The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-07

state has been flooded with printed mat ter, folders, pamphlets, etc.. and every few days column after column of the pub lie journals favorlng the McAdory- Gun nels bill, in all of which the main ques- ton at issue Is adroitly avoided, I cannot longer remain silent.
 The argument presented in all these writings is directed to better supervision and better qualified superintendents. They l endeavor all the while to keep the att 1 tentlon of the reader off the main subject of dispute. Every man and woman in Alabama, I suppose, agrees on the sub 1 ject of better qualified supervision, No one has raised a voice against that. But the clause in that bill which is so dis tasteful to all democrats is that which proposes to remove the election of coun- ty superintendent from the voters of the state and place the appointing power in the hands of the county board of educa- l tion.
 If we are going to follow 1homas Jeffer- sons doctrine of Keeping the govern ment close to the people," let the voters have a voice in the selection of their off, cers. If we are going into the republican ranks let us be true to Hamilton and give over the government into the hands of the few.
 l Here is an opening wedge for rings and machine politics in our educational sys- tenn and most dangerous that has ever ;, confronted us. Instead of removing il l from politics, it will play squarey into the hands of those who would take ad- | vantage of 1t. We can always trust the people"
 If it was proper for the people to vote for the state superintendent, why are not 1 the same voters competent to select | county superintendent?
 | If any change is made in the present laws at all, suppose the first move will l be to enact a law specifying the qualified | tions of county superintendent, and fixing | his salary
 1 That being fixed the people will make | few mistakes In casting their votes for | that will be a safeguard against incom- l potency.
 ] It Is the opinion of some of the best | judges of law in Alabama that quail ficatons can be fixed. and salary stpu- | lated by an act of the legislature The legislature is open to any action not for bidden by the constitution. From my observation I would say that | 99 per cent of the voters in Alabama arc opposed to the appointment of this officer l by the county board. It has been urged | by the advocates of the appointing plan | that we are following other and more l progressive states in this. Where Is there a state that has this method of ring form 1 ing and machine building? In many l states county superlntendents are appoint | ed we admit but not after this fash | ion. If appointed they must be, let the state superintendent or the county judges do that.
 0f fl,t ,t- tf inI ic urged by the friends of the Gunnels bill is that the county board will be author ized to go out of their county for | superintendents. This feature will tend to rob young men of their aspirations to fill positions of usefulness in their own coun- | ty. It will tend to break down home enterprise and aspirations. | If a salary Is allowed at all commen- surate with the duties and responsibilities of this office, and they be required to 1 devote their time to the work of su pervision, and make reports of their work 1 to the county board as is required In the | Wilson bill, we need have no fears that good men In each county will not be found forging to the front who will rival each other In their efforts to have the best schools possible. Then we will have supervision equal to any city school This matter has been pressed upon the atten- ton of the federation of womens clubs for their support keeping the light turned all the while upon the subject of better qualifications.
 |. Up to the time that many of these clubs had taken action upon this bill, the Wilson bill which provides for the election of county auperintendents had not bee brought to their attention. Doubt less they did not anticipate much con tention over the clause in the bill now under discussion.
 When attention was called to the im- pending danger that threatens democratic usage by taking away the rights of the people to elect the clubs could not unani- mously endorse the Gunnels bill.
 In Mr. Gunnels double column interview in The Age-Herald of June 21 last, he states that the federation of women's clubs has indorsed the bill.
 I submit report and resolution of one of these clubs which shows theropinon of many good women of this country. They expressed themselves in forceful terms, brief, and to the point. which has the ring of true democracy. I challenge any politician, even Bryan himself. to produce a document covering more ground in so few words.
 East Lake, Ala, June 14, 1907. "At a regular meeting of the Pierian club of East Lake, Ala, held on the 14th day of June 1907 among other things
 
 were adopted, viz:
 "Whereas, the committee on education of the Alabama Federation of Women's clubs, had referred to this, the Pieran club, for an expression of it's approval or disapproval of Senate bill No. 253 and same bill of house No 5S2. Ond the same having been considered in regular meet ing, by unanimous vote. it was resolved, q. We approve of that part of the measure wherein qualifications are pro- vided for county superntendents, and give the same our unqualified endorse ment.
 "2. We. with emphasis, reject the meth cd provided in said measure of electing county superintendents by school board.
 8. We have faith in the people that they will elect good and proficient off, cers from any number of persons pos sessing the qualifications for any office which the law may provide.
 A. We are unalterably opposed to linn iting the powers of government in the many and bestowing 1t on the few. We believe In democratic form of govern ment, "A government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
 Signed by the authority of the meeting.
 LAURA W. ROBINSON, Director"
 s. A. ELLIS.
 Birmingham. Ala, July s. 1907, 146 Eff ty-flrst street"
 The Wilson bill, to which allusion is made in the above letter and which was