The Prescott daily news., 1914-07-23

State, county, or city officials, as the case may be.
 The Free Education of the People
 The people of Arkansas have seen fit to make liberal appropriations every year for the maintenance and upbuilding of her public schools. The country school, the city school, the high school, the agricultural schools, the State Normals, the University and other like institutions are literally provided for by every session of the Legislature. The people approve, be- cause they believe in the cause of education, and they know the State is reaping abundant returns from this investment. Act. No. is carrying the same principle a little further. It provides for the constant education of the people on their public affairs, in which, as taxpayers and loyal citizens, they are vitally interested. Act No. 8 will cost a mere trifie annually, in comparison with the expense of free schools, yet it is doubtful if free schools are very much more important to the welfare and future of the com monwealth than the thorough enligh- tenment of the people at all times on public affairs. Free education must be maintained at any cost, in public schools where training for citizenship, and through publicity in the newspa- pers for those who have reached the age and activities of citizenship.
 Publicity in Politics
 One of the most purifying steps in politics is the publication of campaign law. If publicity is good for purify ing political campaigns, for keeping the candidate within the limit of hon. esty and propriety, why will it not be good in governmental affairs for keep ing the public official in check and the voter enlightened on the affairs of expenses, advocated by William J. Bryan, and now a State and National State?
 A Little History.
 Away back in 1875 the Legislature of Arkansas considered the proposi- tion of requiring the publication at the expense of the State of all laws enacted by the Legislature. Augustus H. Garland was Governor then, and he strongly recommended in his message to the General Assembly the passage of such a law. A bill was drawn up and passed the Senate by large ma jority, but the House defeated it.
 The same proposition came up two years later, in 1877, and was ably championed by J. R. Pettigrew, of Fayetteville, who said to the lawmak- CTS:
 AS an assembly of public teachers We demand that the greatest publicity be given to matters of public concern, and that policy which advises or en- courages the sacrifices of non publicity of any public interest, whether it be the expenditure of money, the laying out or charging of roads, administer ing the estates of minors, or what not, is erroneous and dangerous. I would not be understood as saying that news papers occupy position as public paupers, requiring support from the commonwealth, but 1 argue from the fact that they have a largely increased and ever increasing number of readers. Every public and private interest de- mands the most extensive publicity and 1 utterly spurn the idea that the people of Arkansas are welded to the Idols or ignorance and superstitution. Our people, whether lettered or unlet- tered, are fully as intelligent, honor able and consclentiouS, as can be found anywhere; they are earnestly alive to true progress, and 1 can not give my consent to the theory that they hunt the walls of blacksmith shops, courthouse doors or tree stumps for the information their thirsty souls desire. But, gentlemen, do as you will now. The intelligence of the age will bring upon the stage statesmen of more liberal and compre- henslve views; and you fossils, when your gaze shall have been averted from blacksmith shops and courthouse doors, will be astonished to find your selves, without constituency, left high and dry, having wasted all your sweetness on the desert air"
 Nothing was accomplished in the Legislature of TT, but the effort con tinued until 1881 when the General Assembly, in a virtuous spasm of false economy and niggardiy retrench ment, repealed the law providing for the publication of delinquent tax lists. This law was, however, re-enacted in