Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1936-09-08

mas had sufficient experience with tho
General Assembly to know that in
asking for an appropriation of S27
oOO,OOO a year for the, public schools.
these seeking this amount are aim
ing at the moon and not likely to
get anywhere near this amount, OBJ
servers are convinced. It is also be-
ileved that if he. should join with the
groups seeking this large appropria-
ZION, ne would at once lose the good
Will and support of the more mod
crate and conservative elements in
the General Assembly which are in
favor of giving the schools as much
as possible in the light of revenues
available, but which are opposed to
giving the school extremists all thew
want, even if the revenue could he
found.
Accordingly the Question which Su-
perintendent Erwin is now facing
and which he will have to decide he
fore the General Assembly gets under
way, is whether he will side with the
more extreme school, forces seeking a
greatly enlarged appropriation and
eventually compromise by accepting
an appropriation far below the S27,-
On0,c>O they are going to ask for. or
whether he will decide to seek an an
preparation considerably less than
that favored by the ''sky is the limit"
group, but one which is more likely
to be granted by the General Assem-
bly,. and by means Of which he can
undoubtedly retain the good will and
cooperation of the more moderate ele-
ment in the Legislature.
The belief is growing in MANY. CIR
cles that superintendent Erwin will
probably refuse to go along with the
extreme "free spenders' among the
school forces, even though such de-
clsion will undoubtedly call down up-
on MS head the intense wrath Of the
North Carolina Classroom Teachers
Association and most of the big-wigs
in the North Carolina Education AS
ISOLATION. On the other hand. SUPER
intendent Erwin is regarded as sure
to get the good will and support of
the new administration and the more
moderate and conservative groups in
the General Assembly which for years
have held the balance of power and
have steadfastly opposed the approp-
Ration of more money than the State
could find revenue to provide. He is
also regarded as certain to win the
good will of the business interests
which pay the taxes and of which 68
per cent now go to support the
schools.
Wiser Course.
For while Superintendent Erwin
would undoubtedly like to go along
with the more extreme element of
the school forces, he is believed to
have been here long enough to realize
that tax money does not grow on
trees and cannot he plucked out of
the air, DR.. Ralph W. Mcdonald to
the contrary. He is also believed to
have come to, the realization that if
is better to stay on good terms with
the administration. the legislature
and the taxpayers than to antagonize
them in order to remain solid with
the school politicians. It is recalled
that back during the 1875 General AS
sembly, Superintendent Erwin decid-
ed to stick with the administration
and the conservative element in the
General Assembly rather than to go
along with DR.. Mcdonald and his
more extreme faction among both the
school forces and the General Assem-
bly,, even though by so doing he
brought down the wrath of the Gree
spenders" among the school people on
his head. At that time Superintendent
Erwin sought maximum Of only
$4,000 a year for the schools as
compared to $25,0OO,OOO sought by Or,
Mcdonald and the "free spenders, .
also that he finally compromised by
accepting an appropriation of only