The log cabin Democrat., 1916-04-29
l2-M|LL CAMPAIGN IS STARTED HERE &4N4t.e - AMENDMENT IS FAVORED Conway District, Which Paid Extra
 Five Mills Voluntary, to
 Aid Campaign.

Taxpayers of the Conway school district, who have already won con siderable distinction over the state by voluntary paying an extra levy of five mills on the dollar for school purposes, making a 12-mill tax, are glvlng further evidence of their loy- atty to the cause of public education by making liberal subscriptions to a fund for an educational campaign in behalf of amendment No. 1, the pro posed amendment raising the maxi mum district school levy from seven to 12 mills. At called meeting of the directors of the Conway district yesterday afternoon the amendment was strongly endorsed and the direc- 1 tors personally subscribed S55 to the campaign fund. It is proposed to raise about $200 or $250 here and Chairman D. O. Harton and B. T. Deal were appointed by the board to aid in securing subscriptions.
 The proposed amendment was in ltlated by the people two years ago, more than 10000 names being signed to the initiatory petitions, about 5000 more than were required. It will be voted upon at the coming November election and will require for it's adop- tlon a majority of all the votes cast at the election.
 At the recent meeting of the Ar kansas State Teachers Association, 1000 was appropriated to finance a campaign in favor of the amendment Prof. J. G. Cubage, business manager of the Arkansas Teacher and pro lessor of Latin in the State Nor mai School, was appointed chairman of campaign committee of seven members. The committee has de- cided to raise $4,OO0 or S5,OO0 ad ditional and to make vigorous fight for the amendment, by mailing liter ature to all the voters and by placing a large number of speakers through out the state during the summer and fall. Many of the leading educators in the state have volunteered their services free of charge, but funds will be needed to pay their travelling expenses. Dr. c. H. Brough, Demo- cratic nominee for governor, has also promised to make a speaking cam paign on behalf of the amendment.
 Prof. Cubage said today that every one approached for subscription had responded literally and there would be no difficulty in rais- ing the amount apportioned to Con- way. In addition to this the Arkan- sas Teacher, which is published at Conway, has donated $100 to the cause.
 The unfortunate financial condition of the Conway district, with which everyone here is familiar, has created a strong demand for raising the con stitutional limit of district taxation so that the debts can be taken care of and the school work carried on without impairment. If it had not been for the voluntary payment of the extra five-mill tax this year, it would have been necessary to close the school. But the voluntary tax, of course, cannot be enforced and quite number have refused to pay. "It is our only salvation in a financial way" said member of the Conway board yesterday. "We are now se- curing credit on which to operate the school on the hope of adopting amendment No. l, and if it should be defeated it will mean the closing or least the serious curtailment of our school"
 The condition, however, is said to be by no means peculiar to Conway, but in fact is almost universal in all the larger districts of the state. in practically every large town in Ar kansas the school districts are over whelmingly in debt. Several of them have actually closed their schools un- | til more finances become available Others have cut down the length of term and the number of teachers until the school work is very inef- ] fective. Many of the smaller districts are keenly realizing the need of ad- ditional revenue. As instance was seen in Faulkner county last May, when the Damascus district voted 12-mill tax, although the levying court was powerless to allow the patrons to pay such tax, because | it was unconstitutional.
 | It is pointed out that the adoption of the amendment will not necessari- | ly increase taxes in any district, but will simply allow the districts in which greater revenue is required to vote higher tax than seven mills if they so desire, The amendment will in no way interfere with the voters at the annual school elections con- tinuing a five or seven mill tax or even voting no tax, if they so elect Subscriptions to the educational