The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-10-25

MANY hundreds OF school districts in
the State that have built up fine
schools would be sufferers of such ac-
tion. In one county alone. II 'l2A'
Its effects, II put into operation, are
were yitaliZed, there are some thirty
districts that would require a levy on
the property remaining in the districts
OF from 49, Elills to as high as 30S
mills TO run their schools. The limit
that may be levied under the Constitu-
tion il 10 u lis. Schools under such ad.
verse conditions would have TO close or
be supported by private subs ~riptions.
This injustice 10 school districts would
BE repe; ted in varying degrees all
over the State, destroying and iniur-
Ing hundr' Is of school that are now
pr pering.
Is it any wonder that the various
Le,i latures after an exhaustive inves-
tigstion, know ing the acts-knowing
the havoc and destruction II would
cause; knowing that 1t is tearing down
our present school system instead of
building it up; knowing that it would
be an injury with no means OF repara-
tion left under the Constitution or the
law, and knowing that thousands of
children all over the State would be
tn left without the means to be edu-
Gated, refused to vitalize "l2A'? Who
can say that the Legislature did not
net wisely in refraining frora inflicting
such injury?
Senator Russell has with great per-
sistei \ pressed this matter At one
time he initiated bill that would give
him 10 per cent commission out OF
the proceeds of districts benefited,
Ag in, he took contracts from citizens
in districts benefited to pay him 10
per cent OF what their dis riots would
receive So far as known. he Sill
holds these contracts. He admitted
that If the measure Went through he
would realize somethin. like 100000
commission Under such conditions he
cannot claim to be without personal in
terest or bias in the final outcome His
cri. icism of the Legislators during the
past years is not without tinge OF
personal interest. Whatever admira.
tion one may have for Senator Russell,
one cannot but feel that his vision has
beel clouded-his judgment warped by
self interest. Surely it cannot be truth
fully saii that Senator Russell would
have the people believe, that all the
Legislative bodies of the past who
hale refused to follow HIS demands
haze acted from improper or impure
motives they were actuated by the
highest ideals OF justice and right. The
Legislatures have refused to take upon
themselves such disastrous conse-
quences.
Senator Russell in his argument for
this measure complains that the Leg
islatures have not acted. In view,
however, Of the irreparable injury that
such actions would have inflicted upon
the schools OF the State-injury that
was unknown and unthought OF when
Section l2A" was adopted, the Legis-
iature couldawell afford to pass such
grave responsibility to the people who
now must act instead of the Legisla-
ture. The Legislature well understood
this, and in passing the question to
the people. violated no fundamental
principle of the Constitution
The centers of population are upon
lines OF railway. the very development
of location which has occasioned the
growth OF communities in the towns
and cities. This situation has placed
an added burden upon such cormuni-
ties in the way OF az 'itional enroll
ment of pupils, and to deny them the
right to levy taxes upon the public
service corporations would be ex-
tremely unjust-not only cities and
towns, but many rural schools through
which public service corporations pass,
would be likewise injured
To destroy or injure the school cen
ters, would close the door TO rural stu.
dents TO attend the high schools OF
our cities and villages. School centers
are Just as essential 10 the success of
education as our trade centers are TO
the success Of the community. This
bill will take from many Of these dis
tricts the taxes from public service
corporations, but does not assume an
additional burden OF taxes.
These facts are submitted for your
careful, candid consideration.
A vote NO" upon this measure is a
vote 10 REJECT tne NltallLlHR Vi Ia,
Please p-thinb-con5ider before
you vote for q measure that will in
flict vital injury upon the schools Of
the State of Oklahoma
GEORGE u. PENWRIGHT.
Pres Bd. OF Education. El Reno, Okla.
J. c. SHEETS,
Member OF 3D. OF Education. Copan. Okla.
r. ID. DAWSON
Pres. Bd. OF Education. Clinton, Okla.
&. i. GRAYBILL,
Pres. Bd. OF Education Lawton, Okla
@. G. ALTERNATELY,
Pres. Bd. OF Education, Shawnee. Okla