The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-12-27
FRIDAY, DECEMBER q. 1901.
JOHN T. WALKER S POSITION ON
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL
QUESTION

walker views IN regard to put
lie schools, The Commercial is re
quested TO publish the following
article, which was written BY MI
Walker in November. 1897, and wa
published in both city papers OF
Friday, November II, 1897. l
plainly sets forth his position a
that time, and he says he is ever
strongerin favor Of public schools
and higher grades to-day than then
The article in full is as follows:
Having announced myself as a can
didate for reelection to the Office O
Mayor Of Union City, and there being
some important questions notably
the school question l am perfectly
willing, as / have ever been, to let the
people know where / stand on this as
well as any other question with which
4 am likely to have to deal in an OFF,
cial manner during the present term,
or the succeeding one should / be re-
elected.
II am advised by the city attorneys
that as the law now stands three
school directors are elected by the peo-
pie and three by the Board of Alder
men and Mayor, the regular time for
election of directors by the people be-
ing August next, at which time all
three are to be elected. The city Off
cials elect one at a time. the term be-
ing three years one In January each
year. have no personal interest in
either Of the schools, and my views
are controlled by what / conceive to
be to the best Interest," of the town
and the greatest good to the greatest
number of people While am in IA
yor of all educational institutions, as
| believe that they are all OF very
great interest TO the town and people,
yet as between our city schools, or free
schools, and other schools, | am uu-
alterably In favor Of the city schools,
and desire to ee them conducted Ia
the manner that will do the children |
Of the city the most good, consistent
with the means in hand for the pur-
pose, having In view that a great ma
jority Of them will never have the
chance to 30 to school anywhere else.
81 hope and trust that the books
and classes will be SO arranged In the
public schools that when children
have gone through the course they
will be able to go out IN the world and
hOd their own with it SO far as an
education goes, whether they ever see
the inside Of any other school build
ing or not. ! believe the school law
best as it Is, and that the control
of the public school should remain or
be III the hands Of the people, and
that enough Of the directors should be
elected direct by them to take the
whole matter out Of city politics. My
reasons'for this are many to my mind |
convincing. However, II the people
think otherwise ! shall never shirk
any responsibility In this direction,
nor any other, for that matter, while
i am In office.
"There are matters arising constant
ly in city affairs requiring the outlay
Of much money. ! mention the com
pick problem of water and lights; the ,
proper handling Of all the city's
money So as to certainly pay the in
terest on the bonded debt; keeping
the sanitary condition of the city we'll
in hand to preserve the public health;
the streets and highways,
80 wagons and carriages viii not mire /
mp In the middle Of the town, and all
traffic during the winter months be J
retarded or stopped; the providing Of i
i place for the burial Of the dead, etc. ]
sOnicials should be chosen to contr0ll
the affairs Of the city who are able
and competent to handle all Of these
problems, separately and collectively,
as well as TO control the public schools. t
1T must not be overlooked that con-
sidering the taxable property Of the i
city an enormous public debt has toll
be dealt with. This debt is not only a
on the real estate Of the
city, but upon business interests as :
we'll. know whereof | speak when / !,
say tile merchants have all the taxes
they can bear. Judging by the tax Il
sales, 1t ii not hard to conclude that
higher tax means ruin to 4 great L
many people.
The population 81 the town and
country Is ample to sup I,
)ort not only high school, buta col y
ege as we'll
IA careful examination 0f the rec (,
lras Will show this 80 be one Of tile 2
most healthful localities in Tennes-
&c. Then. why not work together
nd bull up our town by building up
ur present schools and getting new IN
nes s'JNO. Il. WALKER bl
Gov McMillin Tuesday remem- W
cred the Christmas season BY an. eu
ending executive clemency 10 a y,
oxen OF so inmates Of the State ~ -
George Fisher,