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19 1 LEADER...
Official Or^an Ben Hill County.
Brit*ain Advocates Monthly
Pay of School
Atlanta. Ga., June 19.—In his
annual report for the years 1909.
and 1910. M. L. Brittain, state
school superintendent, r e c o m-
mends that teachers be paid month-
ly, deplores the popular election of
county school commissioners and
recommends county boards of
education: suggests three teacher-
training supervisors for, the
teachers institute: refers to the
consolidation of schools and com¬
pulsory education, and urges the
county unit plan.
In speaking of compulsory edu¬
cation, he observes that the state
is not able at the outset, perhaps,
to enforce a rigid compulsory edu¬
cational law and speaks of a local
option measure, but adds that it is
doubtful if such a measure would
be-Jeff ective. He concludes that
the stroirg arm of the state is the
only means by which illiteracy
may be wiped out.
His report is now in the hands
of the printer.
The following statistics are giv¬
en at the opening of his srecom-
mendations:
Enrollment of pupils during
1909 was 547,912 and during 1910
was 555,794. The attendance of
white pupils increased, but that of
negroes decreased.
During 1909, 320 school houses
valued at $467,891 were built.
During 1910 301 school houses
valued at $512,641.26 were erected.
“The cost of the average house
is, therefore, more,” says the com¬
missioner. “and this is significant,
since the need is rather for larger
and better than for more schools.”
Values of common school pro-
perty is $9,883,760.77 as against
$8,603,853 for last year. Liuring
1909 $1,261,471.31 was raised by
local taxation and during 1910
$1,307,140.65.
For 1909 7,789 schools were re¬
ported with 12,231 teachers: for
1910 7,946 schools with 12,625
teachers. The average monthly
salary paid white teachers in local
systems for 1909 was 104,32; for
1910, $177,40; female teachers for
1909 was $57.76; for 1910 $49.34.
In country schools, white male
teachers received $58.34 and white
female teachers $37.48 in 1909;
and white male teachers $59.56
and white female teachers $25.83
in 1910.
SALARIES OF TEACHERS GENERALLY
TOO LOW.
The commissioner says of
teachers’ salaries; “In view of the
importance of their work, the
are not sufficiently well
but there is. nevertheless,
gradual improvement.'
Dealing-with the educational
n£eds in Georgia, he says:
The first of these, in my judg¬
ment, is the harm resulting from
the lack of promptness in paying
the salaries of the majority of the
teachers of the state. The injury
is. felt primarily by the rural
teachers. By May of this year
the state was able to pay only one
tenth of the sum appropriated for
1911.
“In most counties six tenths of
the school term was completed
during this period. For the work
already done, therefore, it will be
seen that the teachers must suffer
the loss in interest where the
county boards borrowed funds,
discount their salaries where this
plan wasnot followed, or wait six
or eight months until the fall taxes
are received. This delay is caused
by the fact that otherd apartments
are given precedence, and will con¬
tinue j ust as long as the legisla¬
ture permits this discrimination.”
He suggests the following reme-
SEMI-WEEKLY
The Fitzgerald
FITZGERALD . BE A HILL COUNTY, GEORGIA , JUNE 21, 1911.
dy:
"It would seem, however, that
the state should adopt the usual
business method of me eting obli-
gations moQthly . If this simple
plan is pursued with impartial
justice, beginning at the first of
next year . d am informed by the
treasury officials that all debts can
be paid promptly and with no
more borrowing than at present.”
ELIMINATE POLITICS FROM SCHOOL
SYSTEM.
lie deplores the popular election
of county school commissioners:
“Instead of dragging the head
of the county schools into politics
as was done through the recent
law requiring the election of coun¬
ty school commissioners by popu¬
lar vote, the child in the country
has all along needed just one thing
—the right to get the best county
school superintendent possible
from any source whatever.
“There should be a county board
of education elected by the people
or appointed by the state board of
education on recommendation.
This hoard should elect the county
superintendent just as is now done
by the cities from the best
material available. The minimum
salary should be $1,200 in all ex¬
cept a few smaller counties and the
entire time of this official should
be devoted to the supervision and
direction of the schools. This
plan could be made effective upon
the expiration of the term of office
for which the present school com¬
missioners were recently elected,”
He says of certification:
“The present method of examin-
ing and licensing teachers was
perhaps adequate thirty years ago.
