Arizona republican., 1915-05-04
Where the People
 May Have Hearing
ANSWER TO YOUR EDITORIAL EN- TITLED "VOlCE OF THE
 PEOPLE
AIr. Itditnr

Your editorial in the morning Re publican entitled The Voice of the ] People" was 90 incorporate, according to the judgment of one who was a member of the first state legislature and who was the author of the $500.0oO state school appropriation. that he does not feel that it should go un- answered. The free text book bill by l Brooks and Graham was separate and distinct from the S5o0,oO0 state school appropriation The expense for buy 1 ing the free text books being taken from this fund. was an after thought and not originally intended. The idea hacl. of the $500 900 approp- riation was to make the burden of the public schOC Is rest more on capital than on tho people. The effort was first ! made to have the expense of carrying on the public schools born entirely by the state. to the end that wealth instead ] of population would dcfray the entire 1 expense of educating the young, which l is proper and some day will be in ef- l feet: however, the sum above stated Was a step in the right direction and it will be sad mistake of this legislature. If they make a backward move NIT. Editor, do you know that the whole state receives the benefit of a good citizenship? Do you know that i there !' no greater agency toward the l perfectins of citizenship than through the public schools2 Do you know that Tor the lack of good citizenship the state government has to provide state l prisons. insane asylums. industrial schools and other helpful and correc- tive institutions and that large sums are annually spent for these purposes. that if proper attention were maid to commence with to the rising genera tlon, could be obviated? Do you know MT Editor, that some sections of our state have large population and small per capita wealth. while other portions of our state are just the reverse. NVouId YOU, MT Editor. contend in this stage of development, advanced thought and civilizations that we should retrograde or 1 take a step backward toward the old an tlquated idea that the parent should bear the burden of educating his offspring and II not able to do so, they should go uncducated?
 AS to tn" idea of retrenchment it is good business to be economical during leah times, but poor policy to try to effect thls end by q series of miSrepre- '''Ht'tti'i9 VT iHulNluUdIlN conceived ideas one of which is the declaration that they have the people behind them. thlnk test of the ballot would prove that the people have been highly pleased with and are now very mncb in favor of the states (Capital's) bearing at least $500, ,00O of the burden of public schools
 One more question. that of free text books S-tg t,".. text books for the scholars. while nom inally 1t is an expense born by the state at large 1t is simply taking that much from capital instead Of causing the parent to provide the books which to my certain Knowledge was a grevi ouS burden in many instances
 II seems to be very popular to dc cry the acts of the first state Iegis iature. l am not here to contend that they did not err and make mistakes Iris human. also wish to quote something else that in this connection might be appropriate
 And there's a lust in man no charm
 can tame
 or loudly publishing our neighbors
 shame
 On eagles wings immortal scandals
 fly.
 While virtuous actions are but born.
 and die"
 w. M. WHIPpLE