The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-09
GHACKsToN MAKES BIS DEFENCE.
he Gives His Reasons for Committing a
Grave Error.
Special to News and Courier.1

Especial to News and Courier]
COLUMBIA S. c., July 1.-Mr. J. w.
Thackston, clerk to State Superinten-
dent Of Education Mayfeld, has asked
for the publication of the following:
To the Public: I feel that it is due
to myself and to the public that I
should say that not until I read the
statements of Superintendent Mayfield
on his return to the city and of Prof.
Johnson, published in the Record Of
Monday the 18th ult., did I know I
had misconceived the action Of the
State board Of examiners with regard
to the Palmetto School Journal.
1t had been until then my honest
impression that rhe action of the board
had been what was stated by me in an
editorial in reference thereto, which ap-
peared in the April number Of the
Journal, page 263. In that editorial,
which was widely circulated. but
which the board of examiners evident
ly did not read, if they saw copy Of
the Journal, wrote as follows:
s'The State board of examiners
adopted a resolution urging the trustees
throughout the State to become SUBJ
scribers, and allowing them to pay for
their subscriptions out of the contin-
gent fund of their district"
During the meeting of the board OF
examiners on the 4th of April, of which
board am by law clerk, I made orally
the proposition il question, namely,
that the board should officially endorse
the Palmetto School Journal as its Or
gan, and should urge the school trus-
tees to become subscribers, paying for
their subscription out Of the funds for
their districts. That proposition in
cluded the offer of all space free of
charge necessary for the publication of
the official matter Of the board and of
the department Of education. I then
asked to be excused from the meeting
that the board might consider the
proposition without my presence.
When I returned the board had
passed to other subjects and was in
formed that the board had endorsed the
Palmetto School Journal. Nothing else
was said to me in reference to the mat
ter at that time or subsequently by any
member Of the board, and knowing Of
no other proposition, I naturally sup
posed that what was ssid referred to
the proposition I submitted. Under
this impression I wrote the editorial in
the Journal mentioned, the circular
letter to the trustees and the statement
recently prepared by me for publication.
I had no I was mistaken until I saw
the statements in Mondays Record.
It is inconceivable that should have
attempted to pervert resolution of the
board where direction and exposure
would be so certain to follow. I COM
mitted the error of not verifying my
impression simply because l did not
suspect the possibility of mistake. Had
I entertained any doubt could easily
have done So, as I am clerk of the board
and keeper of its record. The propcsi-
ton was made openly, in perfect good
faith and with sincere desire to ad-
vance the interest of public education.
1t seemed to me to be justified by pre-
cedent and to lie within the legitimate
powers Of the board.
In this State the State board Of ex-
aminers on the 18th Of April, 1889,
passed the following resolution in refer
ence to the Carolina School Journal
"Resolved further, That the chair
man be requested to subscribe for five
copies of the Journal for the use Of the
board.n
If the board of examiners could sub
scribe for five copies of the Columbia
School Journal, one for each member
| of the board, and pay for them out of
the public funds, they certainly have
the right to authorize the trustees to
subscribe for School Journal for their
| use, aud pay for it out of the public
funp Ifa School Journal paid for by
the State is good thing for the men,
! bers of the State board Of examiners,
| why is it not equally as good for the
trustees, who was supposed to need
the information it contains much
more.
The twenty-frst annual report of the
State Superintendent of Education for
1859 (page 2O shows this entry: Sub
scription to Charleston World-S7." If
| in the past it was thought expedient to
pay for daily newspaper for the head
| of the educational department of the
| State out of public funds, what i'm
propriety could there be in paying for
and educational Journal for subordinate
school officers Of the State out of the
public funds, which journal contains
official information from the State
board and the department OF eouca-
tion?
If nv information is correct, iD sew
eral other States, including bennsylva-
! MIA and Virginia, educational journals
are paid for directly out Of the State
funds. The acceptance of my PROPOSE
was a question for the board. l felt
sure they would adopt no plan which
was not advisable and right, and sup
posing they had adopted my PROPOSE
lions as submitted, I felt at liberty to
proceed on their authority.
now see I committed an error IN
not verifying their action, bu: l posi-
tively disclaim all intention of mlsrep-
resenting the facts. I have acted
throughout in entire good faith and
without Intentional concealment.
It is due to Superintendent Mayfeld
that should say that the editorial in
the Palmetto Journal, the circular let
ter to the trustees and my former state
ment to the press were written and
published without his Knowledge and
during his absence. He was not con-
suited by me because he had no interest
| in the Journal and was not responsible
Tor my action as its editor.
It is also due to the members OF the
board of examiners to acquit them OF
all responsibility for my mistake:
This statement is made public as
soon as possible after had discovered
that I had been all along mistaken as
to the action of the board OF examiners
with reference to the Palmetto Jour-