Smyrna times., 1927-03-02
CONWELL FLAYs THE SCHOOLS
Tells House Members Democracy is
Not Safe and Autocracy Rules

Not Safe and AutOcracy Rules
Representative Charles S. ConweIl.
Republican, of Camden, recognized
economist, former college professor
and probably one of the best informed
men in the present General Assem-
bly,, fiayed the present public school
system in effect in this state in un-
sparing terms Thursday afternoon in
the House. He had arisen to urge
the adoption of a resolution he intro
duced calling for the appointment of
commission of two members of the
Senate and two members of the
House to be given authority to en-
ploy attorneys to prepare an entirely
new school code and to make a report
to the next legislature. His resolu-
ton would have appropriated $4,000
to defray the expenses of this work
The preamble of this resolution set
forth that the present school system
IN Delaware is autocratic and out of
harmony with the democratic tradi-
tlons Of this state and of the republic
and that it does not command the cor
dial support of very large percen-
tage Of the people of the state that
the public schools of a state should
command. The resolution had been
reported from committee on its mer-
its.
It was defeated by a vote of 25 to
z. The members voting for its adop-
tion were: Representative Conwell,
Cubbage, Davis, Ellis, Hastings, Ma
loney and Tinsman. Representatives
Ford and Bell were absent and Rep
resentative Burton was not present on
the roll call. All the others voted
against it.
"Not long ago we took part in
great war to make the world safe for
democracy" said Mr.. Conwell, "but it
seems that democracy is not safe here
in Delaware. If autocracy is allowed
to rule in our school affairs, why not
in all Of our affairs ?"
Referring to the present school sys-
tenn IN this state, Mr.. Conwell said:
1T is not a Delaware system. The
people Of Delaware never voted on it.
The bill that created it was introduc-
ed in the General Assembly at the
very last of the session and railroad
ed through. Possibly not a single
member had even read the bill A
bill Of such vast Importance should
have been made the paramount issue
Of the legislative campaign that pre-
ceded its introduction.
1t was imposed upon US from with
out by persons who thought they
knew more about Delaware than Del
awareans know. They loved our chill
dren more than we loved them. It is
an autocratic system. 1t does away
with local self-government, the found
alton of American democracy. Ac-
cording to it, the people have not
sense enough to manage their own
affairs"
Representative Duncan of New Cas- |
tie spoke against the adoption of the |
resolution. He declared that if affairs |
in the public school system in Della
ware had reached the deplorable con-
iition Mr.. Conwell represented them
TO be then the members of the Legis-
ature should remain in session day |
and night until the evil had been rem
edied and that they should not wait
for two years to find way to correct
hem.
MrConwell replied that the present
Legislature does not have the time to
1evote to the consideration of a bill
hat would create a satisfactory
school system, because it now has too
many other pressing measures before
t for consideration.
Representative Virden also spoke
against the resolution. This ended
he debate and the roll call was order
I'd with the resultant defeat of the
Measure.