Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-09-10
COMP ULSORY EDUCATION.

The legislature of our state passed, last
winter, can act to secure to children the
benefits OF an elementary education or,
as it is commonly spoken of, law estab-
fishing compulsory education The sub
stance OF the law is as follows: Every
person having charge or control of any
child between the ages of seven and ff-
teen years, shall be required to send such
child to public or private school for at
least twelve weeks in each school year,
unless 1t be shown that each child has
not sufficient health or sense, or that it's
labor is necessary for the support of some
indignant relative named, or that the
child is being provided, in some other
way, with equal facilities for learning, or
has already a fair education, or unless
there is no public school within two miles
of his residence.
School boards are required to ascertain
the condition of children, and to file with
the District Clerck record of each VIC
lation of the act; and for the first viola
ton OF this act the parent or guardian is
subjected to fine not less than five and
no more than ten dollars, and for each
subsequent offense, not less than ten nor
more than twenty dollars. The director
must prosecute, and if he neglects to do
1t, he IS subjected to fine of not less
than ten nor more than twenty dollars.
Two weeks at half time or night school,
counts one week at day school.
The school year under this law began
last Monday. We hope that all parties
VIII give the law fair trial. We believe
the principle of the law is entirely sound:
Tor, since our government rests upon the
intelligence and virtue of the people, and
ignorance is the enemy of them both, it is
the duty of the government, as a matter
OF self-preservation, to see to it that every
child be SO taught, that he can read the
constitution and laws of his country, and
that he shall have the stimulors to enter
prise and virtue which education affords.
we hope that every school officer will
perform his duty faithfully under this
law. If he is not moved to fulfill the law
as matter OF patriotism and philanthro-
Ply, he will perform his duty through fear
OF the penalties to which his neglect will
subject him.-Portage Register.
INCREASE OF IMMIGRATToN.-WAs
INGToN, d. c., August 3O.-The latest
statistics on immigration show a contin-
ued increase in the number of subjects
of Great Britain arriving in this coun
| try. Fully one-third of all are from
England, where there is such great pros
tratlon of the agricultural industries.
The best feature of the fact is that nearly
all the immigrants from Great Britain are
bringing money with them to purchase
land, and are coming in colonies all pre-
pared to start thriving communities in
the West on the public lands. Natural
ly enough, according to climatic infu-
ence, they are going to the Northwest,
Dakota and Minnesota receiving the ma
Jorlty OF them. A gentleman who has
had large experience in stock-raising in
the West returned on White Star Line
steamer, few days since, from London.
lie says that there were 500 steerage pas
sengers from England who had banded
together to start colony in Dakota. On
the passage over he went among them a
great deal, and several times, at their re-
quest made speeches to them, giving the
results OF his experience in the for West.
The men of the party were intelligent,
and had plenty of money to make good
beginning in their new homes Owing
to the great demand for public lands,
both by foreign immigrants and by our
own people who are leaving the East,
the Land office is far behind in its work.
Of the immigration from Great Britain
hardly any percentage remained in the
East or in the cities.
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For POLITICAL EFFECr.-ST. LOUIS,
September "a special to The Globe
Demo rat from Carthage Mo-, states that
David Collins, James Greer VIM. Spencer
and VIM. n. Smith, farmers have been
arrested on warrants charging them with
murder in the first degree. The alleged
offence was the killing of John Bass
Jones, somewhat noted Confederate
leader. Jones, It is charged, had been
threatening to drive Uuion men out of
the country at the close of the war One
night, IA years ago, a party of men call
ed him out of his house and killed him.
For supposed participation in this affair
the four farmers have been arrested, the
warrant being sworn out by a woman
Lie Ody. 1t is represented that the ar
rests have been given a political signifc-
ance and that there is considerable excite
ment in the vicinity Of Carthage. Bonds
in the amount of $4,000 each have been