Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-30
THERE is SOMETHING
ROTTEN IN DENMARK


SHAH the public school system of Georgia be
turned into shuttlecOck for Governor Browns per-
sOnal spite?
Shall the State Department of Education be used
a . checker board for his political game?
Shall laws be trampled and presidents defed
simply that one man. who now chances to hold the
once OF chief executive. may vent his puny spleen
or serve the special interests to which he is
behOIden?
These are vital and practical questions. They
spring from conditions that intensely real
They touch the welfare Of thousands of teachers and
homes and hundreds of thousands Of children. They
demand an answer-and it should be final aud COM
DIete.
Governor Brown has arbitrarily removed. as
members Of the State Board of Education. PrOfs.
Jere NJ Pound and J. c. Langston. after they had
been legally appointed by Governor HOke Smith and
duly confirmed by the Senate. With equal disregard
Of the Law, he has filled their places with two
appointees of his own, whom the Senate declined
even TO consider. That he was unwarranted in this
highhanded procedure is beyond question. That the
effect Of such a policy upon the States school
4
for q moment be doubted. But the Governors
Interior motive in thus overriding the law and the
senate and mperiling the schools interests remains
to be disclosed.
Let US note briefly the facts IN this case. In
August 1871 during the closing days of the Legisla
ture then in session. there was enacted bill for
which the teachers of Georgia had been long and
earnestly striving The purpose of this measure was
10 reorganize the States public school system upon
an efcient and truly educational Dass. supplant
confusion with an intelligent and definite plan. to
remove old abuses, Introduce progressive ideas.
and to make every dollar of the school appropria-
ton yield due returns to the taxpayer and the
child. One Of the most important features of this
bin was the provision for a State Board of Educa-
ton. to be composed OF six members-the Governor,
the State Superintendent Of Schools and four other
persons. appointed by the, Governor, two for two
years and two for four years, their terms Of ONCE
thereafter TO be for four years each. until their
Successors appointed and qualified" This latter
clause is quoted directly from the law itself.
In compliance with this act which was approved
August the twenty-frst, 1911 Governor Hoke Smith
appointed the four members Of the board whom it
was his duty to name. And. in keeping with the
spirit as well the letter of the law he was partc-
uIarly careful to avoid political partsanshp and to
choose men who measured clearly up to that clause
Of the law which reads: NO person t0hO is noto or
has been connected sOith or employed By a school
book publishing concern shan be eligible to member
ship on said State Board of Education; and If Ony
person shan become so connected or employed after
becoming member Of said board, his place on said
board shan become Uocant." The gentlemen whom
Governor Smith appointed distinguished for
their ability and their rich service to the school inter
ests Of the State. They we're Judge Thomas G. Law
SON. since deceased; Prof. Jere NJ. Pound Prof j. c.
Langston and DR.. T. ]. woofter.
In accordance with the act, these members were
to serve until their successors are appointed and
qualified" And it is noteworthy IN this connection
that the law specifically provides for the filling of
the vacancies and for ad interim appointments.
Should vacancy occur at any time in said board
says Section One Of the act 1T shall be filled by the
Governor provided that the nominations Of the Coo
ernOr for nembership on the State Board Of Educa-
fion shall Be subject to confirmation by the Senate
and prouided further that an appointment made
sChen the Senate is not IN session shall be elective
untiI the Legislature cOHUenss and acts on the Gp-
p0infmenk"
After making these appointments. Governor
smith resigned and succeeded later in the year
By Governor Brown. In the light OF the facts and
the law. it was clearly Governor Browns duty to
transmit to the Senate. at its 1912 session. the ap-
pOlntments made by his predecessor for the senate
approval or rejection Instead OF doing this how
ever he sent in certain appointments of his own.
These the Senate very properly refused to consider
holding that under the record. there no vacan-
cies to Ill., but simply list of appontees to be con-
nrmed or set aside. Thereupon at the Senate's re-
quest Governor Brown transmitted to that body the
list Of Governor Smiths appointments to the board,
and they we're duly confirmed.
Yet in the face OF these circumstances. Governor
Brown. waiting until the Senate had adjourned,