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i .... r " ' '-ft: 1 ; 7- i I V r. J- 5! THE WEATHER. probably rain Sunday; colder Sunday aftprnoon. Monday fair and much colder. ; - - , iff Pages Toddy - , . . - A . - ' i- . ' , ' ' ONE SECTION VOL. XCVII-KO. 141 WILMISTGTOIT, N. C, SUNDAY MORMKG, FEBRUABY 13 1910 WHOLE NUMBER 39,502 GERMAN TRENCHES IN THE CHAMPAGNE ARE T FORMAL NOTE Was Sentenced to Death I - - 3 VISITS FROM ZEPPELINS FAILED MAXWELL ANSWERS BUTLER'S CHARGES TO ATTACK CAPTURED BY FRENCH a FORTRESS MONROE Inspects Buildings, Grounds and Mammoth Guns. GERWANJ RECEIVED Regarding Treatment of Arm ed Vessels as Warships. - Somewhat Increased Activity is Reported From Several of the Battle Fronts. m I RUSSIANS BREAK LINES petrograd Declares Teutons on Defensive Along Three Rivers, in Galicia. Vienna Claims Success Against the Italians. Somewhat increased activity is reported from several of the Eu ropean war fronts, notably in France, and where Russians and Teutons are facing each other in Galicia. : The most important infantry operation on the western front oc curred in the Champagne, where a French attack was carried through after prolonged artillery preparation, and, according to Paris, some three hundred yards of German trenches were taken. Berlin concedes a French gain in this territory, northeast of Massi ges, placing the extent of the cap tured position at two hundred yards. ', Teutons on Defensive. Petrograd unofficially reports - the Teutonic forces on the defensive - on the three important streams along rhich much of the recent fighting in Galicia and nearby fronts has . been conducted the Sereth, the Pruth and the Biiiester. Several breaches are de clared to have been made in the lines of the Teutonic Allies. While admit ting that the immediate strategic re sults so far have notbeen important the Petrograd advices record a belief that the Russian - offensive has at least relieved pressure on the Entente forces along other fronts. The current Austrian report on the operations against the Russians admits no permanent gain for the troops of Emperor Nicholas, mentioning specifi cally an operation northwest of Tar nopol, Galicia, where Russian detach ments that occupied several advanced Austrian trenches are declared to have been ejected in a counter attack. Capture Italian Position. Vienna claims the capture of a posi tion near Flitsch, on the Italian front, hile in the Albanian operations the repulse of Italian attacks near Ti rana, Northeast of Durazzo, is re ported. - A Rome dispatch brings . statements attributed to both French and Italian political sources that complete accord has been reached between Premier Bri and, of France, who is now in Rome, and the Italian cabinet members, with 'hom he has been consulting on Ateps to unify allied action in the war. Sink ing of the Norwegian steamer Alabama, of 891 tons, Is reported from London. The crew was saved. TWO SHIPS WERE SUNK. Germans Claim to Have Torpedoed a Second British Vessel. Berlin, Feb: 12. (Via Wireless to Say Wile) jn addition to the British ship Arabis another vessel was sunk by a German torpedo boat in the North Sea, according- to an official admiralty re Port given out here tonight. The re port, forwarded by the Overseas News Agency, follows: '' , "The admiralty reports, relative to the sinking of the British cruiser Ara is, was a second English ship which as hit by a torpedo. A German tor pedo boat rescued the commander of the Arabis, and also the surgeon, ono officer, one non-commissioned officer and 27 men. During the return, how ler, the surgeon-and three men died because of long exposure in the sea." RUSSIANS RE-TAKE HEIGHTS. 