The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-07-11
the TEMPERANCE INSTRUCTION LAW.
A Statement by the Friends of the Bill.
NrwApr NJ Juno OF 1904


Statement by the Friends of the Bill.
NEWARK, N. j., June 81, 1894.
/ In answer 10 certain erroneous and mis-
leading articles which have recently ap-
peared regarding the Scientific Temper
ance L0U approved April Oath, 1894, the
committee which was instrumental in Sc.
curing said law has authorized the under
signed 10 make brief statement, for the
Information of taxpayers and friends of
education in New jersey.
i l. The bill was not in any sense insti-
gated or helped In its passage by any pub
lish9e house or book trust. The move
ment originated with the Presbyterian
Synod of New Jersey, which directed its
Permanent Committee on Temperance to
use its endeayors to secure such a law.
The chairman of that Committee, Rev.
w. E. Honeyman, of Plainfield, in Dec.
last called meeting in Newark of repre-.
sentatives of the Presbyterian, Baptist,
Methodist and other religious denomina-
lions, together with the leaders of the w.
C. I. T., Y. NJ. G. A, Y. p. S. c. f.
and kindred associations, and they unan-
imously resolved to do all in their power
to place the proposed law on our Statute
books. This committee, it is hardly ne
cessary TO say, neither had nor has any
direct or indirect interest in the sale of
books as result Of this measure.
.. Mrs. Mary II. Hunt. the National
Superintendent of Scientific Temperance
Instruction, whom the committee called
TO their assistance, has no interest what
ever in any of the school books that the
bill seeks to introduce.
s. The law does not favor the pub.
LEGATIONS Of any one particular house.
There are no less than seven distinct pub
fishing houses that issue endorsed tenn
perance physiologies, and that are now
competing freely and openly in the New
Jersey market. The only houses not fa-
vored by the law are those whose text
books do not comply with its provisions.
4. The statement that the signature
of the State Superintendent of Public In
struction was forged" to a circular re-
Gently sent out to the representatives OF
the w. c. t. U. is incorrect
Soon after the passage of the law, a
Standard" with the Superlntendent's
signature of approval, was sent out by
Mrs. Hunt in connection with other sug-
gestions and instructions, to the local sup
eEintendents of the w. G. T. u. through
out the State for their Information 10 Sc
curing the enforcement of the law. II
was not sent TO school officials or teachers
as such, nor was any attempt made to
represent it as an official proclamation of
the Department of Public Instruction.
8. Tho published statements of the
cost Of text books are grossly exagperat-
ed. The State report shows that 243, 254
children are enrolled in the public schools
with an average attendance of 100, 500.
Educational experts declare that sixty per
cent of the school children never get be
yond the primary grade and only five per
cent of those who enter this grade gradu.
ate from the high school. As text books
are not required in the lowest grade, it
follows that books need be provided only
for the $4,000 in the highest grade and
for SO, 900 in the intermediate department.
Some districts are already using books OF
the character required so that it seems
probable that the expenses for introducing
the needed text books for the entire State
will be less than $50, 900, aud as a book
should last three years, the average ex-
peuse per year would be about $1,000
NIL, hat In ~ ort
directly due to the use of alcoholic liquors
is yearly many times this sum, it would
be good policy to teach our children the
dangers arising from intoxicants, and
thus save property, reputation and life,
And when we further consider that about
$50. GOO, 900 is annually spent 10 New Jer-
sey for strong drink, it would seem as il
the amount necessary to introduce the
physiologies desired was the merest trifle
imaginable.
g. Under the terms OF the law any
citizen 10 competent to demand its en-
forcement, under penalty of the forfeiture
of the state school moneys by the district
offending. The people of the State asked
for this law and they do not propose to
see its admirable provisions nullfied with
out taking steps to defend their clear le-
gal rights.
7. The word "authorzedn appearing
on one of the approved series of books is
not any special sign of approval from any
organization or from Mrs. Hunt.
On behalf OF the
General Committee.
w. e. HoNBYMAN,
A. NELSON HoIIIFIRLD d. d.
WV. II. BEACH,