The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-31
The Forum
Opinions Of the Readers of the
Eaule on Current Topics.
HIGH SCHOOL PROPOSITION.

o~~o0~~~~--~-~-~~->~-,
HIGH SCHOOL PROPOSITION.
To the Eagle:
Please allow me to answer through the
/ Eagle an editorial in the Farmers Union,
published at Wakita, with reference to
the county high school proposition in
Grant county, o. T.
! Ny Dear Sir: I am very much sur
pIised at your position on the high school
question; especially as you seem TO be
honest in what you say. % We have no
} local fight on Lamont. How strange one
cannot see himself as others sec him;
or that he should become 50 blinded by
prejudice o. selfish interests that he
can not know his own real motives. C)
We are fighting for the farmers interests
of this country. The great need Of the
farmer is intelligence and education 10
enable him 10 cope with the combined
Interests that thrive and fatten on the
products OF his toll, and to enable him
to convert to his use tho inventions OF
modern art and the knowledge that sci
entidc Investigation has brought to light,
especially with reference to his calling.
There is no better means 90 secure these
ou~ children The county high school
which could be supported by tax Of
less than one mil on the dollar of our
taxable property would surely be the
cheapest. and ought TO be the most eff
cient aid TO tbs end. 90 Taxing an en-
tire county for an institution that the
rural benefits are less than two per cent
seems TO BE- unfair and unjust
The hieh school IS not a local institu-
ton. hut am institution for the entire
country. When We reflect that a one
mill tax would he ample to run the school
while the benefits to the boys ana girls
who are CROWNS up on the farms could
not D., computed your argument about
taxing appears in its true light. G. Your
statement that less than two per cent
would be benefited discloses such lack
Of thoueht that it scarcely needs to be
noticed But many of the teachers in our
common schools are the boys and girls
from the farms l have heard them con-
denuod. quite recently. III a meeting Of
the formers institute in Unmeasurcd and
scathiug terms on account of their in
coapetency. The county high school with
an expense too small TO lie noticed by the
taxpayers would afford them an oppor-
tunitv to become better qualified and the
schools throughout the county would be
so greatly benefited by their better quail
ncations that y.e could not afford TO vote
tins proposition down. merely to save
q tax not to exceed 80 or Sd cents on each
100 acres of land. 90 WIN burden the
county with a building costing $so.00o or
$4,000. When we remember that only
three members of the board can belong
to the same political party and that not
more than three can be appointed from
the same township and that each Of
them has to give n bond for the faithful
performance Of his duties. bond TO be ap-
proved by the board Of county commits
sioners. your probability appears 20 be
very improbable
\ four-nuI tax ought to build a house
aud equip It in a very creditable manner
(o Farmers. etc. should know the facts
relative TO the east and the benefits 10
be derived from an investment If this
kind If by the east you mean Kay coua-
~. YOU should remember that Kay coun-
~ has the University Preparation school
n Toukawa. the Baptist college at
Blackwell. the Presbyterian college at
Newkirk. the Catholic college u F0nca
CITY. the Chiuocco school in the ortheast.
high schools in al its principal cities
and graded schools in the smaller towns.
with district schools in every district.
In short. considering the tine it has
been settled. and the needs Of its people.
it is the best equipped with schools of
any county in the world You predict that
Grant county viii turn down the high
school proposition 1 have met many OF
the formers and business men of this
county during the last ten years and I
believe they are too iuteUissnt 10 be gov
erred by the thouehtleSs etusions OF the
Farmers Union on this subject
+, L OMEALEY,
Lamont. o =.