The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-11-26


How w. II. Kitchin VI .k+s "a Few Charac-
terisfic K. marks Upon ~ Letter Recent
Iy Written by Our superIuteuden of Pub
lie Instruction 90 school Supervisor Nc
Miil'a", of Duplin County
Scotland Neck, N. c.. November %.
Editors Messenger:
see from a recent issue Of your pa
per, that the newly gifted and inspired
head of the schools, born of the calam-
tiles and misfortunes of the people, has
reprimanded John c.. Mcmillan, Of Du-
plin county, for not paying more than
$4,000 per month for first-class teach
ers and for paying so small a sum as
$3.50 for the lowest class teachers.
This bright and shining light, be-
gotten by the illegal cohabitation of
the worst elements OF the republican
and populist parties, has developed into
All good men applaud the course pur-
sued by Mr.. Mcmillan in employing
teachers, but not in buying charts.
This chart business is fraud, a cheat.
and a swindle, and ought not to be
tolerated.
The man who instills into the minds
OF any class that it Is wrong to work,
labor, teach, bookkeep or perform any
other service, unless he, she, or they
are paid what they--or some up-start
may think their services are worth, is
an anarchist and a disturber Of the
public peace, and a bad citizen.
1t may be this brilliant star. this
golden luminary, has not yet learned
that the citizen who pays these prices
for school teachers, whether high or
low, must do so out Of cotton at 4 and
S cents per pound, not so much even
as the cost Of production.
1t may be that this newly inspired
prophet, this newly born apostle Of ed
ucation, may not have discovered that
farm hands and other laborers in the
state are not getting full prices for
their labor and that properties Of all
kinds have deprecated fully from one
third to one-half in value, and that
the purchasing power OF a dollar now
is at least one-third greater than a
dozen years ago. If he has not learned
these facts, it is high time he had
crammed them into his Uranium, If it
is not already Overcrowded with facts
and wisdom.
Will this apostle, an his next thun-
ders against economy and long school
terms, tell the unsophisticated in this
state why the wages Of school teachers
should not be reduced in accordance
with tightness of the times, as well as
wages of the working men and women
of the state? Why should not their
wages be reduced as we'll as the value
of our cotton, corn, mules, cattle, and
lands? Why should not their wages be
reduced as we'll as the wages of trans
portation companies, telegraph and
telephone companies. for which his
governor and senator seem to be max
ing so desperate, but useless fight?
/ heard negro and white man not
! more than two days ago each say they
I would starve or go to the poor house
: before they would work for less thar
) $1.25 per day. This newly discovered
leader of education would teach these
= people and such as they, to steal OF
starve before they would work for re.
duced wages, when no man is able tt
pay what this prophet would call full
wages. This is anarchism full an(
complete
1 would like this man to inform tn,
public how much money he has eve
paid in taxes for public education. ant
also how much his petted educationa
cranks have ever paid.
u school teacher is entitled to tn
same consideration as any other goo'
citizen, or any other tax payer-n
- more and no less. And thousands o
4 them equally as competent and worth.
and as we'll qualified as this insulte
and would-be dictator to school com
mittees, supervisors and tax payers. t
teach schools, would be both glad an
thankful in these hard and pinch
ing times to teach school ZEN O
five months in the year for $40 or 81
= = per month. And yet this superintend
Nent of public instruction rebukes a su
arvisor of schools because he does no
pay more than $50 per month for goo
teachers. and insults the ladies an
gentlemen who are willing to teach 70
/. SO small a sum as $12. SIS or $50 pc
month. rather than do nothing an
suffer for the necessaries Of life.
This superintendent ought to learr
that because the law by statute pay
him four times his worth or value t
the state. that does not justify him /
squandering the school funds as
and his party are now doing.
Now, I am a friend to education an
to all educators, but no greater frien
to them than 1 am to all other honora
ble classes Of citizens. And I do insis
that, in these degenerate times; thes
times that are trying mems every ef
fort to keep buckle and tongue togeth
er; these times in which starvation an
nakedness stare thousands upon thou
sands OF our people in the face, the ia
payer is entitled to some considerable
from our masters, as we'll as the ia
eaters. w. H. KITCHIN.
Greatly Reduced K@publican Majority
Chicago. November 23-In the specis
election held today in the Sixth congres
Sional district for a successor to EGwar