Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-05-12
In Memoriam.

To WHOM IT MAY CONCERN; GREETING:
Judging from an article which APP
peared in the Democrat of April 14th,
headed "Publicus" we would suppose
that many reports have been circulated
our Educational move at
Ethridge. Concerning those who have
circulated these reports we have only
this to say at present. We did not
expect better things of you. | want to
say that bills were posted calling the
first meeting concerning the said Edu-
cational move. In that first meeting
we decided TO first get an Independent
school district established, and the next
meeting also was published with its
objects at the preceding one. These
meetings were all public and free for
all and well attended. No advantage
was taken or attempted.
| wish now to examine the conduct
of our representative, A. A. Patterson.
The bill creating the special school
district including our town was carried
to the. Legislature by two of the best
| Citizens of the 10th Dist. with Il
petitlon signed by almost all OF the
taxpayers Of the proposed Dist asking
that body to pass the bill for d..
These two gentlemen called ON Mr.
Patterson personally and presented the
bill to him. He then asked these
gentlemen if this mea Sure would hurt
the other schools of the 10th Dist
They explained to him they thought
not ON account of the clause in the bill
which refuses to take any of the genera
school fund of the County. Therefor
the remaining portion Of the Dist
would draw their general prorata from
the general fund based on the scholas
tic population. While the speci'
Dist. would only receive such funds a
would be paid in said special distri'
which fund would be paid only b
patrons of this school. Mr.. Patterso
also asked the gentlemen If there WI
any objection from those on the Oh
side and they informed him that the
was none that they knew of the
They also explained to him that t
boundaries as first drawn were object
to by some and that at the last meet
the boundaries were SO modified as
leave out all opposition and it W
understood that their only objecti
was the distance to the school and !
to our special Dist. as measure.
After reading the measure and q
cussing it Mr.. Patterson advised
gentlemen, as the bill was hand writ
that they have same typewriter and
carbon copy made for the use OF II
r.. II. McLaurih, Senator, as in t
way he could introduce it in
House at the same time Senator
Laurin introduced it in the senate {
thus save time as the Legislat
would soon adjourn. This the gen
men did and Mr.. Patterson aided Il
in securing the service of stenograpl
Hon. r. H. McLaurin's copy was ha
ed him about IL A. NJ. aud it pas
first reading before II A, NJ.
the sape day. Mr.. Patterson rece
N his copy about 80 minutes befoie Il
McLaurin received his aud when
gentlemen met Mr.. Patterson in
afternoon and they called his atten
< to the passage of the bill in the Sc
7 Mr.. Patterson gave as an excuse for
Iinaction, that the time for introdu
bills in the House was passed for
day before the bill reached him,
proposed to attend tot the first t
the next morning.
After having something like
hours to consider, and discuss the
!. with his colleague which lie diO
introduced itand it passed first rea
shier Mr., Patterson also gave in his
ment to those gentlemen that til