenger train was running at a high rate of speed. The faithful fireman was heaving coal into the furnace when, suddenly. a thrill went thron.C'h the engine, and the fireman knew instantly that the engineer had applied the emergency brake and that something serious had occurred. Throwing aside his shovel and looking down the track he saw ahead, a little child who had seen the engine, had taken frig-ht and was running clown the track. its curls flying-,__.in the wind. There was no time for delay. The engineer w"as doing all in his power to protect the little child in front and two hundred passengers behind him. The fireman knew in an instant that he was the only human being who could save that child. He ran along the running board, down on the pilot, and leaning forward as the en- 23 gine was about to strike the child, with a terrific sweep of his left hand he drove it from the track in r:>erfect safety, but in doing so he lost his balance and fell beneath the engine. He was terribly mangled. For days and weeks he hung between life and cieath. He finally recovered, a cripple for life. The president of the United States sent him a medal of honor, and in his letter of transmittal he said: "I present this medal in the name of eighty millions of appreciative countrymen who recognize the worth of a man who will imperil his own life to save the life of a little child." Oh, my friends, all over this State today there are thousands of1ittle children who are on the highway of life, upon whom the train of ignorance is bearing clown but who are all unconscious of the dang-er that threatens them. ---'I wonder if there are enough brave m~n over this State who will throw aside their shovels and spades and axes on election day and go to the polls and cast a vote, and make one sArious attempt to save these little ones. \lVhen cruel war _swept over our State in the sixties, thousands of men left their wiYes, children and all that was near and clear to them tLat they mig-ht preserve for their children and their neighbor, children certain principles and prerogatives of government. They were willing to die for the children of the State. Shall we, their descendants, because of selfishness and greed, refuse to do for the little ones of this State thai. which our ancestors were so willing to do for us? Shall we make no sacrifice for others? Shall we live in selfish ease and say we are not our hrother's keeper?