Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1905-11-03
Misleading Republican State
mentS.

The Republicans are distributing
circular on the subject OF free
books in which they say that TWEEN
tysix states in the Union fuse free
school books" The Times Dis
patch has already shown that II
States compel the local school dis
tricts to supply school books at the
districts. It has also been pointed
out that fourteen States leave it
with the local board to decide
whether or not free books shall be
supplied at the expense Of the dis
tricts. and that only one state,
Maryland, furnishes pny money
from the State treasury with which
to purchase books for the children.
The statements of the Republicans,
therefore. that twenty-six States
use Stree school books" is mislead-
ing.
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 him.
self.
This is an absurd statement and
we DEFY the Republicans to prove
it.
No such claim is male by airy
advocate. of free books who knows
what he is talking about, and who,
at the same time ccn6nes himself
to the truth.
The circular further states that
"vhe cost of books for one pupil
taking the graded school course is
$26 40. TIE State or city can fur
nish the same books for 81 80.
This statement is also untrue. The
attention of Chairman Slemp has
been called to the inacuracy OF the
statement that the books in the
Ronoake schools cost $26.49, and
he has ackno wledgtd that his fig
ures are incorrect.
The Ronoake papers have shown
that the cost of books under pri-
vate purchase in the schools OF
that city is not $2649. or any
where near this amuunt. The
statement that the State or city
can furnish these same books for
81. so is to ridiculous to be dlgnified
with serious denial.
The Ronoake Times, in an edi-
torial on this subject, exposes the
misleading statements the Repub-
licans are circulating, 1t seems
that the Republicans claim that
the total cost of school books in
the third grammar grade of the
Roanoke schools under private
ownership is $6.17, the actual cost
for this grade is only Sl.55; and
that this does not take into ac-
count that the pnpil can dispose OF
his books after he has finished this
grade.
The Times says in this connec-
ZION; The Republicans figure that
all school books bought at public
expense will last four years, includ-
ing copv5ooks and drawing tab
lets. Their table of the cost OF
school books and drawing tablets
in The Ronoake schools is as fol-
lows:
Total cost under private owner
shin $3.50
Total cost under free book plan
as "'free books (includlng
copybooks and drawing tab
lets) last four years" .63
Total amount saved Sl.o7
ut is not stated by the gifted
fgurer, "says the Times, show a
copy book and a drawing tablet,
after being used year, can be
used three years longer. 1t Is
natural to suppose, however, that
the Republicans propose to estab-
lisb at convenient points free book
laundries, when they can wash ali
the ink ont of the copy books, and
hand them nicely launderrd to the
children"
This remarkable circular also
says that the Republican party
advocates free books as it has ad-
vocated free school houses, free
desks and free teachers" and that
the Democratic party is today
Opposing free books" The Re-
onhi;.,nS o,a warn oarofnl unt IN