The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1922-11-01
political Advertising)
THE STERLING-TOWNER
BILL AND THE
AMERICAN PUBLIC SCHOOL

greatest institution in The world. 1t
is the most important institution in
the nation. Its Importance is beyond
the reach of comparison. The ma
tion's past has been built on it. The
present is under debt to it. The fu-
turc depends on it. The safety of the
nation depends on it. It's preserva-
ton depneds on every true American
citizen.
safety of the nation depends on it.
Its preservation depends on every true
American citizen.
The greatest event in the history of
mankind was the establishment of the
public school, Education, as the free
gift of the State, marked a turning
point in civilization. The United
States of America, pledged to the
welfare of those who seek for home
and happiness, early provided for pub
lie education. TODAY it typities the
spirit of these United States, our
, Constitution, and our Laws.
The Sterling -Towner Bill has been
introduced in the American Congress
to authorize the Government to appro-
pirate annually ONE HUNDRED
MILLION DOLLARS for the promo
tion and support of public education,
these funds to be applied to the
States, and to be administered ex-
clusively by the legally constituted
State authorities according to the edu-
cational laws made and enforced by
the State. The mission of this bill
is to preserve, protect, and propagate
the American Public School. 1t is
iivc-fold in purposc,-(D to remove
illiteracy; (2) to Americanizc the i'm
opportunities; (4) to promote ply
sical education; (5) to prepare teach
ers for public school service. The bill
provides for Department of Educa-
| ton, with secretary who shall be a
| member of the Presidents cabinet.
Each of the five purposes of this
bill reveal the determination of the
! Government to provide adequately for
our public educational system. Hit
eracy and Americanization of the
| immigrant present two great prob
lens. But the equalizing of educa-
tional opportunities is an item worthy
of our cheerful observation. The sum
of $50,0O0,000, half Of the total ap-
propriated for the use of all the
States, is authorized by this bill to
be used ''in public elementary and
secondary schools for the partial pay
ment of teachers salaries, for pro-
viding better instruction and extend
ed school terms especially in rural
schools and schools in sparsely settl-
ed localities, for the extension and
adaptation of public libraries for edu-
cational purposes, and otherwise pro-
portunitics for the children of the
several States" Where educational
needs ar the greatest, it is generally
the case that the schools are the most
| inadequate. The poorest communities
| have the poorest schools. This bill
provides for equal educational oppor-
tunitics everywhere, in the mill dis
tricts, along the coastal regions, in
| the poor farming communities, as well
as in the cities.
Every good thing has it's critics.
The Sterling-Towner Bill is being at
| tackled One charge is that it's enact
mcnt will remove the right of the
State to administer it's own educa-
tional system. This charge is un-
founded. 1t is claimed that this bill
will mean white and colorcd children
in the same school room. This claim
is malicious and is disprovcd by the
following extract from the bill, which
in it's construction and language is
SO simple that the average intelligent
enid OF ten years can understand
every word. Page 6, 7, 8, 8, 10 of the
bill as submitted in printed form de-
| >''i - III Plttiil, EInSIlSn,
""All funds apportioned to State
business. The present Administra-
ton with its Republican Congress is
squarely behind the farmer.
A striking illustration of this fact
is found in the action Of the Govern
ment in behalf 0 fthc drought-strick-
en- farmers of the Northwest last
year. Crops had completely failed.
The farmers faced bankruptcy. They
had no money for seeds even, to be-
gin new crop. Within forty days
after the enactment Of relief measures
for them, the Republican Department.
of Agriculture loaned $2,OOO,O0O to
$4,000 farmers, the cost Of admins
tration being $4,000 In other words,
almost every cent appropriated went
directly to the farmer. Drought hit
them again. The Government step
ped IN once morc, and $1,500,0OO ad-
ditional was loaned to 1916 farm
| ers.
From August 24,1921 to August Is,
1922 the War Finance Corporation,
which was revived to help the farm
cr, has made agricultural and live
stock loans to tho amount of $316 ,923,-
s26, or an average every day Of ST.
100000.
The Republican Congress amended
the Federal Reserve Act so that Ag-
rlculture shall be represented on the
Federal Reserve Board.
The same Congress passed bill