New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-08-05
SUPT. CONW AY PRESENTS
STRONG REASONS AGAINST
CRIPPLING AMENDMENT

In taking up the fight against the
proposed Sth amendment | am not
accuted by any motives Of personal
advantage, as it is obvious that | in
vite an attack and criticism upon my
position. | have entered into this
fight whole heartedly against this
amendment because | know how far
reaching would be its evil effects.
The fight is not my fight nor even
the fight OF the educators alone, but it
is the fight of all honest citizens
against exploiters of the general pub
bic. This fight is the vital concern
OF every man, woman and child in
the state OF New Mexico.
The defeat of the 8th amendment
means not only saving of public school
system from being crippled, but it
will also show that the people have
the power and the courage to stand
by what is believed to be the safe
guard and security of our future citi-
zenship. have no antagonism
against any individual | am attack
ing no group. | am attacking pro-
position whose menace is obvious. |
challenge any man in the state OF New
Mexico to show wherein he has a
better or even as good a knowledge
OF public school conditions as the pre-
sent state Superintendent After -
years OF intimate association with
school matters, ! should be credited
as something OF an authority on school
conditions in New Mexico | have vis-
tied the most remote outlying districts
and have gone where no other school
official has been know something
OF the tumbcd down unsanitary
school houses, the poor equipment,
and the hard living conditions of the
teachers, and | know the history Of
the improvement through these past
years and OF the strenuous effort on
the part of the people TO raise the
standard OF the teachers and 20 pro-
vide proper sanitary school facilities.
Our good friends who are attempt
ing to tell OF school conditions in the
state know something OF our city
schools and even a little of the smaU
town schools, bur am sure they
know very little OF the rural condi-
tions. There are hundred, of inso-
lated districts miles from a railroad.
Is thi, a democracy Do we believe
in equal opportunity for all2 Have
we a right to equip our city schools
with the best appliances and the best
teachers and neglect TO provide even
sanitary buildings for thousands OF ru-
raj school children who are denied
all these opportunities
While it is true that we have ex-
cellent school conditions in certain
quarters in our state, do not hesi-
tate to say that school conditions in
some parts of this commonwealth are
discreditable to say the least, but we
shall have no power to remedy these
conditions until we have the intellig-
ent and complete cooperation Of the
better element of the state.
The 9Th amendment would cripple
the resources we now have. 1t would
make it impossible to maintain schools
even to the present standard, in places
where that standard should be ma
terially raised. 4.
The advocates of the 9th amend
ment talk of the economy 1t is the
poorest economy to lower the educa-
tional standard of New Mexico and
to make it difficult for hundreds of
our children to enjoy proper school
facilities which are now being ac-
corded to those living in the stronger
communities, but if the zeal for eco
nomy really presses so earnestly up
on these high souls, why begin with
the expenditures for education. Why
not strike at other quarters which
would prove OF less vital effect upon
the real interests OF the state' No
patriotic citizen could pos
sibly suggest that educational pro-
gress should be limited or checked and
yet this amendment and its support
ers propose to cut down our resource
cs and throttle the very existence OF
the rural schools ] do not argue
from theory, but from knowledge OF
facts Nv answer 10 all arguments as
TO whether it is justifiable to pull
down the school levy is to take a
ride with me some 50 or % miles from
a railroad and honestly investigate
rural conditions
Ny heart /, with the people who
have little say in this matter. tte
ranchcrs who hold the outposts in
the waste places OF our state and
with the children who cannot plead
their own cause and am calling up
On the people 10 fight for their own
-jLhts.
JOHN Y. CONWAY