The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1911-08-10
SHALL ASWELL HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE
FOR BOSSDOM?
-sextus. in the New Orleans Item.


Few people in the State are acquainted
with the provisions of what is commonly
known as the s'Marks Bill, an act which
was passed under the regime of DR.. j. b.
Aswell with his approval and support, and
in order to determine if he be the proper
man to elect Governor, let US see what kind
of legislation he had placed on the statute
books of the State when he had the power
to do SO.
It's good way to Judge man, to tell
what a candidate for office is going to 90
when he is elected, to dig into what he did
in the past. to unearth what he did wilhelm
Office and had the power to do something.
Patrick Henry said something to the
effect that the only lamp to guide our feet
for the future is the experience of the past,
and the people of this State who were so
badly fooled by the Great Promiser from
St. Mary, had better take Patrick Henry's
advice and use the past as guide to the
future.
But the Marks bill. This is the measure
that put the public schools in politics. This
is the measure which was passed during the
time the ''people's candidate - for Cover
nor was at the head of the educational af-
fairs of the State. This is the measure
which James B. Aswell, Superintendent of
Public Education, favored and forced on
the little children and parents in the State.
And this is one of the measures which can
didate Aswell declares he will have repeal
ed not directly does he declare it, but in
directly does he so declare when he says
that he favors the enforcement of the pub
lie schools from politics.
Does he favor their enforcement now
when he .tavored an Wigarchy an the Public
School System while he had another job?
Pardon us if we are bit skeptical about
what he will favor when he becomes Gov
ernor, if he should by chance become Gov
ernOr.
But to the Marks Bill.
By this Act 40 of 1909, charged to have
been prepared by Aswell and urged on the
Legislature of the State, every Parish Su-
the State Board of Education and must be
practical educator.
Thus you see that only educators were
eligible to the position, but further, even to
these they could not hold the position un-
less they were endorsed by the State Board
of Education, thus placing the Parish Su-
perintendent directly under the State Board
and making him responsible to that board.
| Dun WOTSc SClll 1uc VI Oil
dorsement was revocableby the State Board
for incompetency, inefficiency, or unwor-
thiness.
This was the club that was held over the
head of the Parish Superintendent and
forced him to do the bidding of the State
Superintendent then the present "people's
candidate" CD for Governor.
| This bill went further. It gave to the
| d. - o4. AL, ,o0k~s 70
entire control OF the parish schools, took
their government out of the hands of the
parish board which had been made cleo
tive, and placed in the hands of one man
this representative of the State Superin-
tendent of Education.
How did they do it? It's disagreeable
story, this robbery from the people of the
right to govern their local schools, but lei
it be told, yes let it be told from one end Of
the State to the other, and let the silver.
tongued" egg-pedler explain if he can why
he did it unto the little children then, why
he struck them blow when he was holding
the commission of their fathers and mothers
as their chief representative in the State.
How did he do it?
He did it this way: He had the Parish
} Superintendent absolutely under his con.
troll and he placed the Parish Board under
the control of the Parish Superintendent
Thus he had control of every Parish Boarc
in the State, and the right of the people tt
elect them was an empty dream.
Under the Marks Bill the Parish Schoo
Board, except with the consent of the Par.
ish Superintendent, cannot fix the number
of schools in their parish. Cannot employ
single teacher. Cannot fix the number
and location of single school, nor chang
the location of an existing school, no
determine the number of teachers in any
school.
Under the Marks Bill, fathered and pass
ed at the behest of this so-called "candi
date of the people," the Parish Board can
not sell an old school house and use it.
proceeds to buy another one, except by :
two thirds vote and then subject to tn
, veto of the Parish Superintendent.
What was left for the Parish Boards t,
do? Nothing but to meet and draw thei
salaries and approve the dictates of tn
Parish Superintendent, who had receive,
or was expected to receive his instruction
from the State Superintendent at Bato1
, Rouge.
> Little wonder they adopted his "speller,
either before or after he was superintend
: ent. Little wonder that the teachers ar
sent out in political campaigns to speak TO
an increase of his salary, or to urge som
other special hobby of the State Superin
tendent. They know what is best for them
and underpaid as they are, little wonde
that they trot out to some State Teachers
meeting at great expense and inconven