The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-03-12
NEGROES
AreBetterEdu
Than the Whites
Says kentucky Legislator, in the De.
nat' Nh Bill to Change tho
School System OF the Blue
grass State-NIeaSurc Meets
Much Opposition.

frankfort, KY, March 6.-The
sullivan county school board bill,
which Will change the entire system
Oh selecting teachers In the state and
40 away with the old trustee sys-
tenn, was the most important meas
ure before the house today. While
the routine business was being dis
posed Of Representative Sullivan
called attention to the fact that the
county board bill was the special Or
ucr or the day. He explained the
provisions Of the bill, which, in sub
stance, are that the county shall be
the unit Of school government. ex-
cept that Of cities or towns in the
counties, CT graded and common
school districts shall be exempt from
the provisions Of the act. Represent
tatlVe Wilson inquired particularly
as to the graded school districts and
Mr.. Sullivan explained how the NOM
lnation Of the members Of the board
must be made by petition.
Mr.. Wilson said he regarded the
Dill one of the most important be-
fore the general assembly, providing
as 1T does for a complete change in
the educational system Of the state,
He moved that the house go into a
committee Of the whole to discuss
the measure section by section. The
motion was lost. Mr.. Wilson Offer
ed an amendment providing for a 20
cent tax on each 500 worth of
property in the county to support the
school system
Wants High School.
Representative Hanvell offered an
amendment compelling the board to
establish at least one high school in
each county in the state within the
next two years, to be located at the
county seat. .,-
Representative Beard offered an
amendment to exempt school dis
tricts which, have 2Been created by
special acts Of the legislature or en-
JOY special school funds. Represen-
tative Frank j. Brown made a strong
speech against the bill, declaring
that it was un-American and was vir-
tually system Of taxation without
representation. Representative
Steers replied to Mr.. Brown, re-
questing him to make more thor
ough study Of the provisions Of the
bill, and adding that it was a meas
ura Of merit and should be passed.
Representative Pirtle, former presi-
dent Of Kenyon college at HOdgens-
Xille, submitted an amendment regu-
lating the salaries Of the teachers
according to the attendance Of pu-
pills and not the enrolment.
Representative Porter said the
bill would get the schools in politics
and therefore he opposed it, and ad-
ded that the school system was good
enough and should be let alone. He
thought the two great questions for
the people Of Kentucky to settle we're
the whisky and Negro questions.
This assertion brought Representa-
tive Sawyer A. Smith, the republican
floor leader, to his feet, as he said
he wanted to defend the 5000 Ne
grOes in his district, and said that
he would insist that the Negroes Of
Kentucky get the same consideration
as the other citizens, He urged the
republicans to stand up for this bill,
declaring that they had been elected
en- the same ticket with Superintcnd-
ent Of Public instruction Crabbe, and
that he, one Of the most distinguish
cd educators in the south, heartily
approved the bill.
No Need for Worry.
Ro,rcconta ativo I II Jackson said
that Mr. Smith need not worry about
the Negroes, as they were better ed
ucated than the whites in this state
He made strong plea for the bill,
and insisted that it was not a po]iti-
cal measure, as both parties were
pledged to do it. Representative W..
J. Jackson said his people did not
want the bill, and moved to table
the bill and amendments, but his
motion was lost.
After further debate the bill was
passed by q vote Of So to %. But
the two amendments, those Of Rep
resCntative Haswell, to establish q
high school in every county which
has not one, within q period Of two
wears. and that Of Representative
Beard, Of Shelby, exemDting schoo
districts created by special acts, ant
having special school funds, from tn
provisions Of the bill, were tackled O1
to it.