The Van Buren press., 1900-01-20

everything in Arkansas that marks
the spirit of progress and develop
ment. Every citizen recalls with
pride the fact that in 1897 Arkansas
stood third among the forty-five
states of the Union in the number of
miles of railroad constructed and
that thus far for 1899 we are first in
the list. 1t is sure sign that a
brighter era is dawning for us.
| recall with great professional
pride the fact that Arkansas has a
larger number of newspapers accord
ing to the population than any OF the
southern states except Texas and
Florida-that she has more newspa-
pers, according to the population,
than either Delaware, Maryland, Vir-
ginia, Tennessee or Kentucky, which
are not strictly southern states. |
recall with great pride the splendid
work we have done in the cause OF
education within the last twenty-five
years-how from small beginnings
we have built up great and splen-
didly equipped state university, with
its 600 students, and which is an hon
or to the state and credit to the
south; how the several religious de-
nominations, but especially the
Methodsts and the Baptists, have es
tablished colleges, academies and
training schools, which have been so
conspicuously successful in advanc-
ing the cause of higher education;
how the free school system has
grown in the affection of the people
until all the towns and cities of the
state and many of the rural com
munities have schools that meet the
public demand for public instruc-
tion. But it is still lamentable fact
that in many of the more sparsely
settled counties in the state these
schools are utterly inadequate to
meet existing necessities. What is
the cause? Lack of necessary reve-
nue., What is the remedy? More
money. 1t is a regrettable fact that
in our public expenditures for school
we fall far below the average contri-
buted in the United States, which is
about S14, and worse still, below the
average contributed by the southern
states. | quote from the statistics OF
1897. In that year the expenditure
per pupil in Arkansas was 1858. The
average per pupil for the southern
states was $7.14. So that we are pay
ing smaller sum per pupil-smaller
by 81 cents-than the average of the
southern states. | remember very
well when the local option tax of five
mills was not at all in favor; when a
large majority of the school district
refused to vote the full limit, and
when many of them-and for long
time majority-voted no tax. But
see how the law has vindicated itself
in the course of few years. We
have nearly 5000 school districts in
the state; in exact figures, 1881, and
out of that number only 1888 dis
tricts, less than per cent of the
whole number, voted 'no tax" at the
last election. What would be the re-
suit If we should increase the limit OF
taxation to say seven and a half
mills? / am fully persuaded that the
people looking to their own interests
would take advantage of the oppor-
tunity TO tax themselves higher
rate in order that they might have
a longer school term. My observa.
ton has been that the people are not
averse TO taxation, even high taxa
tion, If they can be convinced that
beneficial results will flow from such
taxation. Show man with half a
dozen children to educate, that by
adding two or three mills to his as
sessment he can have a fNe-months'
school instead of a three-months'
term and he will, in nine cases out Of
zen, take business view of the case
and vote the tax II Is the demagog-
uing politicians and not the people
that we are to fear on this PROPOSE.
tion. II is the demngcE3ing politi-
clans who want to ride into Office by
posing as the champions of retrench-
ment and reform, as the special de-
tenders, saviors of my peepul,"
who oppose higher taxation even for
education. My contention is that. the
increased tax rate for better schools
would grow in public favor even
more rapidly than the present rate
has grown within the last two de-
cades. ] believe there are hundreds
of districts shat would vote seven
and u half mills, while many of them
would vote ten mills, did they have
the opportunity. No detriment can
come to us by aifording them the OPP
portunity, This is peoples govern
ment The principles Of home rule
and local self-government Is the very
foundation of our system. II the
people want to vote u larger tax-if
they think they can afford 1t or that
IL will be money returned to them,
why should they not have the privi-
lcge? Let me repeats The schools Of
Arkansas need nothing SO much as
more revenues and the only way TO
secure added revenues Is by increased
taxation. have spoken Of the ne.
ccssity of nm increased term Of from
three to five months, but we should