Today this is by no means the case.
Besides tne elementary and tem¬
porary county certificates at pres¬
ent granted; a professional certifi¬
cate higher in rank should be pos¬
sible for those who pass a credit¬
able examination in high school
studies.”
He concludes his recommenda¬
tions by a discussion of the county
unit system.
“A defect in our Georgia
schools,” he says, “not always
clearly apprehended, but serious
in its results, has been the line of
demarcation increasing established
between urban and rural schools.
Following the example of the
larger towns and dries, many dis¬
tricts with railroad crossings or
corporations of some value have
availed themseles of the privileges
of the McMichael bill, fenced off
the richest portion of the county,
and voted additional school funds
by taxation. This leads me to say
that I am uncertain as to whether
or not that part of the McMichael
bill referring to district taxation
is good or evil in its effects. Any
measure which hopelessly con-
demns the larger and more help-
less part of our citizenship to the
cupidity and selfishness of the
relatively powerful among our
people should have no place
the laws of a state which bears the
motto of justice on its shield. No
division of city and county should
ever have occurred. Instead, v,e
should , i 7 i nave made i the county the
unit in every instance, just as is
the case now with Bibb, Chatham,
Glynn and Richmond.
will “Let lead us have the legislation that
to education of all
our people by the county unit plan
instead of encouraging the chaos
that will result from a thousand
little dependent thousand districts and
another condemned to
hopeless education poverty and
inefficiency.”
Mr. Van Martin’s many friends
are pleased to know that he is
Sanitarium, rapidly improving Atlanta, at and Piedmont hopes
to
return home about the first of
next month.
King and Queen of Spain Are
Worried About Son’s Health
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B EING Jaime, ries now and klay greatly born troubles. and July concerned queen For 1908. does instance, about not Though the mean the health king happiness of and their queen or younger the of absence Spain son. are of Prince wor¬ just
22, nearly three years old, the bey has
never spoken, and there have been rumors that he is a deaf mute. He has
been fragile since his birth, and it has taken great care to keep him alive. His
father, the king, is not strong. Indeed, the statement that he lias tuberculosis
has recently been published, and it is certain that the youthful monarch—ha
is only twenty-flve years old—has been compelled to take the best of care of
himself, and he spends as much time out of doors as be can. Prince Jaime
is to be taken to Switzerland this summer, where it is said that an operation
will be performed in hopes of removing the difficulty with his speech. Nat
urally the mother, who is a daughter of Princess Henry of Battenburg,
youngest sister of King Edward VII. of England, is worried, as any mother
would be under the circumstances. The picture above shows the unfortunate
young scion of royalty and his brother, Alfonso, prince of the Asturias, heir to
the throne. They have one sister, Princess Beatrice, born July 21, 1909.
Phosphate Plants of Georgia
Division Will Be Enlarged
The annual three-day conven-
tiori of the Georgia Division Far-
mers’ Educational and Co-oper-
ative Union is now in session in
this city with one of the largest
attendances on record.
The advance guard began ar-
riving as early as Sunday, to be
present Monday at the annual
stockholders’meeting of the Un-
ion Phosphate Company, a sub-
sidiary organization of the Geor-
gia Division, whose phosphate
ore holdings in Florida are val-
ued at more than $1,000,000.
The meeting of the Union
Phosphate Company was indeed
a most satisfactory one. . The re-
ports from the various officers
and directors showed the organ-
ization to be in a very flourishing
condition, 'and the business of
the previous year has been dou-
bled.
It was voted by the stockhold-
ers to begin operations at once at
their phosphate fields in Florida,
which embrace 640 acres-of the
most valuable phosphate ore in
the country. Just as soon as the
Tom Watson In The Enemy’s Camp
At Eleven o’clock this morning, Mr. Thomas E. Watson reached
Q c j]] a j D b is auto and immediately began to address the immense
audience gathered to hear him. In an hour’s discourse, he covered
the field of current politics and held the audience spell bound Irwin
County, Propaganda, in the days of the People’s-Party, held was ever a poor field for
the Democratic Party its adherents as with band
of steel, and yet, when the smoke of battle has cleared away, the
White Man stands as one solid phalanx, fronting the enemie • of the
State; the people of Irwin Hocked to hear the message they knew Mr.
