The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1911-12-08
Candidate A. M. c. Russells
Position.

Editor PALATKA NEws:-
Thanking you for your complimentary
notices of my candidacy, take pleasure
in explaining TO you and your readers
my position on State uniformity. The
following paragraph in an editorial of
yours leads me TO believe such course
proper:
'Mr. Russell was one of the leading
opponents of the State uniformity text
book law enacted by the last legislature,
and is probably still opposed TO the sys-
tenn, for in his platform is this line, Free
text books, county system, for public
schools. }"
opposed State uniformity because ii
would have worked serious financial
loss 10 fernando county, as it would
have killed several thousands of dollars
worth of text books belonging to the
county, which had accumulated from
purchases TO supply free books 10 the
children of the county. The legislature
kindly exempted free book counties
from the operation of the law, thereby
avertng financial disaster TO the coun-
ty.
In counties where individuals are COM
PEELED to purchase their school books by
retail, believe that State uniformity
has some advantages, and will sustain
the law in the "pay book" counties.
But | believe that freedom from State
uniformity limitations is better in free
book counties, as this illustration will
show: Mines Progressive Arithmetic
Book now costs
List price, under old system, IS.
ooal nrira ,,nHor State 40
Price paid under free book system, 2S.
All the other books through the
eight grades adopted by State uniformity
will show like difference in favor of
the free book system.
County system" noted by you does
not refer TO State uniformity or any other
purchasing method, but to the manner
of operating the free book system-by
counties, not by State. OF neceS-
sity the free book system must be run
with the county, and not the State, as
unit. The free circulating library meth
cd of using the books compelS the adop-
lion of the county unit system. The
State would be too large territory for
circulating the books from a common
center.
Buying by wholesale, as is done in
free book counties, being so mich
cheaper, leads me to prefer the county
system for the purchase of books. The
convenience and satisfaction of opera
ting it in the smaller boundaries also
cause me TO favor the county instead of
the State system.
My position on this question is in
brief:
Abolish old system in all counties.
In paw book counties, follow State
uniformity.
In free book counties, remove State
uniformity restrictions, permitting the
counties TO buy by wholesale, where
and from whom they can get the best
books and make the best and cheapest
bargains.
When the entire state adopts by coun-
ty option free books, it may be more
profitable for the state to buy all the
books and distribute to the counties on
the requisition of county superintend-
ents and school boards than for the
counties to do the buying. AT present
it is unnecessary TO consider this phase
of the question.
] stand for and my platform favors
'free books, county system" wherever
il can be operated 10 the advantage OF
the resident white Tax paying population
Yours for the complete common
school education of all the white chill
dren of the state irrespective of the fl
nancial circumstances of their parents,
and without humiliation TO the poorest
of them.
A. NJ. c. RUSSELL,
Candidate for State Superintendent.
P S.-State uniformity having become
law by an almost unanimous vote OF the
Legislature, has ceased TO be an issue,
and it will be my duty 10 enforce il 10y
ally and see that il has a fair chance.
A. NJ. c. r.