'ansruinnry Fighting in Tsehroff Re gion of Galicia Indicated. " Petrograd, via London, Feb, 12. nguinary fighting in the Tsebroff re-E-on in Galicia was indicated in-an offl c'al communication from general head Quarters tonight which told of the re taking of a height by the Russian forc es jvho still hold it. "The enemy made desperate efforts to oislodge us from a height," said the rPort. "He succeeded at the cost of enormous losses, but one of our glor us old regiments ejected the enemy l0r a second time by a terrific attack gainst the height. Prisoners taken here Stated that nnr nrtillftrv Inflicted normous losses on the enemy. "Last evening and during the night, in enemy, seeking to win back the ne'?ht in the Tsebroff region, made wee desperate counter attacks, all of Much w ere repulsed with heavy losses enemy." BRITISH WAR STATEMENT. Onl y One Out of 11 German Aircraft Crossed British Lines In West. London, Feb. 12. Only one of a fleet ii German aeroplanes succeeded, in ssinsr the British lines on the west- front during the air attack last uesriay, according to a British official L7)ent issued tonight. The state ' ,'t says: ' ' ' Tp facts of the German aeroplane (Continued on Page Two) CAPE FEAR RIVER v. ' - . it - ... TO GET S According to Tentative Draft of River and Harbor Bill. STATEMENT BY SMALL Talk With Reference to Report That Labor Union Will Support Pilots Danghtridg e-Wilson Inci dent Explained. (Special Star Telegram.) Washington, D. C, Feb. 12. The committee on Rivers and Harbors of the House of Representatives have tenta tively drafted the river and harbor bill, and there has been secured unoffi cially certain items of appropriation which are included in the bill. The bill will not be reached for several days, and there is a possibility that these items may be changed, but it is not probable. North Carolina items are as follows: Northeast and Black rivers and Cape Fear river above "Wilmington, for maintenance, $8,500. Cape Fear river above "Wilmington, for continuing improvement on locks and dams, $83,000. - Cape Fear river at and below Wil mington, completing Improvement and for maintenance, $135,000. Cape Lookout harbor of refuge, $600, 000. Inland waterway from Norfolk, Va., to Beaufort Inlet, N. C, continuing Im provement, 51,000,000. Shallow Bag Bay, for maintenance, $2,000. - . Beaufort Inlet, for maintenance, $10, 000. V Harbor at Morehead City, for main tenance, $2,600. Meherrlu rjiyei for maintenance, $2,- 500. '"'"S- "'" Fishing Creek, for maintenance, $1, 000. Pamlico and Tar rivers for mainten ance, $4,500. ' Bay river, for maintenance, $1,000. Trent river, for maintenance, $2,000. Swift creek for maintenance, $1,000. Waterway from Pamlico sound to Beaufort inlet, for maintenance, $6,500. Waterway connecting Core sound and Beaufort Harbor, - for mainten ance, $2,000. New river and waterways to Beau fort, for maintenance, $6,000. Labor "Union to Pia-ht Small? "I am seeking simply to promote wa ter borne commerce by barges between Southern ports and northern ports," said Representative Small today when informed of a report that labor would oppose him for the pilotage bill he has introduced. It was quite recently that the pilots' association joined he Amer ican Federation of Labor, he said, and, if there Is any truth in the statement that they intend to oppose him, that is the situation. "To promote the commerce referred to was the purpose for which the Norfolk-Beaufort Inland waterway was constructed and I Introduced this bill because I thought it was in the public interest, and that this traffic might not be throttled in its infancy to furnish revenue ror a rew pilots. Everyone admits the pilots are not necessary on barges towed "by tugs and this is such a useless burden that it ought not to be tolerated." Former Representative Llttlefield, of Maine, waa defeated because of his opposition to the labor unions. Friends of the pilots claim that Littlefield was sent to Congress by the interests to put , through a pilotage bill similar to the one now Introduced by Represen tative Small. Believing that the bill would be detrimental to the public safety, the pilots say union labor will take a hand in the fight and if nec essary to carry the battle into Mr. Small's district. , Daughtrida-e Made No Engagement. The writer has received the follow ing telegram from Lieutenant Gov ernor E. In Daughtridge, at Rocky Mount: , . "Parker Anderson,. Riggs Building, Washington. "Upon arriving home I notice a com munication over your signature in sev eral of the daily papers stating that I went to Washington to extend an invitation to" the President