Watson would bring them. The vast audience showed its approval
by the frequent tumultuous applause that frequently interrupted
the speaker. Foreign Missions, Schools, Disfranchisement, and
election of a successor to the late Senator, Clay, had Mr. Watson at ¬
tention. Upon the call of Mr. Watson for all who favored the election
of a Senator by. direct primary to raise their hand, every hand in the
immense crowd immediately went up, showing the unanimity of the
audience on that question. After speaking, men, women and child¬
ren vied with each other to do honor to their guest, and it was revel¬
ation to see the common people rally to the man whom the press vile¬
ly slander.
contract” can be let and proper
machinery procured, these vast
fields will be developed and the
product exploited in all parts of
Uie United States. This move
forward also necessitates the en-
largement of the plant at Union
City, which will be converted in¬
to an immense mammoth plant,
o ne that will manufacture the
phosphate ore into fertilizer for
distribution among the entire far-
ming sections of the United
States. The Union Phosphate
Company is one of the most val-
uable assets of the Georgia Divis-
i° n > ar, d with the big improve-
merits which they have just plan-
ne d. will play an important part
> n the Union’s plan of co-op or-
ation.
The Union Phosphate Company
closed their meeting Monday
night with the election of all the
f°™ er officers, as follows:
president, 0 John T. Dante) ; treas^
are r, T. M. Smith; board of dir :c-
tors, I. A. Smith, W. F Peacock,
W. C. Wood, L. F. Wooten, and
John W. Walters,
State Convention Farmers" Union •
to Session to This City
.
f
K. F, Duckworth Elected: President
Every train, coming to Fitzger¬
ald Monday brought a delegation
of farmers to the Annual Con¬
vention of die (State Farmers' Un
ion, wlich convened here yester¬
day morning. All the hotels in the
c'ty as well as boardinghouses and
many private homes are entertain¬
ing the guests, who include repre¬
sentatives from nearly ©very coun¬
ty in Georgia,,
They are a jolly, jovial crowd,
numbering about three hundred in
number, and a peculiar feature
which has caused much comment
is that there is absolutely no ca¬
rousing among the ranks of the
farmer; they are strictly business,
and unlike many men attending a
state convention., they are perfect¬
ly sober and as orderly as could, be
desired. Surely Fitzgerald has
never before entertained guests,
whom she appreciates more.. We
welcome you, tillers of the soil,
you are our guests and consider
yourself a privileged character
while in the bounds of Fitzgerald.
Every entertainment has been
planned for the farmers during
their stay in this city, and it is the
wish of us all that many will de¬
cide from this visit to locate in
Ben Hill County,,
Besides the farmers (from every
section of Georgia, Fitzgerald and
Ben Hill feel honored to entertain,
as their guests the officers of the
Farmers’ Union. National Presi¬
dent Charles S. Barrett is here, as
well as the state president, E. Cab¬
aniss, and secretary-treasurer John
T. McDaniel, Business Agent, J.
G. Eubanks, of the Georgia Divi¬
sion and executive committeeman,
It. F. Duckworth, of the national
union. Every member of the Ex¬
ecutive committee is also in place.
The committee includes W. H.
Thompson, Eastman, Henry
Hoyle, Thomas ton; JR. Williams,
Hartwell; F. D. Wimberly, Coch¬
ran; and Dr. Bradford, of Cedar
town. Former state organizer and
lecturer, T. L. Hawkins, is also a
prominent figure amongthe throng.
The Convention was formally
called to order yesterday morning
at the County Court House, ,when
promptly at nine o’clock, the gav¬
el in the hand of president Oaba-
niss rapped for order.
After invocation by Rev. W.H.
Foster, the welcome address in
behalf of the city was eloquently
delivered by Mayor D rew W.
Paulk, who was folio wed by Hon.
D. L. Martin, in behalf of the Ben
Hill Union, who spoke in a strain
equally as happy, and the hordes of
visiting farmers who packed the
spacious court room were made to
feel the warm welcome extended
by the City and County,
The response to the welcome ad¬
dresses was by President Cabaniss,
who in very eloquent terms ac¬
knowledged the acceptance of the
prof erred hospitality.
