Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-23

II is not an expression of local or sectional
view. 1t represents n national trend oil
thought, founded on deliberate Thought
and successful experience.
The question is not one OF political
expedicncy, but an Interpretation oil
social Justice. IL is the world old question
of right and wrong.
If expediency be considered, however,
we reflect on womanhood if we refuse her
right to express practically by pailo,
what she now influences by mere per-
suasion.
Her activities, in recent years, in peace
and war, have been varied and many. In
none has her work been otherwise than
for upbuiding the condition of home and
society and uplifting the lives and hopes OF
men.
The vote to her is not only a right, to
afford an extended and more practicai
opportunity for influence. Ii is re-
sponsibility which the serious and thought
full cannot shirk. If she would enjoy the
privileges granted her in society, IN the
business and professional world with the
rights and consideration IN wage ana work
ing hours, then she must expect, and the
State has right to ask, that she bear her
SllsAlt pi tbf
attending. State and society look with
confidence for her practical participation
as well as for her advice and counsel
Those who would withhold franchise
TODAY are descendants in thought, oi
those who refused woman the position IN
the school, in the office, in the hospital
All those campaigns for reform, civic ad-
vance and protection OF the woman VINO
earns her living, have been consummated
bv the votes Of those who today are iavor-
ing political as we'll as social rights.
Those women, honest as they are, who
bv position or inclination do not care TO
use their practical influence, by the vote,
to the problems of the nation, State or
community in which they live and rear the
citizens Of tomorrow. should not preclude
those who, by position and inclination, do
so desire TO play active part IN afialrs Oh
citizenship. 80,
To Won man. present this responsible
ity. Your oath of office prompts you to
represent the State as well as the con-
stituency of q single political precinct or
division. Your supreme duty rs to think
and act for the good of your State and
nation-and the influence OF woman is Tor
good. The ewes of nation rest upon you.
The responsibility is yours.
ethpgi
After a discussion covering several
wears Delaware determined to raise the
standards and increase the efficiency OF our
system of public schools, thereby pro-
viding opportunities for our children IN
keeping with the demands of the times
and in comparison with other States.
To this end the General Assembly
authorized in 1917 a commission TO
harmonizc, unity and revise the school
laws. to develop an educational system
suited TO the conditions existing m the
State, providing for an improved and :
efficient administration OF all free school
matters" The result of this study was the
amendment Of our school laws and pro
visions f6r a complete reorganization OF the
whole system, now defined and outlined in
what is known as the new School Code.
Incidentally it might be of interest to
say that those of national authority, ac-
uuainted with systems in the varlous States
look upon Delaware as the coming leader
in education. To project such a system
into administration and to thus shift the
position Of Delaware to her rightful plsce
in the rank Of States has naturally created
radical changes from the case Of the old
way and caused local and temporary m
conveniences. The costs have necessarily
! greatly increased. II we would raIse our
| standards, the salaries OF our teachers
( must be somewhere commensurate with
/ the demands of conditions OF hvlng, we
I are paving less TO those who teach our
I children than to the poorest unskllled
/ labor. Aside from the shame OF our neglect
/ and consideration, we must offer them
| at least a living wage To refuse longer
will only leave our schools in the hands Of
/ those III trained and incapable. This,
/ with other increased costs of the times,
will make necessary a tax on real estate
/ that will be seriously burdensome: In
/ some localities. it may be almost prohibit
/ i've. The State should render financial
relief.
t Public schools were, in times past, sub
! iect to local standards. The type of build
! ing, the course OF study, regulation OF at
4 tendance and administration were decided
| bv the community. The opportunity OF
/ the boy or girl was decided by the whIm or
wisdom of the taxpayers.
Today, that idea does not prevail among
those interested In civic betterment and
State welfare.
Education is 8 State function. Under
1 State supervision the opportunity TO the
child does not depend on location. Under
the system now being projected, the boy OF
/ poor parentage In remote ulStlCt HAS
equal advantage with the son of the rich
and the wealthy graded school. To such
boy and such district, the new law offers
the greatest advantage.
To make this possible, something
must be done TO relieve the tax on the
farm. Fortunately the finance of the State
treasury are such that this can be done.
/ Without embarrassing any other OF the
States obligations, a sufficient sum can
be set aside from the general fund to give
the relief needed and necessary. With
more money in the States treasury than
ever before, it is not only fortunate that
this can be done, but Is only right and
fair. For by so doing, every school dis
trict and community will thereby benefit
and have a share of the State 5 finances.
Just how and to what extent the relief is
given rests with the legislative branch.
! /, as executive, merely present the sug-
gestion with the assurance that State
finances are fully ample to relieve the
strain.
The State Board of Education should
receive your highest commendatlon for
their work. Their gifts of thought, time
and wealth to the State can never be
I.reckoned. We are indeed fortunate IN
Delaware to have such citizens SO unself-
ishly and ungrudgingly who give of them
selves and of their wealth to us and our