Evening journal., 1919-09-23

conducted in "gumshoe" fashion. Tho
leaders Of II have Stunned public dis
cussion. They have Stunned public
discuss on, even at the mass meeting
although they freely lndulged in pub
lio denunciatiOn. The meeting Itself
was packed by the men who called
&C. They had the men there they want
ed. and they wanted no one who was a
friend OF the code and able 20 explain
or defend IL. Assistant state Superin-
iendent shilling was present in the be-
lief the meeting was honestly called 10
discuss the code. When some Of those
present asked questions regarding the
code Mr.. Shilling asked permission TO
explain the points they asked about,
The moment 40 was found by those
manipulating the meeting that he was
capable Of explaining the code, they
ordered him Ito take his seat, refused
TO recognize him again and acted as
leaders in ierrlng and insulting him.
This meeting was the opening Of the
campaign in Sussex county against the
code. the Inauguration OF the move
ment to obtain signatures 20 have The
Governor call a special session OF the
legislature. The spirit which dOmi-
mated the entire campaign. The meth
ods used there 30 throttle free speech
and prevent an honest discussion have
been the methods which have prevail
cd throughout the drive" 10 obtain as
many signatures as possible 10 the pc
tllions TO be sent TO Governor Town
send
Outstanding citizens who could not be
bulldozed have been avoided. Men who
read and know what the facts are have
been avoided. The dependent man and the
man who cannot read have been largely
the ones DO whom the campaign OF
falsehoOd and villiflcation has been car
rled in order 10 obtain even the 5,i53
signatures. " Runners" were sent
through certain sections OF the county
TO spread these stories Meetings were
called i'm school houses at which some
runner" would be present TO tell all
sorls Of things about the now code and
those who are charged with the re-
sponslbllity Of carrying IL IN effect. A
farm-to- farm canvass was made In
some communities and these stories
peuuIpn ana tuldIktu upuus
A favorlle piece OF propaganda among
the tenants and the poorer people had
TO do with The compulsory attendance
feature of the law. These people were
told that the men back OF the cOde'
were trying 10 ruin the poor man, that
they were trying 10 establish kaiserlsm A.,
in America and enslaye the people. 10
was asserted that the new code pro- |
vides for school from August 1 90 |
June ten months a year-and any /
man who didn't send his boys during 4
all that time would be fined S25, and !
both he and his boys bo sent to Jail,
provided
An, here. was the politicians oppor
tunHy 10 play strong card. Provided
any jury in Sussex county could be-
found 10 convict such fathers and boys,
and the politicians assured the people /
that they tthe polltlclansl. would see
TO 10 that no such jury was ever found
u was asserted that the "fellars mp |
40 Dover and Wilmington" would at
tempt 20 force the boys 30 go TO school |
and let the farmers crops rot in the !
Aeld Falling I'm that, they would at |
tempt 30 send the fathers TO Jail. But |
the people told these stories were as
sured that the men telling them and
their leaders in Georgetown would
fight 10 the last ditch to defeat any
such tyranny.
This story about the new code and
those back OF II filling the Sussex coun-
ty Jail with fathers who refused 10
send their boys TO school from August
30 June 4. has been played upon so
strongly that poor people who cannot
read and do not know the truth are
really talking about getting down the
gun and fighting Il out now" rather
than permitting the code TO become
operative.
Yet at the very time these stories were
being circulated, the Sussex County
Board Of Education had. in conformity !
with an, opinion OF It's legal advisor, |
Charles W. Cullen, ruled that no child !
in Sussex county would be compelled |
TO go TO school II his going would |