The Washington times., 1913-02-06
congressman TO
RENEW FIGHT FOR
FREE TEXTBOOKS
Hobson and Colleagues, Though
Beaten in House, Deter
mined to Continue Campaign

Congressman Hobson of Alabama,
Burleson of Texas. and Farr of Penn
sylvania, beaten in the House by p
point Of order in their effort to have
free textbooks provided i'm the high
schools of the District. announced to-
day that they will renew the fight as
soon as opportunity arises, and will
keep at it until they have achieved their
end.
This was one development today in the
question of free textbooks in the Dis
uict schools Another was the besieg-
ing Of school teachers with Inquiries as
to whether the system of furnishing
textbooks IN the grade schools. in vogue
for many years, had been beaten. The
answer was no. Report to this effect
was made by Superintendent Davidson
to the Board of Education yesterday
afternoon, but the rumor seems to have
gained credence in many parts of the
city that free books in the grades were
defeated this year by point of order
made by Chairman Johnson, Of the Dis
trict Committee. The rumor is errone-
GUS. the mortality effected by him be-
ing confined to the high school PROPOSE
tion, which was an amendment offered
by Congressman Farr.
Opposes Drawing the Line.
Congressman Hobson feels as keenly
about the duty of providing free text
books in high schools as he does about
the necessity of big navy. He said
today:
In the true spirit of the law, why
should anyone say that one grade
higher or one grade lower should not
have the books? An investigation of the
educational conditions Of this country
shows almost startling conditions with
respect to the education of about "a Der
cent of the American children
About 6 per cent get an education.
Ninety-four per cent do not get an edu-
cation. That is a broad statement, but
Il Is essentianlly correct. The little in
struction they do get is largely lacking
in the elements that bear upon the
great facts and laws of life-writing,
arithmetic. spelling, and grammaI-that
is all.
The average American child today
leaves school before the age of twelve.
One of the important reasons why they
leave Is the question of supplying text
books. In addition, the line of progress
Is for free text books in order that the
State and the community may more
carefully determine the nature of the
instruction"
Necessity for Poor Boy.
Congressman Farr is just as vigorous
as Mr. Hobson. Said he today:
The stock in trade of the poor boy
is = cation. II we do not provide free
books for him in the high schools Of the
District we arc preventing hundreds
and hundreds of young men and women
In Washington from getting high school
education DR.. Schaeffer. state superin-
tendent Of education In Pennsylvania
makes the sSesrtion that the boy who
does not get a high school Education is
prevented from working in forty differ-
ent vacations.
Now / want to ask members Of Con-
Eress IL We Congressman wish to stand
ir the way of the American boy here in
Washington earning a livelihood in one
of the forty different vocations from
which he would be precluded IL he does
not get high school education such as
Washington so splendidly Offers
Congressman BuTieson is on record as
saving:
81 cannot, for the life of me, see how
We are going TO enforce the compulsory
education law unless we furnish free
textbooks"