The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-11-01
THAT SCHOOL PROPOSITION /.


10 think you as well as our Uncle
Samuel are entitled to a great deal of
credit for some of the wonders you
have performed by reason of your
winning ways" As an illustration
there is my good friend, Col. r. F.
Rogers, who, as | have always sup
posed, was 'local optionist" of such
set convictions as to make it practic-
ally impossible to move him; in fact,
that he was dyed in the wool and
guaranteed not to run under any cir
cumstances; and all because of his
Jeffersonian democracy which, accord
ing to his convictions, demanded the
right of so-called local government"
whether it would work or not as we
prohibitionists thought).
But what do we Sc in these "latter
days" under the powerful influence OF
L. S. and you? Why, the colonel has
swallowed statewide" hook, sinker,
line and pole. Now, part of this is
due, so he recently told me, to the
influence of our Uncle Sam, whereby
our good friend was able to ease him.
self over the fence, bag and baggage,
hit mother earth square in the face
with the soles of his feet and with hat
In hand and yell which could be
heard eastward to the ST. Johns, he
landed in the very first line trenches,
where he is shifting John Barleycorn
hip and thigh, between the fifth and
sixth ribs; in fact, all over
Colonel, we are sure glad to well
come you, and, according to the
Book yours shall be the same COM
pensation as those who have been
working in the prohibition fight Estate
wide, of course) since early in the
morning. But / hardly think you
should join forces with Facts and
Figures" and my very dear friend
Benjamin in an effort to overcome
friend Crimson and either famish
some of our school marms" or make
them quit; for, as you may know,
have had a very tender place in my
heart for one or more of them.
Your Uncle Sammy has seen fit and
proper to a raise of wages until the
ordinary 'snigger" brakeman, withous
any great effort, is making from one
hundred and twenty-five to two hun
dred and twenty-five dollars per
month, while his wife wears fancy
silk stockings and gold ornaments as
big round as dinner plate (almost)
and | am not telling this entirely
from hearsay either. Yet all three OF
you are willing that our teachers
shall exc out miserable existence"
during these times of high prices
and yet said teachers must be cultur-
led and refined, while the negro brake
man need not be able to write his
name in order to '.pull down" his lit
tie two-twenty- per month.
However, the question now up for
consideration is not one as to how
much will be spent here and there
ever the state for school purposes,
but as to whether the state constitu-
ton shall be amended so as to permit
more freedom of action by our school
authorities in the various counties as
their needs require and their ability
permit-a matter falling clearly with
49, wiz vi III loNaI OpClOll3 VI lOCdl
selfg government according to Jeffer-
sonial democracy. If / am wrong,
stand willing to be corrected. Nor is
there any great resemblance in prac-
teal operation between this sort Of
local option" and the sort mentioned
in the Article XIX of the constitution
which has been SO .valiantly defended
by some of our best democrats be-
cause of its Jeffersonian aspect, and
which the whisky people have found
ample means to practically nullify
from the beginning; for we now have
al stake the broadening of our con-
stitutlon so as to give local option"
which will prove a blessing, l trust,
to our children along educational and
other lines; therefore, as good dem
ocrats and as good citizens let us so
arrange our fundamental law so as to
give each community an opportunity
to do what it thinks is best for itself
In this matter of education-even if it
does hurt our pocketbook somewhat;
or else let us be honest in desire to
pay a reasonable and just sum for
what we get, therefore cut down our
school system by eliminating all high
schools in the counties and other un-
necessary "luxuries" Ito some who
Ineed nothing more than the three
R'sl--but pay the teachers what is
reasonable and just according to the
times. Let us be just before we are
generoas-even to ourselves
L. N. Green.
All right, Lou; but if it hadn't been
for the local optionist, like the Roman
iegionary. cutting his way into the
liquor phalanx at every weak point,
national prohibition never would have
been achieved. The men who have
grown up in local option counties
have furnished the vast majority of
the sentiment that enables the gov
eminent to dehydfate the nation.
That remark of yours that 81 have
had tender place ought to cost you
curtain lecture at the least. Why
speak in the past tense?
The Star has always maintained
that teachers should be better paid,