Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1904-02-24
THE LOCAL SELF-GOYEREMENT IDEA.

THE LOCAL SELP-G0YERRMENT IDEA.
The principle of local self-gov-
eminent is dearest of all to the
hearts Of Nirginians. 1t is the
foundation and inspiration of our
whole political syStemand probably
the most honored of all our inner
tied traditions and ingraine0 ten
denotes. .It may be carried to
foolish extremes. however. and as
a wise people 1t Is well for us to
rouse ourselves TO understanding
of the changed conditions of phys
ical, social and commercial lifeand
to make such changes i'm our polit-
zeal system and methods as are
needed TO conform 10 them. Ii Is
ridiculous 10 ignore facts. With
communication from one end of
our State 10 the other matter of
minutes, and with transportation
from one end TO the other matter
of hours, it is absurd 70 maintain
the methods based on the condi-
tiOns of a hundred years ago, when
a journey from West Point to the
Kentucky line was a matter of
weeks and when the people of diff
ferent sections of the State never
were in touch with each other ex-
cept through the conventions and
legislatures assembled in Rich
mond. The whole idea of having
each county little kingdom and
each city ward a town by itself Is
going, vanishing before the power
of the locomotive, the telephone
and the telegraph wire and the
daily circulation of newspapers.
making us one people and cement
ing and charging our interests
and information.
We have abandoned the county
court system and grouped the
counties into judicial districts.
Apparently we are at the point of
adopting general and harmoni-
GUS plan of party nominations TO
replace the old system of indepen-
dent county choice of methods.
The general sense of our people
and our legislators Is that the coun-
ties and the cities must be brought
to working together for a general.
comprehensive system of public
roads instead of the present way
of having each county settle down
into mud-holeS and do nothing on
its own hook. Why not carry on
the same idea in the selection of
school books: Where is the sense
or advantage of having III sepa-
rate sets of selections of the books
Virginia children shall studyl
Can anybody suggest any coherent.
distinct reason why the children of
Wise county should not study the
same arithmetics, history and read
ers used by the children of Princess
Ann! Is there any such difference
lnthe language, customs, surround
lngs or interests of the people of
those two counties that the same
books should not be appropriate
for their respective schools
Cannot body of trusted, intelH-
gent and experienced gentlemen,
representing the whole State. and
meeting in Richmond, select school
books to be used at both extremi-
ties and in all parts of the State as
well as local committees, partly
composed of citizens without ex-
perience in such matters and ex-
posed to all kinds of locaIinfuences.
social, political and commercials
We confess we can see no reason
for the sensitiveness in this matter.
no sense in delegating the matter
of choosing books from the central.
general board to local boards. III
there Is any sense in it or any
reason for it. we will be glad to
have 1t explained to us and to put
1t before the public. The plain
intention of the constitution is that
the central board shall take this
authority and responsibility. That
purpose seems touS to be altogether
sensible and in accord with the
conditions as they are. Why
should we obstinateIy. blindly.
persistently stick to system alb
solutely inappropriate to the times.
inconvenient to the people and
enormously expensive to the pub
fishers! The successful conduct
of a school-book campaign with the
present system means the spend
ing of nearly $40, 900 in absolutely
legitimate expenses by each pub
IiSbinU-hOuSa Tho nuhlic should