The Prescott daily news., 1915-10-22

 the Union to negative that presump- tion by continuing to default in the payment of her warrants for salaries, expenses and supplies for her insti- tutions?
 If We can not do what 1 have in dicated under the present Constitution then 1 would favor a new Constitution. Fellow citizens, let the world real your answer in the election returns for Governor in the coming primary election!
 Education.
 This state must awake to the i'm portance of better rural schools. Practically nothing was done for the youth of the state during the forty years prior to 1874. The Federal grants to the state for schools and colleges were sold for pittance and nearly all of the funds were wasted.
 Since 1847 the Superintendents of public instruction have with intelli- gence, zeal and marked ability kept the school interest before the people and the General Assemblies. It has been my pleasure and honor to personally know all of these superintendents and in my feeble way I have endeavored to support them in the policies they have advocated. For ther faithful work they are entitled to the lasting gratitude and honor of all of the people, most especially of those who have been given an opportunity to at tend the public schools. When we consider the odds against them and the little support accorded them we wonder that they have been able to accomplish what they have trust it will not be improper to men tion them in this presence: George w. Hill, J. L. Denton, W. E. Thomp- son, Junius Jordan, John H. Hinemon, J. ]. Doyne and the present incum- bent, George B. Cook.
 But with all their faithful work and interest, the illiteracy of our beloved state is enough to bring the blush of shame to the cheek of every loyal son and daughter of the state. We have 53,000 voters who cannot read per cent of the white population over ten years of age (56,000) can not read; only about one half of the children of school age attend school at all, and the average attendance of those who do go is only 130 days in the year; it is estimated that only 23 per cent attend school the full term, 44 per cent one half and 37 per cent one fourth.
 75 per cent of those who teach school have no other training than that given by the common schools The average annual salary for teachers is only S315.00 By a sur vey in 1914 it was found that e per cent of the teachers were teach ing their first terms; IS per cent their second term and less than seven per cent their third term. Only eight per cent had taught three or more terms at the same place. The school has a new teacher nearly every year. The general average service of the rural teacher is about four terms. We have practically no professional teach CTS in the country. We rarely ever see d teacher who declares it to be a life purslit to teach the rural schols.
 The training of our youth should be for efficient service and for such teaching We should have thoroughly educated men and women who are willing to dedicate their lives to teach ing. To get such teachers they must be paid adequate salaries.
 Poverty and humble birth, two dread jailors of the human heart have pre- vented the development of many of our brightest minds. We must give all the poor a chance by opening our schools to them. One third of our popu- lation is under sixteen years of age. These constitute the states most val uable asset. They will be citizens of the next generation. The United States Bureau of Education shows that the average earning capacity of an un- educated laboror is S500.00. while that of a High School graduate is $1 ,00O. In forty years the gain to the latter would be S20,00000. To get this High School training it will require 2,160 days, so every day in school is worth $9.O0. When all of our children are in school, taught by capable teachers, then We may expect greater colleges and a greater university. The Uni versity will never be what We would have 1t until we improve the rural free schools. If elected governor, it will be my desire and purpose to promote the interest of the University in ev- cry way possible.
 Women of Arkansas! I appeal to you to aid in this great work. We cannot succeed without you. No peo- pie can educate beyond their mother hood and the cause of education in Arkansas will not fail if we can get