The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-01-23
azs<-1 . =
News AT State
Lapitol


some few legislators for the immediate
passage of local bills providing for the
election Of county school boards by pop
ular vote in their counties, and thereby
to anticipate party action on the sub
ject forced to the front that issue some
what earlier than intended by the party
leaders here. Hence the calling Of the
Democratic caucus for Wednesday
night of this week.
Senate May Defeat Statewide Bill
The insistence with which Senator
Burgwyn pressed for consideration Of
the BERTHE county school-board bill,
(the direct cause for calling the caucus
at this time) would seem to indicate
that he and others with similar bills for
their respective counties, fear that the
statewide bills, several Of which are
pending in both Senate and House, Will
all be defeated.
If the statewide bills are defeated
(and at this writing it looks very much
that way, especially in the Senate) the
county bills Of like import may share a
like fate.
Not only so, but if the caucus issues
the ultimatum that the State is the
unit - and not the counties, in deal
ing with the subject, some of the few
counties (if not all Of them) which now
elect school committeeman by reason Of
special acts, may be required TO come
back into the operations Of the general
law
Keep School Matters Out Of Politics
Some Of them may do that voluntar-
lily, for the general good if necessary,
while others would fight against it.
Here are two parallel cases in point:
Senator Turner Of Iredell, former pre-
siding officer Of the Senate and ex-Lieu-
tenant Governor (than whom there is
no ADLER or safer man in this legisla-
ture) in the course Of his speech in the
Senate stated that while his county had
the local law as to school committeeman
his people would be willing to give it
tional plans and system Of the whole
state demanded it. That he regarded
the educational interests Of North Caro-
lima of the highest Importance to every
individual citizen Of the State.
Senator Brenizer Of Mecklenburg who
is evidently a man Of intellect and
force, though new to the senate, said
that the people of his county would
not willingly relinquish the right they
now held to elect county school com
mitteemen- it is known that this
spirit is the dominant one in several
other countless stSome Of the eastern
counties now electing their school
boards - remarked a sagacious observer
of events, care among those which
score Of years ago cried out for help
when the negroes out voted them and
elected negro school committeeman.
Suppose the negro vote should show up
strong in these counties-strong enough
to help elect bad men to these places
again?' And he shifted his cud Of
Nnatural 1eaf'' and winked the other
eye as he pressed through the rotunda.
Best Fitted Not Always the Most Popu-
lar
"Maj do queer things, some
unwise things at times,'' he added as
he moved along. "Most of the best fit
ted men holding these jobs, especially
the county superintendent Of educa-
ton, couldn It be elected by popular
vote or get the nomination in a pri-
a "good mixer'' could and would de-
feat them. That s why Uncle Sam
passed the civil service law
(By Llewxam)
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