The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-10-26
CLOSE COMPULSORY
EDUCATION FIGHT.
PATRONS TO MEET AT ALL THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS WEDNESDAY
OF THIS WEEK.
TO AROUSE INTEREST
PRINCIPALS, woMEN's CLUBS AND
OTHERS TO HOLD MEETINGS
QUESTION To BE DECIDED
ON ELECTION DAY.
TO AROUSE INTEREST

The Richmond Principals Associa-
ton, Superintendent of Schools Chand-
Ter, State superintendent r. C.
Stearnes, the Mothers Club. the Equal
Suffrage League and others inter
ested In the adoption of compulsory
education law for Richmond will
make a concerted effort this week 20
arouse the interests or the voters and
to get them to the polls Tuesday week,
when the question will be voted upon
by the suffragans of the city.
The city principals. at their last
meeting, outlined plans for the clos
ing day of the campaign, their chief
aim being to interest the school
patrons in the movement. One result
was the appointment of a committee
to plan for Compulsory eduation
day" in the public schools of the CITY
next Wednesday. On that day the
patrons Of each school community are
invited to be present and take part in
the discussions of the question and 10
aid in laying plans for getting the
voters to the polls and to get them
to vote for compulsory education.
Arguments in favor of the adoption
OF the law will be presented and he
question discussed from every angle
Must Interest Voters.
Those advocating the adoption OF
the law realize that their greatest en-
envy is Indifference. With the ex-
ception of the settlement of this alles-
ton by referendum vote the elections
OF the first Tuesday in November Will
be perfunctory merely. Congressman
Montague, Democratic candidate FOR
Congress, is opposed by S. c. Wealth
eriy, of Highland Springs, and GRAHAM
Hobson and John Hirschberg Decem-
cratic candidates for the admin
istrative board. by J. A. Watkins and
r. A. Tyree, also Socialists. but these
candidates. are merely formal. Poli--
ical interest in the election in RicA~
mond being lacking entirely, the ref.
erendum on compulsory education Is
the only question of importance. ard
unless the voters are impressed with
the fact they are likely to remain
away from the polls in large numbers
1t Is the purpose of its advocates -
create interest by means of the school
meetings Wednesday and other meth
DDS to be decided upon then. Several
clubs in the city have already en-
dorsed the adoption of the law and
on Wednesday Superintendent of Pub
lie instruction Stearnes will speak
before the local branch or the rnuaI
Suffrage League on the subject Other
addresses will probably be arranged
Wednesday, on whic1 day Mrs b. p.
Valentine and Superintendent Chand-
Ter will talk at the Fox School, and
others at the various buildings.
Under State Law.
The referendum will be held under
law enacted in 1908 by the General
Asse mbly OF Virginia Under its pro-
visions any community can decide for
itself whether or not it wishes attend
restrictions, SHALL be made COM
pulsory. Whenever the school board
of community shall make the re-
quest the election officials must print
upon the ballots the words, For com
pulsory education" and Against com
pulsory education" the question to
be voted upon at the next ensuing gen
eral election. The school board Of
Richmond at its July meeting. decided
TO submit the question to the voters Of
Richmond and ON election day they
will make their decision.
The school board of Henrico made
the same request of the Henrico cleo
ton officials at an earlier date and
on Tuesday week the voters of that
county will also pass on the question.
Although the law permitting com
munities to adopt compulsory attend
ance laws has been in force for six
years few communities have taken ad-
vantage OF it. Lynsnburg and Peters,
burg. among the cities, and Allegheny
and Rockingham. among the counties.
are the communities that have acted.
Petersburg decided the question a
year ago. compulsory education car
rying by a tremendous majority.
Wherever the question has been sub
mitted to referendum the advocates
of more widespread education Lave
won.