The Green Forest tribune., 1906-06-30
EXTRACTS FROM ADDRESS
 OF STATE SUPERINTENDENT

the character of the people who are repr, s anted by them. But my heart WAS pained when 1 found that according to the sworn etate- ment3 of l;e school directors oi the county, that courthouse cost twice as much as all the public school buildings in the county combined. My friends, it is high time in this state, that we give less attention to crime and crim- inals and more attention to the half million children who never expect to commit crime and who never intend to occupy a felon's cell.
 There has been much agitation in the state over the question of good roads. 1 have always been an advocate of good roads and have taken a modest part in the good roads movement in this state but dec lare to you that all over this state people are leaving their country homes they love so well and are moving in to the towns and villages and cities not be- cause of the bad roads but be cause of the poor schools.
 l know that the question of tax ation is delicate one and has al- ways been a hobgobbin with de- signing politicians. There has never been a struggle for English or American liberty that was not made along the line of taxation. Taxation that is unfairly levied and unwisely spent Is the most vicious form of human tyranny, but taxation that is fairly levied and wisely spent is the highest type of modern civilization. Tax alton which is levied and collect ed for public education is the only tax from which the people receive an immediate and direct return. Most of their taxes go from them never to return. The school taxes come back again, bringing with them innumerable blessings aud benefits. On one occasion Prof. Huxley was ask ed the question 'why should 1 be taxed to educate another mans children?o In reply he said: "Int he city where l live I am taxed to pay for streets that l never see; 1 am taxed to pay for judges, courts, sheriffs and con- stables whose services l never need, but if I should go before the powers that be and ask to be excused on the ground that l do not need these things I would be laughed to scorn. They would say to me, ah, MT. Huxley, you must stand up and bear your share of the burdens of civil ization. When 1 came into this world, was small reddish object, with no distinctly abstract or concrete rights of my own, an with no distinct claims on society and had 1 been treated as deserved at that moment would have been stamped out of existsnce as a squalling nuisance But society cared for me gently and led me into the ways ano walks of life. Had it not been for the sacrifices and sufferings o1 generations of men who have gone before my share of this worlds goods would be stone cave and flint axe, and I would have been naked savage danc- ing in the moonlight, and l coulo retain that stone cave and fin axe only until some more power full savage should come and tak' it away iron me. If, on the con trary, l enjoy all the benefits ant advantages of a refined and cul tured civilization it ill becomes
 me now that my hour of powel
 and strength has come to refuse l to do for other little ones wha
 society has so graciously done fo
 me, and if should refuse 1 thinl
 society should take hold of m 1 x1,.kl, ctpOn n