Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-05-08


len in his report to Governor DOckery,
made last year.
Suffice it TO say that the policy for
the management Of the school fund
never made a matter Of party diff
ference until the last State campaign.
The Republican party, through its
representatives in the State Legisla-
ture, without exception joined hands
with the Democrats in inaugarating
and maintaining the present policy.
The first certificate Of Indebtedness
was issued under the liberal Republic
can ADMINISTRATION Of Gov. B. Graft
Brown. This certificate was for $780,
900 and was 10 make good to the school
fund moneys which the Republicanad-
ministration OF Governor Fletcher
had used in the reduction OF the State
debt. Party lines were not drawn In
consideration Of the measure. Re
publicans, Democrats and Liberal Re-
publicans were united in its support.
Later when the Democrats came
into control, other certificates were is
sued and the States obligations to in
dividual bondholders correspondingly
decreased.
The same conditions prevailed in
the Legislature Of 1895, when the Re-
publicans, who had a majority in the
House, authorized the Issuing Of an
additional certificate.
The policy was universally regarded
as wise and for the best interests Of
the schools. Governor Hardin, whose
business Judgment was eonceededly OF
a high order and who gave literally OF
his private fortune for the cause Of
education, was an earnest advocate OF
this system, which has steadily in
creased the annual apportionment to
the public schools and become as fixed
and stable as the existence OF the
State itself.
REPUBLICANS ADVOCATED THE MEA-
SURE.
Such prominent Republicans as
Wells Fl. Blodgett, Louis Gottschalk,
Anthony Ittner, John L, Bittinger,
Joseph I. Tatum, James c. McGinnisi
Ben f. Russell, Samuel P. Davidson
and Farmer" Wade were among its
jealous advocates.
Moses 7. Whybark, now candidate
for the Republican nomination for Su
preme Judge, who in 1888 was a mem.
Der Of the House from Bollinger coun
ty, voted with his Republican col
leagues in support Of the measure. Sc
did Henry C. Brockmeyer, then ;
member Of the Senate.
There is not a representative banke'
or business mar Of recognized stand
ing in the State who win not say thai
the transaction was for the best inter
ests Of both the schools and the State
and that the investment Of this funt
in government bonds would be an In
excusable business blunder.
DRAGGING THE SCHOOLS INTO POLL
TICS.
Never until the campaign OF 100
was the sacredness Of this obligation
OF the wisdom OF the Investment Ques
toned. II was left for the Republican
party managers under the lead Of a.
unscrupulous partisan Journal to draI
the schools Of this State into partisan
I politics.
These same Republican party mat
ayers know that TO pay of the s4,3a3r
! s39.42 now held in trust by the Stat
for the public schools, 1t would b
necessary 10 levy a direct tax on tn
people for that purpose. They kno'
that the interest which the State pay
! on this fund goes to the people for tn
: support OF their schools and that no
: one dollar OF 1t is OF can be used 70
any other purpose.
{ They know that If this tax va
levied on the people and the schoI
certificates paid that the fund woul
then have TO be invested in Unite
D States bonds which would not pay a
E interest exceeding ? per cent.
o They know that this difference b,
S tween what the schools now receiy
e and what they would receive under a
. investment in government bono
. would have to be made up By diret
tax on the property Of the school di
n trict, or the schools would be force
to suffer the loss.
REDUCTION OF TAX RATE.
They know that under the constitl
tional amendment to be submitted
e the people this fall, the tax rate Il
; State interest and indebtedness pu
e poses, which was &c on the 500 III
! der Republican rule and which ha
been reduced TO 1Oc by Democrat.
business methods, will be still furthI
- reduced 10 2fc.
eel They know that Missouri distribu
5 ed last year over a 81, 100000 to Ii
district schools alone, the larges
amount in the history OF the Stat.
and this sum will be increased th
year over 100000.
They know further that to chars
I that the school certificates are wort
less" is TO aSsail the credit and intel
rity Of the State itself and to charl
that this fund which is nov large
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