The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-17
HOT DEBATE
IN CONYENTION
Party Politics Drawn in Educationa
Discussion.
FLOOD AND MOORE LOCK HORNS
Ono by One the Members We're Drifting
in When M.. h.ereoi.h Cut i. Off.
No Decisive Action OF
the R.port.
FLOOD AND MOORE LOCK HORNS

-AAAN
will not be materially infringed upon with
regard TO that on education and public
instruction. which is now pending; in Com
mittec OF the Whole. Almost the entire
session yesterday was devoted to a dis
cuss!on OF the report, amendment ;lf-
ter amendment WAS voted down. $50
The feature or the day, however, was n
brief but fiery polIucat conoquy INDUCED
III by MesSrs. FLOOD, Nysor, Turnout,
and Glass Qoemocrats), and Messrs. T. i.
Moore and Summers (kepupnCans), in
which mixed ulnners ana mixed schools
figured conspicuously.
On motion of Mr.. McIlwaine the con-
vention resolved itself into a Committee
OF the Whole OR. Parks in the chair for
The further consideration of the report
OF the Committee or Education, and II. Ich
progress was made in the consideration
OF the report. Hardly had Chairman
Parks assumed the gavel and ordered the
committee 10 come TO order when MI.
T. l. Moore (fsepl pr,cipitated an acri-
monious political colloquy which fairly
sizz!ed with warmth at intervals. He
reiterated his claim OF several days ago
that the Republican party had established
Tho free school system in Virginia This
brought Mr. Flood to his feet 10 say that
the schools Mr.. Moo, party sought TO
establish had been .mGAyd schools. and the
two engaged in hot running debate over
this. which vas made a.: the more heated
by M;. " yaor, who asked Air. Moore if
his party was not il, favor oe mixed din
De-s This inquiry caused prolonged
laughter and applause on the Democratic
side, and then tho discussion degenerate6
into one OF party politics pure and SIM
Pic. in which Charg, and counter charges
were made as TO mixed schools and en-
pertaining negroes by white men and tie
appointment OF negro school trustees ny
Republicans Mr.. Moore claimed that
Cleveland and jefferson had entertained
negroes in the White House. and the
statements were promptly challenged. MIR.
Flood haf sent to the Library for books
and papers and Col. Summers Was about
TO get in the game" when Nh. Meredith
raised the point that the discussion Vas
not gcrnla;ne TO the report The chair
sustained the point, and discussion on tie
report YVES resumed.
The section in relation to the constihl-
ton of the State Board OF Education vas
under consideration and was discussed at
great length. y number Of amendments
were proposed and rejected. The section.
therefore remains unchanged At 1:55 y
NJ the convention adjourned until noon
1o-rnorrow.
THE DAY IN DETAIL
The convention met at 10 o'clock;
prayer by DR.. Dunaway, OF the Baptist
Association.
Sevcnty-scven members were present,
and the journal of Fridays proceedings
WAS read and approved.
a great many leaves of absence were
granted.
Memorials in favor of the Barbour
liquor-licensc resolution were offered.
Petitions against appropriating State
funds to sectariall institutions We're pre-
scented.
On motion of Or. McIlwane, the con-
ycntion went into Committee OF the
Whole, TO consider The report Of the Com
Elrtcc on Education, Mr. Parks III the
CHAIR.
The first matter taken up was the COM
position of the State Board of EDUCATION
Judge Harrison opposed the rccomlnenda-
ton of the committee. He said one dan
ger to the report was TO put in the power
Of members of the Board TO select text
books written by themselves. and, the
people had no supervision whatever OF
this Board on any.question. II Will have
control Of one million Of dollars every
year. and is responsible to no power on
earth as TO its proper expenditure. Inc
people now had control of the Board that
controlled the free schools. The proposed
plan took it out of their hands entirely.
Chairman McIlwaine explained that the
law expressly provided that all funds
should be expended exclusively for the
free schools of the 6tate. Tho Board was
TO he composed of the very highest class
OF citizenship of men more than any /
others III direct touch with the people and
their educational advancement.
DEFENDED THE REPORT
Mir. Pollard defended the report OF tho
committee and showed how much better
the new plan would work than the pres
cnt MAN, He answered Judge Harriso:,S
argument that the Board was not re-
sponsiDle TO any power by SAVING that II
was under the direct control OF the sen
ate.
Mr.. Glass said rat q single county in
this State which had 4 sorry county
judge or sorry school superintendent 1ali-
I'd To have z sorry member OF the l.esls-
Iature This showed how dcInoras!ziaS
The present system was.
lie said. If the convention wished 10
divorce The public. school system from
politics ii would sustain the recommend
alton made 10y the committee. Mr.. Glass
made u very impressive ana foTcihle ar
Rument. Answering Judge Harrison OBJ
5ecticns as to the power OF the Board sF
saving their powers would not exceed the
authority OF the present Board.
Mr. Thomas Il. -aoorc SAID MIR. Glass
or the committee could not lift the school
system out OF politics. Ii they succeed
ed in that. the system would die poh-
lies gave 1t birth. and kept II alive. FOL
tics was the very life blood Of a fepubl.-
Fan form of government. The substitute
n eproposeG was the present law, except
that il provided for the election OF the
State Superintendent OF Public lnstrGc-
lion. His object was to divorce Tie hiGn
Institutions of learning fro1n the coiG-
non schools lie said over $500 was ap-
propratad 10 every student OF the y.
E. l.. While only q cents were given 70
Students cf the free schools. rom SFs
t>srsolal acquaintance with the teachers
the Polytechnic Institute. he old not
think ihaa class OF teachers or superin-
tendents cared anything at all about the
public free schools.
Mr.. wysor-"Sou said just now tnat.
when the people passed from the corrupt
pool of 20! tics they abandoned regubi-
IAN government. You id not mean gov
trrinen. by the Democraf e party. 1
sope2'
NJ. Moofe--''I said tic i,ail OF politics.
40, The corrupt pool o. pct.;.cs,"
A wAI:i caLLOQ!fY.
Ccnt.:u:3g. the speaker said the en-