Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-11-03
MISLEADING REPUBLI-
CAN STATEMENTS
Richmond Times-Dispatch.) }

hS heSPNOnCdLS are QlSITlOuLlOg
a circular on the subject of free
books, in which they say that twen-
ty-six States in the Union "use free
school books" The Times Dispatch
has shown that eleven States compel
the lccal school districts to supply
school books at the. expense.of the
districts. Ii has. also pointed out
that fourteen States leave it with
the local boards to. decide whether
or not free books shall be supplied
at the expense Of the district; and
that ouly one State, Maryland, fur
nisbes any money from the State
treasury with which to purchase
books for the children. The state
ment of the Republicans, therefore,
that twenty-six States "use free
school books" is misleading.
The circular says that "the cost
to the State or county or district is
only one-tenth of the cost TO the
pupil who purchases for himself"
This is an absurd statement and
we defy the Republicans to prove it.
No such claim is made by any ad-
vocate Of free books who knows
what be is talking about, and who
at the same time confines himself to
the truth.
The circular further states that
"the cost of books for one pupil
taking the graded school course in
Roanoke is $26.49. The State or
city can furnish the same books for
$780," This statement is also un-
true. The attention of Republican
Chairman Slemp has been called to
the inaccuraey of the statement
that the books in the Roanoke
schools cost $40 49, and he has ac-
knowledged that his figures are in
correct.
The Roanoke papers have shown
that the cost of books under pri-
vate purchase in the schools of that
city is not $26.49, or anywhere near
this amount. The statement that
the State or city can furnish these
same books for $3.50 is teo ridicu-
lous to be dignified with serious
denial.
They are careful not to say that only
one State in the Union, MARYLAND,
practices the plan which the Repub-
licans propose to foist on the people
of Virginia, to furnish books to be
paid for out of the State treasury.
While claiming that books in Vir-
ginia cost from twenty-five to thirty
four per cent. more than the same OF
corresponding books In Tennessee,
they carefully omit to state that in
Maryland the same or corresponding
books paid for out of the State treas
ury cost from twenty to thirty per
cent. more than they do in Virgins
under private purchase.
The Democratic party is not cop
posing free books" any more than it
is opposing free desks or free school
houses. Free school houses aud free
desks are paid for by the local school
districts. IF any district wishes to
furnish free books at the expense OF
the district the Democratic party
has no objection to it. Let each dis
trict decide the matter for itself:
And be it always remembered that
the districts are required by law to
furnish free books for INDECENT
pupils. s. x.: a..
The Democratic position on this
subject, in keeping with, the position
of twenty-five of the twenty,six States
in the Union that have free book
laws, is that this. is, purely slocal
matter. Why should: the people of
Virginia turn their backs upon the
plan adopted and praetfced by these
twenty-five States and follow the
Republican plan which has proven
80 expensive in Maryland? ssa,f