The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1917-03-15
MOONLIGHT SCHOOL TEACH.
Err IN WASHINGTON
R. c. Jagsers, A Rural School Teach, !
Of Hart County, Tells Of His Trip
To Washington In An Inter.
ing Manner.

l v.
February %. At Frankfort. the State
Capital, was met by delegation.
headed py Mrs. Cora Wilson Stewart,
president, and the Hon. V. q. Gilbert.
secretary-treasurer of the Kentucky
llliteracy Commission. This delegation
greeted me and babe me God. speed
on my trip.
my stay in Washington extended
over one week. which was occupied in
meeting the notables there and in see.
ing the wonderful sights of the most
wonderful Capital in the world. saw
Congress IN session and saw it die in
the throes of the mos, noted iilibusters
in history. saw the Supreme Court.
Mount Vernon. the home of Washing
ton. the Smithsonian Institute, the
Corcoran Art Gallery. and finally sat in
the grandstand and saw the inaugu a.
tion Of President Wilson for the second
term.
The moonlight schools. found.
We're the pride Of Kentucky's states
men at Washington. MANY other lie ad-
ers in Congress are champions of the
cause which Kentucky is leading.
President Wilson was never buster
during his life. and could not see many
of the visitors then thronging the Cap
ital. but he stopped amid the perplexi
ties of the international crisis. and the
stress Of the closing days Of Congress.
to greet moonlight school teacher.
He has kept up with the progress Of
the work, and he said with great earn
estness; The work of the moonlight
schools is wonderful work. The
President read with deep interest the
letter which presented to him from a
young man, aged q. who had learned
to read and write within three weeks
time. He was much impressed with
both the spirit and legibility Of the
letter.
Champ Clark, Speaker of the House
of Representatives. simply buLbled
over with enthusiasm on the subject of
moonlight schools. IL is one of his
favorite themes, and he has made
speeches on the subject from New York
to California. He had made one in
Washington a few evenings previous to
my visit there. was escorted TO his
Office by the Hon. John W. Langley,
and the Speaker sat down and talked
to me as familiarly as if had been
Congressman. The moonlight school
work is the most wonderful work going
on in the world. believe he said. and
said it with Champ Clark vim that
left no doubt of his sincerity.
Senator Ollie NJ. James is proud of
the fact that moonlight schools origi-
mated III Kentucky. Senator James
has bill pending in Congress which is
designed to wipe iliteracy out of the
United States. and to do it after the
Kentucky plan. The bill is popular and
Will pass, and il will give Kentucky
another page in the country's history.
Senator James believes in keeping
Kentucky in the lead
Congressman Hughes, the veteran
chairman of the Education Committee
in the House of representatives. met
me with extreme cordially. He has
been an advocate of moonlight schools
for several wears, and through his and
other influences has started State
wide campaign against illiteracy in his
native Suite of Georgia.
''One of the best-lnfOrmed men in
Washington on moonlight schools is
Congressman Towner. OF Iowa. He
wrote IA tlattering report on the move
ment three years ago, and commended
the plan to other States. His is the
State that stands at the top of the
scale of literacy. but he would like to
see the other States move W the scale.
Every one of Kentucky's Senator'S
and Representatives is an ardent sup
porter of the moonlight schools. They
have all given prizes in their districts
anu III tuS ctatt at idlBt, anu nave
travelled at their own expense and made
speeches for the cause, and they feel
that it is every kentucklan's duty to
help.
wv. j. Fields. of the Ninth district,
feels especia, pride in the fact that the
moonlight school originated in his dis
trict. lie says that the demand upon
him for literature from Rowan county
exactly doubled after the Operation of
the moonlight schools there. He has
charge Of the same bill in the House
that Senator James is fathering in the
Senate.
The newspapers made much com
ment on the work while was IN Wash
ington. all Of it being favorable.
was interviewed. entertained and es.
corted and accorded every possible
courtesy by the nations leaders and
the press.
FINALLY, was invited to stop in
}Lexington on my return as the guest
of the Southern School JournaI tha