Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-09-24


men who obtained the bargain were
brothers of the Republican commits
sioner who made the sale.
During these years of Republican
rule the tax rate was as high as 65
cents, and never lower than so cents
on the $4,000, but notwithstanding
this enormous tax, never a dollar thus
raised was spent in erecting a public
building. The only reared
by the Republican party in these
years was a bonded indebtedness Of
SCI, 100000, which they left as a
legacy to their Democratic successors.
THE DAWN UNDER sILAs wooDsoN.
When, in 1873, Democracy, Under
Sllas WoodSon, assumed control of
the State, we took possession under
the most discouraging circumstances.
Missouri, a border State, had been
ravaged by both armies during the
Civil War, and the panic destined a
lew months later to sweep over the
country was already casting its
shadow upon us. But Democracy,
with splendid courage, faced the diff
culties it confronted. Salaries of pub
lie officials were reduced; fees and
perquisites that had gone to enrich
o~ficeholders were turned into the
treasury. Property that had escaped
taxation was placed upon the books
of the assessor, and for the first time
the great corporations and railroad
companies were compelled to bear
their share of the burden of govern
ment. Under economic Democratic
administrations the people of this
State have seen this entire indebted
ness paid, excepting only that part in
which the State has invested her per-
manent school fund. known as the
school certificates. By a direct vote
on a Constitutional Amendment. the
people have determined that these
certificates shall remain as an invest
, ment for the benefit of our educa-
t tional system.
All this has been done under a tax
rate constantly reduced, until today
5 it is the lowest of any state in all the
r union, and of the II cents that we
=, levy, 7 cents goes back to the public
schools, so that with a tax of only 10
, cents on the $4,000, we pay all the
eXnenses of State government.
But had Democracy sacrificed the
needs of the hour to meet these de-
mands of the past, its economy would
! have deserved no consideration. On
!, the contrary, we have met every duty
: and obligation Of statehood, and kept
6 Missouri abreast of the progress of
the world, and the civilization of the
Il century.
" WONDERFUL GROWTH OFF PUBLIC IN
SITUATIONS.
: When the Republican party turned
{ the State over to their Democratic
n successors there were eight State in
e situations, meagerly equipped, pro-
" vided for out of the general treasury.
, These have enormously grown and
expanded, and fifteen others have
been added to them to meet the needs
B. of our rapidly growing common
wealth.
With that wisdom which recognizes
that the first prerequisite in the citi-
a. zenship Of a republic is widespread
Of intelligence, the Democracy has ever
most literally provided for the main
: t~enance of our common school sys-
III TEN. Under their fostering care, our
great University has grown to be one
a of the foremost schools in the land,
and clustered around it, and part OF
it, are the technical schools of law.
&c medicine, agriculture, mining, engin-
eering, pedagogy and journalism
where the Missouri boy may fit him
. self for work in any calling Of life.
> Three great normals, thoroughly
e. equipped, and two more in course OF
Sc construction. are yearly sending forth
ID thousands of trained teachers to take
= their places in the country SCHOOLS
'c Ten thousand and forty-six distric'
N. schools, maintained in every schoo
I'd district in Missouri, are giving to tn,
III boys and girls of the State an op
- portunity to obtain a primary educa
" ton that will fit them for the dutie!
d. of citizenship.
ng STATE SUPPORT FOR DISTRICT
as SCHOOLS.
re This year from the general treasur,
ed of the State, in addition to SUM
it. raised by taxation on the propert,
40 within the district, we distributed tt
% these Io,o46 district schools $I,564,
ng 10000. This sum raised by genera
st. taxation upon all the property of tn
ID; State is the help the weather. cou1i
ties extend to poorer communities/ii
order to enable them to maintain thei
schools. Under this system man
m, counties in Missouri receive from tn
ms public treasury for school purpose
al more money than the entire tax pal,
by that county to the State.
OF The school system of Missouri
he built up and maintained under Demo
en- c1atic laws, must be preserved. TIL
nc common schools, where the vast ma
-. jority Of our youths have their onl
opportunity for education, must b
fl continuously improved and kept a
om the highest point of efficiency. !
al Democratic Legislature in the pas
- has and in the future will recogniz
III their needs, and just laws will b
Out enacted to meet their necessities.
1t NEGRO CHILDREN AND WHITES /
lot SEPARATE SCHOOLS.
ac- Separate schools for the negro rae
.he have been provided, and Lincoln Ir
). stitute gives to them likewise the or
"a portunity for higher education. A
ZEN any cost, Democracy will always d.
the mand a separation of the races in tn
school room, and never can any ma
y hold office in this State who does nj
stand for that policy.
IA = -