The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1916-10-19
PAGE FIVE


that very connection denounced me for hay
ing made that point against Britain and tn
Savannah Board.
Just before the election on Oct. 18th, Brit
tain put card in the Atlanta Constitution
abiding to this charge against him
"threadbare," and saying in substance tha
the Savannah public schools are Il law unit
themselves.
But while Martin Luther kept mp his bol@
front to the public, he had begun to get
scared, as you viii see by reading his letter t.
Attorney General Clifford Walker:
"some months ago a rumor reached me to tie
effect that the Chatham County Board of Educa-
ton was aiding two Catholic Schools These So
Vannah schools being established before the Cor
stituticnal Convention Of 1877 form independ-
ent local system and in consequence, neither nos
my supervisor has been authorized to inspect
them. l wrote the President of the Board there
at once, however, and asked if the charges were
true. He gave it his opinion that the facts
referred to did not constitute violation of the
law, and since he is distinguished lawyer fell
sure that this must be correct. Nevertheless, ]
wrote the Superintendent asking him to see tina.
sectaran schools there were illegally aided
The charges still being maden a weekly publ,
cation | asked personally and by letter a membe~
Of the General Assembly to appoint a committee
to look into the matter since wanted to know i
if had any Illegal connection with bthe situation
1t refused the idea that it without sui
ficient foundation.
1t is probable that the question raised could
not affect the Catholics, who found in only
few urban counties, much others. In the
past year various churches, chiefly Baptist anG
Methodist, have built schools in cities and towns
and especially in spaFsely settled rural sections
frequently the same houses have been used foI
schools and churches, religious services under
the plea of necessity. If there is any law author
iZiO me- n sending
vannah the same rule would force me to with
hold them wherever the same church connection is
found-probaby from majority of the counties
of the State-and | wish to be sure that the law
means for to take such step before causing
such loss in property and closing many
schools for months if not for years.
These difficulties were not caused by any act
of mine but though gradually diminished, have
been in Georgia for forty years. / resolved, how
ever, the first occasion that a citizen should
present the Savannah case in proper form, to ask
that the question be settled legally either by the
courts or judicial opinion. This has now been
done for the first time. In the letters accom-
panying, you will find statements from both
sides and I respectfully request that you advised
to whether the Savannah School Authorities
are violating the law and whether or not I am
authorized for this reason to discontinue send
ing State funds to that system"
That letter is very characteristic Of M. L..
Britain
In October 1915, he tells the Attorney
General that q ru1aOy has reached him, Brit
tain, on the subject of these Catholic schools
in Savannah
Never before had he got wind of the matter,
and when it did at length reach his ears, it
was in the form of "a rumor"
What ridiculous evasion of the truth
He spoke of the matter in his wrathful address
to the Macon Convention, as one that had
long been blaming him about, and one which
didn't deserve serious attention.
He must have known that Sam Adams
tried to defend the Savannah Board, in the
newspapers, and that Samuel was glad to let
l. Ii L. Il