The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-16
Politics and Public. Schools.

hi Politics and PUBLIC 0chOOlS.
THE Republicans are making q sad ex-
hlbltion Of themselves in crticising the
Democratic party on Its school record.
a stranger, or IN ignorant man, after
hearing the Republican speakers, or read
ling the Republican platform, would sup
pose that The Democratic party had done
nothing whatever for the schools. We
have already pointed out the splendid
record that tho party has made In this
respect
545. In pamphlet written in 1891, DR.. a. D..
Mayo, the great New England educator,
says, in speaking of what Virginia has
done for public education: "rhe chronic
&agltntor can find enough to point his
criticism or sharpen his denuncation;
still, under the conditions Of public and
private life in Virginia during the past
8the most notable In the annals Of man
kind. Never before since the dawn Of
history has a Commonwealth so over.
&whelmed by the results of disastrous
civil war risen with such persistent de-.
termination, renewed It's strength like
tho eagles and in one short and troubled
generation placed itself so far in advance
Of any previous period of its history.
g 1t Is not out Of place, while we nrc
quoting from DR.. Mayo, to notice that a
Republican circular, recently printed in
the News Leader, critcises Mr.. Swanson
because, In his Hanover speech, "he did
mot advocate taking the schools out Of
politics." Writing OF the beginnings of
the school system, DR.. Mayo says: "Of
equal significance, and not less potent in
Its outcome, was the appointment Of DIR.
William H. Ruffner to the dlfficnlt pon-
Ger position of State Superintendent Of
Education in Virginia in 1870 Yor twelve
years he administered the great Office of
first State commissioner OF schools in
Virginia in a way that made him the
Horace Mann Of the new South" And
in another place he says: Another back
set has undoubtedly been the involving
Of the school system IN the hotly con-
ted partisan politics of tho Common
wealth since 1880. This great leader OF
the people was deposcd after a term nl-
most as long as that OF Horace Mann"
Or. Ruffner bad been nominated for
the office py,n yaaimta Confederate sol
der, William A. Anderson. He had been
highly endorsed by the great Southern
chieftan, Robert L. Lee. and for twelve
years had shown great ability in tho
L A. rS.., .,i-1
spublicans not retain him? Hc had shown
ti no partisan zeal: had taken no part in
politics; mad devoted his days and nights
to the betterment of the schools; had on
many night. nftergn day Of hard labor,
laid himself on a table in his office. with
his coat for n covering and dictionary
for 4 pillow, and sought few hours or
needed rest. and at the dawn of day
was again Mt work in behalf Of tho chill
dren Of the State,
When the government OF Chill wished
to adopt a public school system, the
United States Commissioner of Education,
4 In answer TO a request, sent various
State school reports to that government.
Out OF them all DIR. Ruffner's was selected
as the most. suitable. md he received a
special diploma from the Gillian gov
ernment The Virginia School Reports
were extensively quoted In England by
Morley and others in modifying the school
system of that country. IN the remark
able list OF great and honored citizens OF
Virginia, what man has done moro for
her enrichment IN all that Is noble than
William Henry Ruffner? And yet he was
deposed by the Republicans. and In his
place was put man who shines by rea-
son OF his spcuousncss between
Ruffner and Buchanan-a man who coulG
not write a letter correctly, or ever
spell,
Did tho Republicans take the schools
b out OF politics" when they appointed
negro school trustees In Richmond? Die
they "take the schools out Of politics.
when they tried to pass an unconstitu
tionnI bill to remove the one hundred
county superintendent and III theIl
places with men of their own party? L
4 they would spend their time In this cam
paign informing the people OF their own
e past nIsdeeds, Instead OF misinformin,
them about the Democratic record. III
cause of truth would suffer much less thai
IT now does.
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