New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1914-02-28

OF the markets of the world. NJ
child raised in an atm sphere Of
superstition and happy indiffer
ence that still persists N this
country, can hope to measure
lances With the child receiving d
Eroper school educa tion. The
most important questions affect
Ing lie and tie type OF this coun-
try will have to be grapplcI With
by our pt'ollc school system CAD
yates in the near future, and the
innate common sense 3f the ma s
ses composed mostly aud largely
Of public school pupils will again
rise to the heighth of its mission
and give them a proper American
solution. Do you think that with
an imperfect, inefficient public
school system in ouI Parish and
our neglected school interests
meeting with snubs and sneers
can expect our boys and girls to
take the proper place and inter
ests when called upon in the flu
ture by the exigencies Of the time
and necessities of the conditions
to render that service with effect
and profit characteristic of the
common American citizen.
Our verdict is emphatically no.
With schools languishing in a
spirit of atrophy on account OF
lack of funds there is no wonder
that the general public is disap.
pointed and the carping critic, so
exultingly voicing dissatisfaction.
If tax Of two mills is necessary
to put our public school equip
ment in the best, most efficient
serviceable shape and if the asset,
in fact the greatest asset, the in
crease of the efficiency of our
boys and girls can be established,
no man, be he rich or poor,
learned or ignorant, can afford
to conscientiously oppose or fight
the contribution asked by the
School Board and being submitted
t. the public for approval. 1t is
a question in my mind whether
the tax imposed, if adopted
would be liability or an asset.
If viewed by the results and COM
pounded into returns, | believe
the investment is the most intel
ligently returning profit instru-
of any investment in
The State of Louisiana.
Better schools will remove the
distractions in the road of the
future and facilitate the foot
step Of the boy and girl in their
pursuits of happiness and pros
perity. All the rocky avenues
that blister and wound mans
beet until the blood Of despair
pains the groundwork can be re-
moved by an intelligent percep
ion of our people Of the present
line. The support and endorse
nent of the two-mill tax is a
iuty we owe, not only to our
Government and to our children. I
)ut to our conscience as well.
This country, especially our town
md Parish can be made nicer,
more congenial, more agreeable.
more prosperous by the increased
which an efficient public
school system must generate in
his community. In the fight
against superstitution and pref
ldices, the public school must
furnish the army that will con-
luer. The miser and those that
lold private holdings above pub
ic interests should ponder which
# the two Loves should be
rugged to the public bosom.
The election next Tuesday,
March Sd throughout the entire
Parish, an election which is a ,
pathetic appeal from the children
% the taxpayer Of the Parish,
will definitely decide whether we
ire progressives or reactionaries
md on its result will hinge the
reflection whether we shah wear
crown Of shame and condemna-
ion or the 1aurels Of shouting
7ictory and success /