Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-11-27
Compulsory Education.

AUS - lWaeNd i've issue and 1 feel
gratihed that you have 40 generously
and unbiasedly opened your columns
10 the free discussion Of it. Having
started the ''spntin' feel that | have
stirred hornets nest aud will, in All
probability, get stnng IN the encounter,
but the spirit Of long suffering and en-.
durance having found Judgement in me.
! will try to survive Il, but II the "stine''
becomes poisonous and | succumb let
me go, for working in the glorious
cause of home and Liberty even defeat
Is sweet. The home is the hope Of the
nation, Liberty Is the hope of the A
meiican home, and II Is up TO the occu-
pants Of that home and nation to assid.
uously guard these bulwarks of private
aud public happiness, and energetically
and decisively relegate any infraction
upon them to the peaceful realms of no
more. such Legislation as the lodge
Bill" Of National repute, assuming to
control throughout the States the Pub
lie schools, together with many other
ubiquitous propositions TO the Southern.
er, such as Compulsory Attendance"
In the States, are infractions upon the
liberty of the home, and monstrous
stride towards the GENERALIZATION of
Power" the tendency of which is Roy
atty disguised. appeal to our indul.
gent public to think of the tendency of
such Legislation as we'll as the immedi-
ate results before making your decision
We have some laws already that are
very much subject to criticism, that are
not purposed or do not result in any
thing but to create a job for the pie
hunter and make criminals out of hon.
orable men, one in particular that is in
mind at present is the "Game Law"
which affords not one cent of revenue
to the State, but makes the man who
wants to dispose of his days hunting pay
$25. 90 and costs to that gentry known
as "game wardens," 1926 90 to wardens
and cost to Court and officers. This is
peice of Legislation that is an infrac-
ton upon the natural liberties of the
citizen, and If the people we're given an
opportunity they would relegate it to
the rear, as it should be. / mention
this only to call my readers attention
to the methods of promoters who press
matters upon the Legislature for passage
without giving the voter an opportunity
for. expressing his unfettered wish.
Mark my word, and watch, kind reader,
and see if the question of Compulsory
Education is not raised at the next gem
eral Assembly, and the promoters of the
same seek to accomplish Its passage,
they know that such an invasion Of the
private home, the liberties of the fire.
side, will never maintain with the pvo-
pie, and their only chance is to run it
rough shod over their will by ''memor
alizing the Legislature. What is the
necessity for this law? 1t is surely not !
from a clamorous demand from the cleo
torate to have a State officer come a.
round and demand the immediate sur
render of your children to him to be put |
into school, and surrender of yourself to
be put in Jail, or heavily fined, for your
failure to put them there. Surely it is
not that Now my friends, | am going
TO tell you what the necessity is, accord
ing to my idea of the matter, may be
wrong, only ask you to investigate
and find out if miss the truth far. The
necessity does not arise from demand |
from the people to give their children
over to the State to be educated for
them, it arises from an organized bunch
Of teachers who are becoming numer-
ically greater than there are schools for
them to teach at remEnerative prices
and hold their job. Who are those
teachers and how do they work? They |
are the selfsame 'fessor" of your CON-
munity who takes part always in every |
County Institute that is drawn off in |
your County, in every County in the
State, and lend their aid and comfort
to the great State Institutes held at
different places at different times and
wind up their deliberations invariably |
with recommendations for. Compulsory |
Attendance, | ask kind reader, where
else do you find an outspoken express
sion of sentiment on subject until the /
''sputin' was started? To be sure, the |
Politician has, on very few occasions
expressed his endorsement, and that is
just exactly what the people want The |
II