Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-16
Law TO COMPEL KNOWLEDGE
Women's Clubs Circulate Petition Designed
to Enlightsn the Masses.
OVER ONE THOUSAND NAMES ON DOCUMENT
Legislature of Iown il Requested to
Blot Out Illiterncy in the state by
statute Enforcing Attend-
ancc mt Schools.

The question OF compulsory education will
come up before the next general meeting
of the Council Bluffs Womens club in the
shape OF a petition to be presented to the
next general assembly, and which is being
circulated by the educational committee Of
the Iowa Federation of Womens clubs. At
the biennial convention OF the Federation
held in Burlington last May, the following
resolution was adopted:
That compulsory education for the state
shall be the object TO engage the concen-
trated efforts of the State Federation for
the next two years and that a committee
be appointed to formulate methods of work"
petition was drawn up which is now
being circulated among the various women's
clubs of the state. 1t has already received
over 1000 signatures, and is as follows:
To the Senate and House of Representa-
tives Of the Twenty-eighth General As
fully show that under the laws of the state
wisely enacted to secure the diffusion of
knowledge among the masses which is de-
clared by the ordinance of 1887 to be one
of the things necessary to good govern
ment and the happiness of mankind" the
people of the state pay more taxes to main.
tain the common school system than all
other taxes combined. amounting in the
aggregate to about $S,OoooOo per annum; :;
that such burden Is cheerfully borne by
the people because it is recognized that edu-
cation Is a public necessity to secure good
citizenship. But your petitioners show that
the best results are not obtained because
many parents and guardians do not send
their children to the schools for a suf-
ficient time to obtain fair common school
education.
Your petitioners therefore respectfully
pray that a law be enacted requiring all
ing children in their care, between the
ages of T. excepting where there are kinder
gartens, then 6, and IA years, to send them eI
than sixteen consecutive weeks, and in
cities and towns not less than six con-
secutive months during each year. with
the exemption thereof of such children as
may be physically unable to attend as
your wisdom shall deem proper. For which
your petitioners will ever humbly pray.
Probable Eject of LAW.
The movement meets with much favor
among many of the women of this city and
! it is expected that the petition will receive
large number of signatures in Council
Bluffs. A prominent member OF one OF the
women's clubs, for many years teacher in
| the public schools, said:
a. for one, am strongly in favor OF such
| law, as l believe compulsory education
| Is much needed especially in the rural dis
| tricts. Experience has shown that in states
| where such law is in operation the en-
| rollment has been increased one-third An
| increased enrolment will naturally mean
an increase of teachers, and this will again
increase the expense of maintaining the
] public schools, but l do not believe anyone
will seriously object to pay whatever tax
may be necessary to adequately support the
| public schools Of this state. The public
school system is a necessity and, not only
! that, but is one of If not the grandest OF
| our institutions"
| Senator John Fl. Gear was in the city yes
terday for a short time on his way from
Burlington to Sioux City, where he will join
the presidential party for the trip through
Iowa. Senator Gear goes as the guest OF
| Governor Shaw. During his short stay in
the city at the Grand hotel number OF
| leading republicans and others called to
pay their respects. Senator Gear was look
ing remarkably well and said he was feel.
| ing in the very best OF health except for
a slight hoarseness caused by speaking al
a political gathering in West Liberty a
couple OF nights ago.
He said he did not care to discuss the
| senatorial contest, but thought everything
| looked most favorable for him, as the ma
jority OF the republican candidates for the
legislature were pledged for him. Talking
on the political outlook In the state, Senator
Gear said the prospects for sweeping re.
publican victory all along the line this fall
were never better in Iowa.