Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-01-23
Stair SCHOOL 4
All Right Says Rx-supesintsndent Of
Public schools J. r. kirk, to the
Bethany Democrat.

The following Is the text OF an in.
terview with President John r. Kirk,
of the Kirksville NormalS School. Prof.
Kirk Is a lifelong Republican. He
served four years as State Superin-
tendent Of Public Schools-from 'e5 10
20. He has accurate Official knowledge
oi the matter discusses and speaks by
the card. This interview with a Re
publican 0x-State oficial appeared in
the Bethany Democrat:
Prof. Kirk said; ~ am perfectly
disguised with the course Of the Globe
DeBocraf In reference to the school
fund. IL knows better and is mislead-
ing many people and some country
newspapers, The facts are, that after
the war the State school fund was in
vested in United States bonds, and as
they were maturing or likely to be
called In at any time, there could be
no permanent investment of the school
funds in government bonds, arrange
ments were made upon good terms by
which the school funds were invested
in our own State bonds. II these bonds
had been held by bankers or bOndhold-
ers the State would have paid the
semi-annual interest on them, but
after the bonds were held by the State
the interest was paid TO the school
fund for the support Of the schools.
One Thousand bonds OF $1,000 each
would amount 10 81, 200, 600, and each
bond had from ten to forty coupons
attached. The care OF these bonds was
attended with considerable trouble and
attention, and they had TO be counted
occasionally, and particularly when
there was a change Of State Treasurer,
besides the danger Of their being lost
or stolen. So the Legislature wisely
provided that these bonds and all
coupons should be cancelled and past
ed In books for reference and perman-
emit preservation, and that one bond or
certificate should be issued providing
for the same principal and interest
and turned over for the permanent use
OF the school fund OF the State. ! do
not think there wa a dollar lost to
the school fund in the change OF form;
and the matter Is left in a safer and
much more convenient and business
like condition
Prof. Kirk, commenting upon this
interview In the Globe Democrat OF the
18th inst, says:
CAS- 10 the quoted article, fully nine.
tenths Of n came from some other
man and not from me. ! did not ques-
tion Of impugn the motives OF the
Giobe-D Democrat. expressed no opin-
ion OF the constitutional or legal as
pect of the question. Isaid In CONVEX
sation with a friend at Bethany six
months ago that ! did not think the
State had lost any part Of the school
money or the schools any Of the inter
est by changing the form Of the fund
from bonds to certificates Of indebt-
ness. This is is the sum total Of my
utterance, a mere private opinion
and not intended for publication.
We do not desire TO embarrass Prof.
Kirk In his denial Of the imputation
OF the motives OF the Globe Democrat
or his expression upon the eonstitu-
tional question. The facts are, how
ever, that the Bethany Democrat has
undoubtedly correctly quoted him, be-
cause, at the recent meeting of the
State Teachers Association at Kansas
City, Prof. Kirk mase substantially
the some statement in advocating a
resolution adopted by that body favor
ing the proposed constitutional
amendment to provide for a re-inYest-
ment Of the permanent school fund
when the certificates Of Indebtedness
fall due.
Waving this question, however, we.
note with pleasure that Prof. Kirk re-
iterates in the Globe Democrat the ma
terial point in the original interview,
that be did not think the State had
lost any part Of the school money OF.
the schools any Of the interest by
changing the form Of the fund from.
bonds to certificates Of Indebtedness "
This, after all, is the vital point in
the interview OF Prof. Kirk, and
should settle, once and for all, the
malicious ISLANDERS Of the GlobeDeno-
cruz in reference 10 the investment
Of our School funds Jefferson City
Press.