Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-09-06

Nire inia. without these reform
others are useless. for no structut
can be reared upon Il rotten POUNDS,
ton. IL you want free governme,
in virginia; II you want to pla,
TINT government once more i'm n
hands OF the people; II you want
free the political and economic m
of this State. and mnke possible, IL,
progress and prosperity of prose-
ana future generations--thcn yo
with us on this issue.
HrapportI0nment.
The Constitution provides TIN
there shall he Il rcapportionincnt (,
Legislative districts in 1912 and cyc,
ten years thereafter. This is maj
datory; yet there has been no rca,
portionmcnt for twenty years Fac
successive Legislature has refused
carry out this mandate Of the Cor
stitution. which they take an oath .
office to obey. The result is IN!
there arc Legislative districts I'm tn
State in which one member of Il
Legislature represents i've times !:
many people as a member from 9th,
districts. and the disparity as to vr.
Ing strength is even greater. IN IL
Republican sections OF the State rel
reSentation is kept down. while in III
rotten bOrouEhs" OF complete Dem@
cratic control. the representation
large. Thus we have a direct viol4
ton Of that principle Of equaiityt
representation which liz the basis 1
free government. accomplishd
through cynical disregard of III
mandate Of the Constitution
We have no assurance that n
Democratic Party, which has maiI
tanned this condition. viii remedy
10 us own injury. II proposes notI
ing. II has no platform.
Tn" Republican platform demand
rcapportionrncnt OF the lcgislntiy
districts Of the stat" on the basis |
population as required by the mai
date Of the Constitution and tho mol
elementary principles of Justice
DO you want fair and equal go'
crnmcnt in Virginia II 80. vo.
with nB on this issue.
The Public srhouls.
Education In second only in in
portancc to. and is tic basis of, u,
li,ical freedom II liz AN essential .
effective citizenship. and 81 individu
success. For tn" great mass OF II
pcopic " can bi'iS Ne bbIalncN tnToug
tho public schools, What. has thirt
years of management by the Dcm'
cratic organization given us in vi
ginit? Let us first see what Is ~
school organization provided by tn:
Constitution which was forced ur(
US by the mandate Of u men.
The Constitution provides for
State Board OF Education to consi,
Of tn" Governor. the Attorney cT
cral III" Superintendent OF Publ
Instruction and 1--WE members to y
chosen by the Senate. consisting
three members from the boards
directors OF state institutions VIII
arc originally appointed ~ the COY
crnpr. and two school superintc1
d, lIta. one from the city and anothd
fium the country.
j is like snake swallowing n
own tail, The people have no dire
part in the choice OF Il majority {
this hoard. and only ono !nemb'
thereof is elected by the people WIZ
reference to the school system. TIL
board elects all division suprintr
dents Of schools Then there Z
each district n trustee electoral bOGrI
consisting of the division superb
tcndcnt. the Commonwealth Attol
ncy Of the county or city. and on
citizen CHOSEN ny 'N' JuuEc VI
Circuit or Corporation Curt. Tha5
hnards elect the local scl-ool trusted
OF which there are about 1900 in va
rInia We thus nave over IN
school officials In this state tcnouE
10 wreck the steel corporation). m
the only one chosen hy the poopH
with reference to the schools, rs u
State superintendent. WHO has "1
vot. in the state Board. Tho rconl
of virginia hav" about az much re-,
voice In tho administration "i N
schools for the education OF their o"l
Children. and the expenditure OF mel
school funds, as they have III "
government Of siam
This scheme may ne excellent f9
taking care Of deserving Demo
crats'' and maintaining The comfy
of the Democratic Party. but as
.Ibool system II is necessarily vast
ful and inefficient. denial OF even
nrinciplc Of popular government an
n public disgrace.
Nv constitutional amendment NJ
rroyed In 1879 authority was gwen
reduce the number Of trustees ana y
n,s. the school taxes. From "
raccrI In the past il il safe TO assuif
that the Democratic org ''hl"ht'o,'.
lief, In control, will not aNs'i' ''s''' .
normfssiun to reduce the hnHipe'
ooice holders. hut VIII increase u
taxes. Until there is iun"ahch' L
CONCENTRATION OF the Who'll" sc"o
system. more taxes means mo-
waste. -,
what have been the results OF IN
.ystcn established and mzinaSed :
III, Democratic organization VI
financed by the people"
virginia, according to the late
survey. stands forty-frst in the p9'
lie school facilities in the list OF
states. Think OF the children Oh IN
state starting in life forty -hrst In
list OF As!
virginia. by the latest hgur'
known. stood forty second in fort!
eight states in iiliterncy or natiN'
born white children. ana ioructn
10 iiliteracy OF negroes. Thcy tel
that conditions have since improve
Let us hope they have for 10 IN
rates out OF every hundred chiidrt
is hardly safe in republic.
In other features of our scho
system the results are theNsame. "
are without adequate buildings
house tho children. withoH proper
maid teachers 10 teach them: nut II
1000 school officials. exclusive
teachers. are an cHccti'.
maintain the control oil '"c ''''''
cratic organizations! ~,
The present superintendent OF Put
lie instruction is fine. earnest I'M"
hut he has only one vote IN the sta
Hoard OF eight. and is hcIpiess CO