Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-01-11
Realty Loan and In
suranCe Trust Co.
IRWIN 1U1kGR, Pres,
27fi WASH. AVE.


This is hopeful sign, for popular
indifference TO our free schools has
been the chief cause OF their slow
growth. We need longer terms. fewer
but better schools and better teachers;
ana to this end we must have an
annual approDriatlon OF not less than
5000. 900 In addition IN the special fund
If 100000 now appropriated, which
would give 100000 annually over and
above the income derived from the
School tax. But this increased appro-
priation and these improvements will
only partially relieve the system of n
iatal inertia. The remedy is deeper.
Tor rcnl educational vigor and progress
now p!ea'iinSly await the helping hand
az n law OF compulsory attendance.
rms change is necessary and inevita-
b'e sooner or later. The individual
rights Of parents and guardians will
he deliberately and rcfinodly assorted
to obscure the merits OF the Issue
But our consideration should no; he
confined 10 the rights of parents or
guardians. We must think Of the
rights of the children themselves.
Ihelr rights are the necessities OF the
state; and who is to assert these
rights if the State does not? Children
are too ignorant TO know or too weak
10 assert themselves. Public cduca-
tiun is q public necessity. Only on
this ground can property he taken by
force OF law 70 maintain public schools
Herein the State eXerts her sover-
eisn power in defense of herself: and
Il she can force a citizen 10 pay for
Il public necessity why can she not
With equal Justice force tho parent TO
permit the child to share in the adj
vantagos incident TO this necessary
contribution? And if the State can
prevent violence or wron gto the per-
son OF the child. she can with equal
right prevent injury or wrong to the
mind OF the child. About fifty out of
every one hundred white children are
regular attendants upon our public
schools. Thus 1t is apparent that pov.
crty. or ignorance. or avarice Of the
parents or guardians withholds educa-
ton from the child Is il possible
that these considerations should be
permitted to imperil the State?
Compulsory Attendance.
Compulsory attendance prevails in
every State of the Union. with the ex.
ception of the Southern States. and
even here Maryland and Kentucky
have broken the reactionary letters.
and IL may be generally affirmed thai
wherever the free school Is efficient,
either in America or abroad. legalized
compulsory attendance prevails !,
therefore, press upon you the inaugu.
ration OF this system, with such fleyi-
hility in administration as may he
cXpedient under section 1873 Of the
Constitution. Ii, however. the Gen
cral Assembly is unwilling TO take this
step fer the whole State. earnestly
recommend Your honorable body To
empower any county or city of the
State with the optic nof establishing
compulsory attendance.
The Governor repeats his former
recommendations In regard to improy-
ing the public roads. urges that the
State appropriate so much money to
any given county or district as will
lie supplemented by local appropria-
ton of equal or great amount. and re.
peats his recommendation that con
''cts be- wcrhcd on the highways of
the State CT else in preparing read
materials. He also urges that the
minimum term in the penitentiary be
fixed at two years. TO the end that the
inmates of the jals may be utilized
to help improve the roads
Mining industries.
The growth and magnitude of our
mining industries afford employment
TO very large number of people. The
conditions under which these pecple
work are not free from danger. and
for their protection I would suggest
the enactment of laws substantially
analogous to those already in force In
the various mining States of the
Union.
The State needs immigration. for
she can easily support population of
ten million and will lag behind her
sister States unless we have such All
info wof people. would therefore
suggest the enactment OF legislation
for the procurement of desirable i'm.
migrants who can contribute to our
home building and development ener.
giles. Outside of the efforts of our
railways we have practically done no
thing to attract such immigration, and
we must fall behind our sister States
unless we make such endeavors.
Great opportunities are fast coming
to Virginia and we must grasp them
with the spirit of enterprise and pro
gress. The demands of the hour can |
not he met by past traditions nor ex. |
cnsed by past misfortunes; but we |
should rather court these things as
the energizing call for the renewal Of
our most patriotic efforts to place our
beloved Commonwealth in the fore
'front.' OF the extraordinary, economic.