New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-29

, number OF prominent men on the platform. Thess
were however only about 100 persons in the han
Joseph H. Choate, who was to have presided va
absent and James c. Carter. president OF the civ
Club. took the char
In openinR the meeting Mr.. Carter spoke briehy
on the great danger OF not having su1icent school
accommodations The importance OF the matter
cannot be imagined. he said. and any accumulation
Of ignorance is always the food OF the astator ana
the demagogue
The Rev DR.. James NJ. King. secretary OF the
league then read an address that brstled with ng'
ures showing the necessity OF schooi census ~
was in part follows:
This meeting has vitality important purp2sa
is to take the steps 20
law providing for biennial school census IN towns
and S sles beys last at the polls BY an
ming ma oriy. the people said: Article ~, Sec.on
The S LeKslsture shall provide for the mantensnce
and support OF system or free common s Sa IAN,
wherein all the children OF this state may De eou'
Gated a.,
Governor Mortons comment on this article IN MS
first message says: THAT is now far from being
the case and the Legislature ought 10 take I'M
mediate steps to fulfil this mandate
Governor Flower said in his message OF is1'
Nearly % per cent fewer children proportionateiy
attend The public schools now than ATTENDED them
forty years ago
We have on our statute books rigid compulsory
attendance school law But compulsory law, gu.
DeruatOrlal
are all paralyzed by lack of knowledge OF the facts
essential to remedial legislation and 10 Intelligent
obedience TO its mandates. The first immediate
step Of imperative necessity is school census a.
the basis for legislation and as an inspiration to
Justice and righteousness.
The las. United States report QSSo-sD from tie
Commissioner of Education gives the number OF
children OF school age five 10 seventeen years. IN
tie State Of New York. li96,6Oo Of whom 42.sSs
are not enrolled in the schools. The report OF the
Superintendent of Public instruction In this STATE
for 1894 states the number OF school age. nve %
twenty one years 10 be ss2.$% OF whom SSloo 20
not attend school. This report gives the num-
her OF children Of school age In New-forK CITY a
10000 OF whom 2is3oo do not attend SCHOOL
The claim OF some OF educational authorities
chat there are now adequate appliances for all the
children OF school is "A piece OF unpushns Ell
rrontery that only be made 10 hide us race
when the agents OF the shall furnish the muster
roll of neglected children. The safety OF the city
and OF the Commonwealth Is largely dependent
upon the way that the facts revealed by a school
census are utilized. 1t is bad enough 10 deprive
men and women OF their rights. who have the power
70 contend but II is cruel and cowardly to deprive
defenceless children OF their rights. The most er-
fectlve way to fight poverty and crime is to educate
the children.
The experience OF other States proves botb the
Necessity for and the wisdom Of such law -
we advocate The conditions in this city ana State
demand IT, because OF the conceded inadequacy OF
accommodations. especially for primary educsuon'
which exists generally throughout the state me
question of expense ought not to be an element In
the consideration OF this important movement"
when we consider that. based upon the experience.
~ Boston ard Chicago IL amounts ohiy 70 Huvvs
"a ga FOR each 10000 OF the population undouet.
edly we need a reconstructed police ,orcs, gu,
reconstructed and adequa tely appointed scnoo ~
tenn would in a generation largely DO away w wa
tho necessity for a police force. IL Is cheaper ano
wis.r and more patriotic TO build schooihousee
than to erect for charity correction ana
nmnjshment IL is cheaper and wiser ana more
patriotic 10 educate the youth for intelligent ana
ovai citizenship than 10 build armores and train
soldiers to keep in subsection the ignorant ana
criminal 1870, &. A. -......x ALI "a
,orces which are the guarantee OF peace and happi.
ness in municipality. Commonwealth and Nation.
Frederick W. Hollis OF the Constitutional Con-
venti6n and chairman OF the Committee on Educa
ton then addressed the meeting. and was fol-
lowed by ex- Mayor Hewitt
Addresses were also made by Bishop AndrewA
l. Augustus Johnson. OF the Good Government
clubs and A. V Raymond