Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-03-04
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
The Debate in the Honse Last Night on the
Subject.

Special TsleTQdm 10 the Register
CHARLESTON, w. VA, March 3.--At
the night session of the House, Mr..
Kendall, of Kanawha, asked unanimous
consent TO take up for consideration on
It's second reading his bill compelling
parents to send their children
to school at least twelve weeks,
eight of which shall be conSecu-
tive. The bill was taken up
and in its discussion all present found
something to laugh about Delegate
w. r. Thompson, of Summers county,
was opposing the bill. He said the
State had no right to come into his
house to see whether his children We're
in school or not.
Mr.. Pugh asked him if he wished the
House to believe what he said.
Mr.. Thompson replied: at is true,
whether you want to believe 1t or not. y
Mr.. Pugh-"Does the gentleman want
us TO think he has children"
Mr.. Thomp mpson-"No, but / live in
hope"
All enjoyed the joke, but Mr.. Thomp-
made his point. Kendall, cambridge,
Corcoran, Thompson and Pugh defended
the main object Of ihe measure, though
MesSrs. Pugh and Corc0ran thought
perhaps it needed amendment. Mr..
Corcoran thought that as this Leglsa-
ture had passed bill prohibiting the
employment of children under u years
In workshops, factories and mines, they
ought not TO be allowed To grow up IL
ignorance and vice.
Mr.. Finley read from report Of the
United States Bureau OF Education,
showing that the compulsory education
law had not worked well in other
States.
Col. White called the truanJ officers
proposed in the bill "spieS, and spoke
at length about the injustice OF the spy
peering into the homes OF our State TO
see whether the children were at school
or not.
Mr.. cambridge said in his county he
knew man who had some very sweet,
bright children, but the man is bitter
Republican and will not send his chill
dren to Democratic teacher. This
law would benefit such children.
Mr.. Finley-''If those children were
yours, and you had bitter Republican
teacher teaching Republlcansm, would
you not kick, and kick hard against
the State compelling you to send them
to him."
Mr.. Dandridge-"I'd kick the teach
er."
Mr.. Cook, OF Wyoming county
thought If the bill passed the people
would kick this Legislature ont.
Mr.. Welch, Of Mineral, thought it the
greatest question before the present
session Of the Legislature, one that
should be carefully considered. He
said he had advocated compulsory
school law for twenty years, and
thought countries that have such laws
have better society and better citizens
than those that do not
Mr.. Finley thought Mr.. Welch had
changed front since the temperance
question was before the House; that he
had then argued that the State had no
right to come into his home and prevent
his giving whisky 10 his boys; that he
now said the StateEhad right to com
pei him to send his boy to school
Mr.. Welch-"It'S personal matter
in the first place, ana a public matter IN
the latter"
Mr.. Hanen thought it ought not to be,
and said that any law this Legislature
may pass cannot be enforced.
Mr.. ThompSon-"Why don't you en-
force the law prohibiting the sale OF
lquor in Marshall county,"
The bill was referred to the Commit
tee on Education.