Paragould soliphone. (Paragould, Ark.) 1918-1950, 1922-05-15
PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION is
INTRODUCED IN SUPPORT OF
THE SCHOOLS OF PARAC0ULD
Fifteen Hundred Pupils March Through The
Streets of The City-Occasion Witnessed by
Large Gathering Of Citizens Occasion Was
Planned in Secret-lnteresting And Exhaus-
tive Statement BY Mr.. Partlow Outlining
Needs OF Institutions.

(From Fridays Daily
The public demonstration in be-
half of the local schools, partici-
pated in by the teachers from those
institutions and approximately l, 500
pupils, took place upon the streets
of the city this afternoon and was
| in the nature of parade. The
pupils marching and the display of
banners were the outstanding fea-
lures of the occasion, the plan hav-
ing been conceived to arouse a
greater degree of interest Oh the
part of the citizenship to give the
local institutions Of learning ade-
quate financial support, to support
measures of taxation that must be
provided il the schools are to be
maintained upon anything like a
substantial basis
The Lions and Rotary clubs of
spirited citizens, conceived the plan
of arranging the program for this
AFTERNOON in secret, giving publicity
to the occasion anonymously Wednes-
day afternoon The parade was
formed upon the west side of the
city and was led by Mr. Blounts'
Junior Band. The paraders enter
ed Pruet at Highland and passed to
Main street, the pupils marching
four abreast. The demonstration
was witnessed by a large gathering
of citizens who lined Pruet street
as the marchers passed in review
The Importance of tax payers com
ing to the rescue of the schools
should be a condition well known to
every citizen. The schools are i'll
distressing need of financial sup
port and unless that is given the
institutions the children of the pres
ent day, as a consequence of the
failure of the people to support the
issue, will be seriously handicapped
when they grow to maturity, eX-
cepting in cases where parents are
| financially able to educate their
children regardless of local condi-
lions confronting public institutions.
Statement From Mr.. Partlow.
In discussing the situation of our
schools, resulting in the demonstra-
ton upon the streets of the city
! this afternoon, superintendent H. r.
Partlow, reviewed the subject in
the following statement supplied
for publication upon the solicitation
of this newspaper. Mr.. Partlow
said:
THE mystery was solved this aft
ernoon which has, for several days,
occupied the attention of the general
public. That is that part of it which
relates to what the thing was;
whether an orderly band having for
its general purpose a civic imurove-
ment, or whether it was disor-
derby organization having for its
purpose a chaotic condition of So
ciety. The main problem is yet to
be solved and can only be solved by
| the united effort of righteous cit
izenship inspired by the loftiest
motives.
THE action of the citizenship of
Paragould will determine the flu
ture of the 1900 sor more children
who took part, in thar parade ! 1t
is impqssfbie for one to- pass through;
fife> without getting an educat ion
of some kind, and as these .childten.
are in the formative period or Their
lives it is very important the kind
out on the street; that is, those
who are unable TO pay tuition for
the next year because the citizen
ship has found apparent wealth of
greater value than the future of
these children, we may safely pre-
dict the future.
THE citizenship of Paragould
has been SO Indifferent to the
various appeals sent out by the
school board, it became apparent
that some drastic measures had to
be taken; something that would
awaken parents out of the lethargy
in which they have permitted them
selves to sing for the past two or
three years. We seem to be tired
and are taking. a rest from our
duties. Efforts have been made to
interest citizens, hut no success
has been achieved The idea was
conceived that possibly a monster
demonstration, surrounded by mys-
terry, might be the means of driving
the message home. Hence the pa
rade. Just to impress a few facts:
More than fifteen hundred children
turned out on the street in an order
ly manner. What will be the effect
to turn them out without the assist
ance of the 38 teachers who walked
by the lines of march, together with
the aid of the police department in