The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-29
] Mr. BRYAN WOULD
MAKE THEM len ATTEND !
Richmond Lawyer Speaks for
Compulsory Education at
Roanoke.
DELIVERS AN ABLE ADDRESS
f'Reviewsztf,e Situation and Shows
That Government Regulates
Other Matters.
DELIVERS AN ABLE ADDRESS

~ tHe ieCenI otate lIducatlonalS Com
ference. at Roanoke, was ny Mr..
George Bryan. OF this city, 81, COM
pulsory education. 1t follows:
The general proposition to which I
shall address myself Is the merits OF
certain contemplated legislation look
ing to the enforced attendance upon
our public schools OF ali children be-
tween certain ages and not In at
tendance upon other schools-in other
words, the wisdom OF invoking action
by our General Assembly compelling
parents and guardians TO avail them
selves for the benefit OF their children
and wards. and OF society itself, OF the
educational privileges which, at an ex-
Fcnse OF millions OF dollars. the State
has developed into an established in
stitution.
take 1T for granted that my au-
dience is familiar with certain basal
facts and statistics. an enumeration of
which would unduly prolong my re-.
marks to the length OF which a reason
able Limitation has very properly been
assigned. fsE
49, As to I1literacy.
Facts here. as elsewhere, are the
most potential clement In any problem,
and speaker who properly presents
them alone may be satisfied that he
has attained the maximum OF per-
facts. however, perhaps OF a technical,
and. in this instance. OF legal nn-
ture. to which It may not be inappro-
pirate to coll your attention In order
that the application OF the latter class
to the former may at least tend to re-
suit In Welding together OF the
whole and in an intelligent and i'm
partial Judgment in the premises. :4
The most prominent of the first
class. and perhaps the only one 10
which I shall allude. is that OF the IL
literacy of our population. as shown by
credible statistics. The census OF 1900
shows In Virginia more than IL per
cent OF our native whites. more than
10 per cent. Of our foreign whites and
more than Sc per cent. OF our negro
population as unable to read or write
in other words, nearly one-fourth OF
our whites and more than one-half OF
our colored people. Upon the very
threshold, then. we are confronted with
condltion--an appalling condition.
1t is true that Mr.. jefferson ques-
toned the right OF compulsory educa-
ton. but Mr.. Jefferson wrote a cen
fury ago. when all must acknowledge.
he was dealing in this particular Win
a theory only. We to-day are called
upon to consider the presence in the
body polite of tits conceded disease
of illiteracy-tlis threat to our pres
ent and future social condition. which
cannot. with any degree of prudence.
be conside ED t. be of q negative char
aoter, mer.,Iv because 1T 5is inactive
Just now. nut rather as one OF present
serious moment and fraught with tre-
nendous consequences TO the future
of the Commonwealth.
What IL to De Doneg
With this fact established. the ques-
Irh on IA NO q g.
cape follows What are we going to
do about IT? And what other answer
will this brave Virginia people make
to the question than that they viii
arise and grapple with illiteracy to
ats reduction to a minimum-its prac-
tfcal extinction? That they will meet
1t as they have done a score OF terri
BILE problems which. have been presented
10 them for solution, and Will do 1t
70 its death, again Strengthening their
manhood and womanhood by thesvcry
effort and writing over it's completed
work: Virginia again the conqueror?
u But some man will say, How Is this
to be done? Suggest practical step
towards the desired end. We present
On response to this reasonable demand
the plan of compulsory education, with
the local option feature. We propose
to ask the General Assembly to enact
a law by which, when a majority of
Me voters OF school unit, a county,
lHty or town, shall have voted for the
lhmpulsory education OF It's children,
children between certain ages with
M the limits OF that unit shall so to
Mool. That is at once general and
Vtnple statement OF the idea We Go
l\G propose anything harsh. unfair,
aNNmocratic u unprecedented. We
= Wpropose that the State, having
81 \Dd out for forty years her amplest
" hues In the erection OF her great
taple Of education, shall not stand
N and see 1t half-tenanted, and scores
Sit thousands OF her children who.
Tlhin from nine to thirteen years. are
exbe clothed with the right of SUI
7 he,e, refused an opportunity to APP
cvach Its doors OF their own accord,
So sentenced instead by short-sighted
rents to idleness or enforced labor.
Seems Reasonable. Il
1T seems reasonable. What are the
objections to it? Principally two. The
first is that the measure is paternal in
Ats nature and abridges overnluch the
Aliherty Of the citizen. Think of It!
el<e liberty of the citizen-parent to
deny his child q primary education.
Does not The objection almost answer
ttself? But lett us treat 1t seriously
and examine it'from q legal standpoint
to test its soundness.
1.-The measure would seem to come
within what Is known as the police
power of the State governmental
power elastic. it is true. and one which
the courts do not attempt to define.
ipreferring to ad1udge Individual in-
STANCES Of Its exercise as properly or
Improperly within Its scope and opera
tion. as they arise, leaving its general
4 exercise to the sound Judgment OF the
Legislature-the branch Of our gov
ernmentl peculiarly fitted to care for
the salus popull, Its morals and gem
eral welfare. a very good attempt at
"a def1nition, however, is the following
by one OF our recognized teXt-writers
H ''The police power In Its broadest &C.
,ceptation means the general power OF
y a government to preserve and promote
the public welfare by prohibiting a
Things hurtful to the comfort, safety
+ and welfare of society, and establish,
ang all such rules and regulations fol
the conduct OF all persons and the
use and management OF all property
Jas may be conducive to the public In
Jxerest,' "a 3 3 5j =
1T is a power akin to those of emil
nent domain and taxation, though diff
3ering widely from them In certain
generic features, @, g., that In the
CORNER, compensation is always made