At the close of this initial session,
the convention entered-upon the
business of the meeting which is
always transacted inside of barred
doors. At this time the gavel
passed from the hands of the state
president to those of National
President Barrett, who will pre¬
side at all secret sessions. The
morning session was devoted al¬
most entirely to the report of cre¬
dential committees and the ap¬
pointment of different committees.
An afternoon session was held
Tuesday afternoon also Tuesday
night, at which there was a contin¬
uation of the disposition of busi-
of a routine nature, together with
the consideration and discussion of
plans for furtherance of the educa¬
tional and co-operative policy of
the organization.
The sessions of the Convention
X <V WWWUWVA<»W V
Officii} Organ af Ben
Kill Scant*. $1.50
a Tear.
VOL, XVI,. NO, 3?
have been characterized by an cf
fort to expedite business as rapid¬
ly as as possible, on uccount of
the fact that the citizens of Fitz¬
gerald have arranged such an elab¬
orate program for their entertain¬
ment, and while the business comes
first, they naturally wish to avail
themselves of the opportunity of
enjoying the different entertain
meats which the- city has planned.
Following are the committee*
appointed at yesterday's session;
Th: following committees wore
appointed at the morning session
of the convention: Committee on
credentials, J,T. McDaniel, flock
dale county, chairman; F.Lt, Bish¬
op, Cherokee county , E. B. Town
send, Decatur county, W, )J, Nel¬
son, Richmond county ; W«F, Tay¬
lor, Johnson county.
Committee on constitution and
by-laws, D. B. Moon, Lowndes
county, chairman; T, J. Spear,
Henry county; R. B. Milner, Pike
county; A.D. Williams, Effingham
county; F, R Seaboard, McDuffie
county.
Committee on good roads, J.T.
Mitchell, chairman, Walton conn
ty; W.H. Faust, Oglethorpe coun
ty; W. M. Tankersly, Bulloch
county; J, M. Christian, Emanu
el county; F, T, Taylor, Haber¬
sham county,
Press committee, H. P, Duck¬
worth,,
Order of business committee,
John L. Fullwood, chairman, Polk
county; J. R. Henderson, Wash¬
ington county; J, M... Bar), Clay¬
ton county,
Committee on enterprises, James
F. Griger, chairman, Montgomery
county; W, R,- Lipsey, Berrien
County; W, C, Farmer, Grady
county; I. J. Nelms, Madison
county,
Committee on good of order, R.
L. Borliford, chairman, Taylor
county; J. P. Shedd, Wayne coun¬
ty; T. R. Winham, Montgomery
county, W, C, Volinwider, Cowe¬
ta county, J. ,B, Tyre, Lowndes
county.
Committee od rural education,
William Bradford, chairman, Polk
county; W. H. Faust, Oglethorpe
county; T.S. Johnson, Jackson
county,
Committee on resolutions, E.M,
Williams, chairman, Madison
county; C, A, Newcomer, Ben
Hill county,
Very little of a definite nature
was accomplished at the meeting
last night, and the election of offi¬
cers for the ensuing year required
practically all of this morning’s
session. President Cabaniss was
not a candidate for re-election, as
he will take bis seat in the Georgia
Legisl ature at the next session as
representative from his County,
and one of the most stringent laws
of the Farmers’ Union 0rganiza-
tion is that no state official can be
President of the organization.
President Cabaniss has been one
of the best presidents the Union
has ever had, and he has the ut¬
most respect and love of the mem¬
bers of the Farmers’ Union.
II. F. Duckworth was elected to
succeed President Cabaniss to the
presidency, Fred Wimberly. his only opponent be¬
ing All the oth ¬
er officers of the Union were re¬
elected with the exception of the
vice-president. County Mr. Brown, of
Oconee Convention being chosen.
The adjourned for
the day this afternoon at three-
thirty o’clock, and are now bein s
whizzed in autos over the goo
roads of Ben Hill County, in ord¬
er that they might view t£e
healthy condition of the crops 4 b
this-. section.
Tonight, Hall, at the Knights of Py¬
thias the members of the
Farmers’ Union will be guests ot
tbo city and county at a smoker.
All unfinished business will be
disposed of tomorrow and the con¬
vention declared closed.