The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-07-07
ANOTHER CARD
FROM Mr.. THAcKsToN IN REFERENCE
ToHIs SCHOOL JOURNAL.

on Abou. tho Resolution OF tho State
Board OF Examiners.
COLUMBIA, S. g., July 2.-Mr. WI.
Thackston, clerk to State Superinten-
dent of Education Mayfied, has asked
for the publication of the following:
To the Public: feel that it Is due to
myself and to tho public that should
say that not until read the statements
OF Superintendent Mayfeld on his return
10 the city and of Prot johnson, pub
lished inthe Record of Monday, the Goth
ult, did l know had misconceived the
action of the State board &C examiners
with regard to the Palmetto School Jour-
nal. ..,. la
It had been until then my honest inn
preston that the action of the board had
been what was stated by me in an ed-
torlal in reference thereto, which ap-
peared in the April number of the Jour-
nal, page 2G3. In that editorial, which
was widely circulated, but which the
board OF examiners eyi identity did not
read, IT they saw copy of the Journal,
I wrote as follows:
sThe State board ofexaminers adopt
ed resolution urging the trustees
throughout the State to become subscri-
bers, and allowing them to pay for their
subscriptions out OF the contingent. fund
of their district"
During the meeting of the board of ex-
aminers on the 4th of April, of which
board am by law clerk. Imade orally
the proposition in question, namely,
that the board should officially endorse
the Palmetto School Journal as it's Or
gan, and should urge the school trustees
to become subscribers, paying for their
subscription out of the funds for their
districts. That proposition included the
offer of all space free Of charge necessa-
ry for the publication of the Official mat
ter OF the board and of the department.
OF education. then asked to be ex.
cused from the meeting that the board
might consider the proposition without
my presence.
When Ireturned the board had passed
to other subjects and L was Informed
that the board had endorsed the palmet-
to School Journal. Nothing else was
said to me in reference to the matter at
that time or subsequently by any men,
Der of the board, and knowing of no
other proposition, mutually supposed
that what was said referred to the pro-
position 1 submitted. Under this I'M
preston wrote the editorial in the
Journal mentioned, the circula ar letter to
the trustees and the statement recently
prepared by me for publication. 1 had
no idea was mistaken until saw the
statements IN Mondays Record.
| 1t ls lnconceivable that I should have
attempted to prevent resolution of the
board where detection and exposure
would be so certain to follow. | com.
mitted the c.'or of not verifying my i'm
preston simply because 1 did not sus-
pect the possibility of mistake. Had L
entertained any doubt I could easily
have done 80, as am clerk of the board
and keeper of its record. The PROPOSE.
ton was made openly, in perfect good
faith and with sincere desire to advance
the interest of public education. 1t
seemed to me to be justified by prece-
dent and to lie within the legitimate
powers of the board.
In this State the State board of exam
iners on the 18th of April. 1889, passed
the following resolution IN refernce to
the Carolina School Journal:
"Resolved further. That the chair
man be resquested to subscribe for five
copies of the Journal for the use of the
board"
IT the board of examiners could sub.
scribe for five copies of the Carolina
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 SUBJ
scribe for School Journal for their use,
and pay for it out of the public funds.
If q School Journal paid for by the State
is good thing for the members of the
State board OF examiners, why is it not
equally as good for the trustees, who are
supposed to need the information it con-
tains much more?
The twenty-first annual report OF the
State Superintendent of Education for
1889 (page 20) shows this entry: "Sub.
scription to Charleston World.$7.n IF
in the past it was thought expedent to
pay for daily newspaper for the head
of the educational department of the
State out of public funds, what improp.
rtety could there be in paying for an edu-
cational journal for subordinate school
officers of the State out of the public
funds, which journal contains official in
formation from the State board and the
department of educationp
If my information is correct, in several
other States. including Pennsylvania and
Virginia, educational journals are paid
Tor directly out of the State funds. The
acceptance ofmy proposition was a ques-
ton for the board. felt sure they would
adopt no plan which was not advisable
and right, and supposlng they had adopt
ed my propositions as submitted, felt
at liberty to proceed on their authority.
l now see committed an error In not
verifying their action, but 1 positively
disclaim all intention OF misrepresent.
ing the facts. 1 have acted throughout
in entire good faith and without inten-
tional concealment.
1t is due TO Superintendent Mayfleld
that 1 should say that the editorial in
the Palmetto Journal, the circular letter
to the trustees and my former statement
to the press were written and published
without his knowledge and during his
absence. He was not consulted by me
because he had no interest in the J Journal
and was not responsible tor my action
as its editor. 1t Is also due to the mem.
bers of the board of examiners to acuuit
them ofa.l responsibility for my mistake.
This statcmentis is made publlcas soon
as possible after [ had discovered that I
had been all along mistaken, as to the