The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-17
A pEnN1c1ous BILL.

flJNN1SIo1S blLbs
The most profoundly discouragins'
nd the most ominous, thing that has
,me out OF the present session of the
Isscmbly is the passage of House bill
70. So through the lower branch by the
Overwhelming vote OF 40 to is. we
~ that this is discourasing because
seems TO us to reflect severely
BON the understanding or the
iblic spirit of the House. and
lat 1T is ominous because 1T Will
taken to indicate, and does indicate,
o grip which the arguments of ma
inc politics have upon the delibera-
ons OF that body.
The pernicious Love bill forbids the
ate Board of Education to appoint
nv man TO a county or district super
Tendency unless he is a resident ana
lalified voter of that county or as
let or this bill another newspaper,
Norfolk yirsinian-Pilot, has wen
id that it "is worthy of French Bour-
,nism in its most besotted era us
myers as we'll as its grotesducness
We already been fully discussed in
nc Times-Dispatch. 1t is founded on
princIple whose selfish and calculated
irrowness is exposed the instant IL Is
rmulated: the principle, namely, that
G accident of residence and the polit-
al asset of a vote shall be substituted
II merit as a standard for our schools.
doesn't make any difference how
competent the local favorite with
pull" is; it doesn't make any DIFF
renee how vastly and palpably supe-
mr. the .outsider" may be; it doesn't
AXE any difference how earnestly the
heightened and -politicating part
the community may prefer the en-
rt from a distance to the favorite
home. This bill, which the House
.erwhelmingly indorses. forbids the
,pointment Of the expert and forces
appointment of the favorite.
There Us no conceivable reason for a
,e for this bill except that the Vocal
,sses want the patronage and the
ome-folks want the Jobs, and that
ose wants strongly appeal to the Viz
MIA Legislature. The good of tn
hools OF the State is to be mad
ibservient to these homely yearninss
5 one pretends that the bill is TO pro
ote. or will promote, the good of TIL
hools. The best that is hoped for j
suppose. is that it will not muc
lure the schools. y fair sample O
lie argument in behalf of it is one pu
rward by its patron, who is quote
complaining that "a beardless boy
S been advanced in his district owe
ature men. 1t seems necessary Il
ggest to Mr. Love that the advance
,nt of education in this State is ever
IS question of boards than 1t Is OF
sidence The State of Virginia puts
premium OH whiskers. nor is there
~ reason why it should sacrifice its
hools on any altar of tonsorialism.
the beardless boS is better qualified
promote virgfniars education than
e gray-bearded grandfather, then the
ite's charge should be intr1isted TO
boy, and there is an end of that.
For the biggest advance that has
en- made in developing and improving
school system of Virginia dates
I'm the establishment of the present
m of administration. 1t is
,bably the biggest advance in
ication that any State has made
the same period, and prob
" the biggest advance that Virginia
made In any line In this period.
one seeks to- controvert these facts.
one has the hardhood to stand up
i deny that our school system is
ing forward splenddly. No one has
hardihood to assert that. in ad-
lcing education in Virginia, the
sent system of administration has
wed failure. The sole ground OF
mite attack upon this system is the
egation that the State board is IT
dangerously playing politics. Fol
part we have no faith in this al
ation at all. But II it Is true, lie
eliminate the men who are respon
lie for it, IL The members of thu
sent board are proving false to thei
SITS, If they are putting politica
nsiderations above the good of TIL,
tie let US mark them each and all 70
fremont and extinction and let VI
their places with men more worth,
this high responsibility. 1t is tn
ividuals not the system who hav,
,ven guilty, and in the name of com
N sense and the public good, let u!
In the attempt TO punish individ
8, wreck a system under which ou
Dol system has advanced astonish
Is, and deliberately set The eduea
lal movement in Virginia to pro
ssing backward.
he Democratic party is responsible
legislation in this state. 1t simp
not afford 10 shoulder and carr
such stupid and rcactionary law a
j. II simply cannot afford TO KIND,
schools Of the State back into pol
and restore The superintendent
tthe pteltings OF the COURTEOUS
gs. The h6Gr. is one, 40 all me