The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-01
THE GOVERNORS INSPIRING
EXAMPLE.

The people of North Carolina are
awake today more than ever to the needs
of educating all it's people. The agitation
prior to the adoption of the suffrage
amendment to the Constitution served
to awaken this deep interest, and the
best men Of every section, under the
leadership of Governor Aycock have
been laboring to provide efficient schools
in reach of the school children. The
Legislature made a special appropriation
Of two hundred thousand dollars to sup
plement the State and local taxes, one
half to be specially used in the weaker
districts where the school term is not
four months long.
The interest awakened by the agita-
tion of 1900 has not been permitted to
flag. The Legislature, in addition to the
100000 appropriation, enacted law
whereby any community could vote an
additional tax Acting under that law,
a number of towns and villages voted
last spring upon the proposition. and
wherever there was contest Governor
Aycock responded to invitations, and
with q zeal born of patriotism and devo-
ton, spoke with an overpowering elo
quence that convinced the voters that
the matter of paramount Importance
with them was the education of their
children, and the election was carried in
every community where the vote was
taken. Some ten days ago and more
Governor Aycock and General Toon,
State Superintendent of Schools, started
on campaign of Notwithstanding
at Washington and closing at Elizabeth
City General Toon spoke twice before
he became i'll. His last speech was a
mastery effort-the best of his life. The
Governor spoke in eight or ten places
in Beaufort, Hyde, Pasquotank and Cam
den-extreme Eastern counties-where
the educational fires burn brightly. The
people in these counties, alive to the i'm
portance of educating their, children,
invited Governor Aycock and General
Toon to assist them in arousing the
whole people, and the good results have
been to stimulate the educational zeal
Of that whole section of the State. Re-
ferring to the immediate effects of the
speaking at Bell Haven, the Washington
Messenger says:
1.-THE efforts of these distinguished
gentlemen seemed to set the town on
fire. and they determined not to procras-
innate, but to act at once, so mass
meeting was held that night at 1880
o'clock Nearly $500 was raised at once
for a good system of public schools
petition signed by the business men and
others to the board of commissioners to
allow them to submit the question to the
people. The school committee will also
endeavor to sell lot they own, and
with this disposed of nearly $1,000 will
be in sight. The citizens will not only
donate this amount for the schools, but
desire to tax themselves thirty-three
cents on the hundred dollar valuation,
and ninety cents on the poll to maintain
it. Bell Haven, with only a few hun
dred population, sets an example of
thrift and push to every town in North
Carolina. They believe in acting, not
talking
In Hyde county, with a superior popu-
lation of men and women who show their
faith in education, the results were not
so immediate. Hyde leads the whole
State in it's school enrolment. Out OF
a population of 2,O1S white children OF
school age, 1870 are enrolled in the pub
it's schools, leaving only 48 not enrolled
The average attendance is also larger
than of any other county, being nearly
80 per cent. Great audiences greeted the
Governor and he found that the zeal of
the leaders of the people was equal to
his inspiring enthusiasm. In Camden,
at South Mills. "a magnificent audience
greeted me- said Governor Aycock, land
l was delighted with the deep interest
manifested in education by the people,
Elsewhere We publish an extract from
tho Elizabeth City Economist, telling of
the great meeting in that city. Our cor
respondent at Washington has told of
the deep interest in the meeting there.
1t is an inspiring sight to see the Gov
ernor of this great commonwealth, leay-
ing his office and going about among the
PEOPLE preaching the gospel of universal
education. 1t is a common thing to see
candidate for the great office going in
all parts of the State appealing to the
sight to see the Governor going after the
election, speaking day and night,
arousing the people to the Importance
of educating their own children and pro-
viding public schools for the education Of