The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-06-04


resulted in General ToOn's death was
brought on by exposure while on a cam
paign in company with the Governor, to
secure the adoption of local taxation for
schools in the eastern part of the State
Two of the districts in which he made
addresses have since voted special
focal tax Hon. ]. Y. Joyner has shown
his eminent fitness for taking UP this
work, and has begun very vigorous
educational administration.
In accordance with the plan adopted
at the Raleigh conference. the executive
committee has decided to hold district
conferences at accessible centers in vari-
Gus portions of the State. To these con-
ferences county superintendent and other
school officers will be invited. and also
other workers for public education.
These conferences will give the State
superintendent an opportunity to confer
with the county superintendent. and
inaugurate a uniform policy for develop
ing the educational work of the State.
At least one large mass meeting will be
held in connection with each conference,
at which addresses will be made by the
Governor, the State Superintendent, and
be held at such points as will furnish
free entertainment for the delegates. The
railroad expenses of county superintend-
ents will be paid out of the campaign
fund provided by the Southern Educa-
ton Board. The compensation of these
officers IS so small that we do not feel
that they ought to be asked to give their
time and pay their travelling expenses
IN, 70 off me
The first of the district conferences
was held April 3rd and 4th in Green's
boro and about twenty counties were
represented by their superintendent or
other school officers. The presidents of
the State colleges, and presidents or
other representatives of most of the de-
nominational colleges attended the
Greensboro conference. Finding some
liberal-hearted gentlemen in Greensboro
disposed to raise fund by popular SUBJ
scription to be used for aiding these
rural districts in Guilford county which
would vote upon themselves a local tax
to improve their schools, l wrote an
urgent letter to President w. H. Bald
win. Jr.. of the General Education Board.
and DR.. Wallace Buttrick, the executive
officer of that board. asking the General
Education Board to duplicate these SUBJ
scriptions to an amount not exceeding
four thousand dollars. The General
Education Board, which had just opened
its New York offices two DAYS before
our conference, generously complied with
the request, sending DR.. Buttrick to
Greensboro to represent them in the
conference and to make the following
proposition:
The General Education Board will
duplicate all private subscriptions made
by the people of Guilford county, North
Carolina, for the public schools in
Guilford county to an amount not ex-
eeeding four thousand dollars ($4,00O)
in all. provided that in each case school
districts where such gifts are made,
shall have levied tax for free public
schools for all the people. and provided
further that the appropriation for this
board in fulfillment of it's pledge shall
be paid to each of the several districts
through the North Carolina State De-
partment of Public Instruction when in
formation is received that the above
conditions have been fulfilled"
The mass meeting readily raised more
than four thousand dollars for the i'm
provement of the rural public schools
of Guilford county. None of this money
can be used in the city of Greensboro
where it was raised, nor cap any of it
be used for any district in the county
which does not levy local tax upon its
property. The visit of DR.. Buttrick was
valuable in many ways. His frank, tact
full manner. his enthusiasm and hearty
sympathy with the occasion won the
hearts OF our people, and greatly aided
all those interested in the educational
work of the State.
An executive committee of prominent
purposes of the Greensboro conference.
and they are now planning vigorous
campaign to secure the consolidation OF
school districts and the voting of a local
tax in every district in Guilford county.
One of these districts, about six miles
from Greensboro, had already voted a
special tax of 33 1-3 cents on hundred
dollars worth of property to supplement
the State tax of eighteen cents on a
hundred dollars worth of property, and
they are now endeaVoring to raise money
by private subscriptions to erect bet
ter school building. To encourage this
movement the executive committee of
the Greensboro conference. offered to
give one dollar for every two raised
oy the local community for this purpose.
and at the close of their public school
a few days ago more than twelve hun
dred dollars was thus raised and the
amount will be increased to fifteen hun