San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-01-23
requested to give it a careful perurhl.
Mrs. Clardy says:

requested to give Ii careful perursl
Mrs. Clardy says:
When first 1 read OF federal aid fol
common schools, I feared the setting ~
Of a separate school system In each
| state, and the increase OF our, already
too numerous federal oflice-holders, and
the encroachment upon our state rights
A careful examination Of the Blair bill.
showed me that my fears were ground
less. IL is framed In the highest interesi
| OF our people, and not to furnish money
to political tricksters.
| In 1880 there were In the United
| States In round numbers, ten millions OF
voters. Two millions Of these. or one In
every five, are illlterate, cannot read
their own ballots. These uneducated
voters, led by selfish men, may be used
against their own highest interest, and
| year after year, ignorantly vote upon
| themselves a taxation which consumes
over half their earnings. knowledge Is
power. Ambitious men desire nothing
so much as the ignorance OF the people.
An intelligent opinion, dropped In the
ballot box, will procure In due season,
justice for the worKiDgmeD.
Please read the following sections,
embracing the leading features Of the
Blair bill. Remember that In 1880 our
illittrate were one-fifth OF our entire
population, 3l6, 432 persons. Ii may be
safely asserted that we have more than
sixty thousand women In Texas, raising
families, who can neither read or write.
Four-ifths Of all our criminals are una
BILE to read and write. How can this be
remedied? Please read the chief features
of this bill, as it has been presented 10
congress:
can act to aid In the establishment
and temporary support Of common
schools.
"Be it enacted by the senate and
house OF representatives OF the United
states OF America in congress assem-
bled; that for eight years next after the
passage Of this act there ahall be annual
ly appropriated from the money In the
treasury the following sums. to-wit:
"The first year the sum OF $1,000 600;
he'secOnd year the sum OF SlO,OO0,OOO;
the third year the sum Of $4,000 OOO;
the fourth year the sum OF Sl3 ,OOO,OOO;
the fifth year the sum Of $1,000. 600; the
sixth year the sum Of S9.OO0,OOO; the
seventh year the sum OF S7.OOO,OOO, the
eighth year the sum OF 5000, 600; which
several sums shall be expended to Sc
cure the benefits of common school edu-
u
age mentioned hereafter living In the
United States.
"Sec. 2. That such money shall an
nuslly be divided among and paid out
10 the several states and territories In
that proportion. which the whole mum
Der OF persons In each one, being OF the
age OF ten years and over, cannot write,
bears to the whole number OF such per-
sons In the United States; such oompu-
tation shall be made according TO the
census of 1885,"
Texas will receive In eight years near
ly one-twentieth Of the entire amount
that Ia, three millions nine hundred and
twenty thousand dollars.
Two millions for the erection OF
sohool-hOuses have been added this SEES
sion to the bill. which was last year re-
jected by the House. The share ofTexas
will be about one hundred thousand dol
lars for school buildings. Ii this bill be-
comes law, our state will receive In all
four millions and twenty thousand dol
lars. This can only be used for common
school education.
Ambitious men will always oppose
the education OF the masses. They dread
an intelligent ballot. 1t Is to be hoped
that the workingmen Of Texas will
never sustain in Office the enemies Of
their children's progress.
Action is needed at once. Write your
views to your own representative. Hold
public meetings, at which the necessity
OF this federal aid may be explained,
and petitions for lite passage be offered
for signatures OF both women and
voters. Intelligent, patriotic ladies, will
never have better opportunity to serve
our youth, than by circulating such pc
titions.