The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1916-02-03
PARADE FEATUR[OElECTIO
Snow. Sleet and Rain Descend.
ed, But Workers for the
School Remained.
MOVEMENT HAD
SOME OPPOSITION
Pcaling of School Bell An
nounced Victory at Close of
Spirited Contest.

Although the atmosphere Tuesday
was dark and dismal the day was,
from metaphorical viewpoint. a
bright and glorious one for local
adolesents, as citizens of Columbus
and its vicinage then voted to issue
bonds in the sum Of S50,000 for the
erection and equipment of new
high school building, thereby proyid-
ing not only for the immediate needs
of the children but for their future
welfare, as the proposed structure
and the increased efficiency in meth
ods of instruction which its erection
insures will fit them for effective
work in many vocations and send
them out into the world amply
equipped to fight successfully the
battle of life.
While the need for new high
school building was universally re-
cognized and generally conceded,
there was some opposition to the
movement on account of the increas-
ed taxation ssha~n will result from
tie issteaco of.the honse en-. tl4is
opposition manifested itself at the
polls, there having been cast 304
votes in favor of the proposition and
228 against it, thus giving a clear
majority of 76 votes in favor of the
school.
Intense interest marked the cam
paign, which was brought to a dra-
matte close Tuesday with a monster
parade in which more than one
thousand teachers and students par
ticipated. The parade, which was led
by Prof. w. V. Frierson, Jr., super
intendent of the public schools,
formed at Franklin Academy at 10
o'clock Tuesday morning, and wend-
ed its way majestically through the
business and residential section of
Columbus. The pageant was fully
five blocks long, the scholars in the
different grades having been led by
their respective instructors, and
many of the boys and girls carried
banners on which were inscribed ur-
gent appeals to citizens to vote for
the. issuance of the bonds.
In their efforts on behalf of the
bond issue the teachers and students
were ably assisted by members of the
Civic League and it is largely due to
the efficient and enthusiastic work on
the part of these public spirited la
dies that the fight was finally won
efficienta nd enthusiastic work on
the parto ( these publics pirited la
diest hat the fight was finally won.
Although the weather Tuesday af-
ternoon was exceedingly inclement
they did not seek the warm hearth
stones of their homes, but assembled
in sheltered places near the city
hall, where the election was held,
and urged citizens as they passed by
to vote for the issuance of the bonds.
Upon entering the city hall citizens
were also greeted by high school
pupils who handed out cards re-
questing them to stand by the chill
dren of Columbus and its environs
by providing them with better edu-
cational facilities.
The heaviest vote was polled in
the forenoon, as the sky was compar-
atively clear during that period, and
1t was possible for citizens to reach
the city hall without being subjected
to the fury of the elements, but in
terest continued throughout the day,
and there was fairly large vote
polled during the afternoon. The
count was concluded shortly after
z o'clock Tuesday night, and the
peal of school bells announced the
victory to expectant teachers, par
ents and children who in various
homes eagerly awaited the outcome
of the election.
Officiating as election officials
were the following gentlemen
judges, Capt. j. f. Pope, Messrs. J.
R. Randle and J. s. Marx; clerks
Messrs. Homer Fitzpatrick and Leo