to visit Rocky Mount and that an engagement was made wit hthe President for this purpose and that I failed to keep the same. I would be glad for you to correct this statement, as I did not go to Washington for thi spurpose. tu t w. Hines. of this city, was in Washington the day before I arrived and he, without my, knowledge, made through Congressman Pou an appoint ment with the President for us. Mr. TTfnAs iinwever. did not locate me In Washington until more than an hour oftpi. time of appointment, iuu, ui course, know that it would have been i ...r. tn visit the President and I ma vrnt break thev appointment, be cause I knew nothing about It. I would not be guilty of sucn a aiscourieuy. (Signed) "E. L. HAUunimiua. The writer takes pleasure in giving publicity to Governor Daughtrldge's telegram I. did ot know whythe en gagement was not kept at-the White House I made no effort to explain. The names of. Representative Pou, Lieutenant Governor Daughtridge and Mr. J. W, Hines were "stedat the White House for an engagement T. o invite the ? President to visit Rocky Mount." Representative Pou was on hand: but the others were not. TRIP INFORMAL AFFAIR Soldiers and Civilians Cheer Heartily Presidential Party Reaches New port News Too Late for Ship Launching. Newport News, Va., Feb. 12. Presi dent Wilson this afternoon personally inspected one unit of the country's de fenses, when he made a tour of Fort ress Monroe, whose mammoth guns guard the entrance to Chesapeake bay, ten miles away. Cutting short his in spection of the fort when he received an Invitation to attend the launching of the largest oil steamer ever built in America, the President hurriedly re turned to his launch and headed for the plant of the Newport News Ship building & Drydock Company, but be fore his speedy little craft could cover the 12 miles the giant hull of the "Charles Pratt," building for the Standard Oil Company, had taken its maiden plunge in the waters of the James. The presidential party had to satis fy themselves with a view of the shlD- Lbuilding plant and other interesting spots along the shores of the James and Hampton Roads between Old Point and Newport News. Arrive In Early Afternoon. The naval yacht Mayflower with the President an Mrs. Wilson and Dr. Cary T. Grayson, the President's phys ician aboard, arrived in Hampton Roads about 1:30 p. m. after a delightful trip down the Potomac river and Chesa peake Bay. The Mayflower did not fly the President's flag and there were no salutes from the fort or other formal ceremonies to mark the chief execu tive's arrival in i Virginia waters. It was stated at Old Point this af ternoon that the presidential party would , remain in Hampton Roads dis trict until 5:30 o'clock Sunday after noon, when the return trip to Wash ington will be begun. Accompanied by Mrs. Wilson, Dr. Grayson and two secret, : service;-.. men the President came ashore a few min utes after 3 o'clock. A number of sol diers from the fort and civilians who were gathered on the dock greeted the President with rousing cheers, to which he responded by lifting his hat and bowing, a broad smile indicating his pleasure at the impromptu reception. The presidential party then headed for the main entrance to the fort. En route, th3 President was stopped by several men who knew him, and was forced to acknowledge demonstrative greetings every few steps. Each time he lifted his hat and bowed with a smile. - Requests No Formalities. Reaching the fort, the President stopped at the guard house and asked the guard on duty to request the ofCI- (Continued on Page Two.) WATERWAYS BILL IS VIRTUALMIfLETE Appropriations Amounting to $40,000,000 Carried. Includes $1,000,000 for Improvement of Waterway From Beaufort to Nor folk $6,720,000 for Missis sippi River Project. Washington, Feb. 12. The annual Rivers and Harbors Appropriation bill, completed in committee today except for final decision on the appropriation sought for the East River channel in New York harbor, carries a total of $40000,000, of which the largest item is $6,720,000 for the Mississippi river. The bill includes one item of $1,000, 000 for the improvement of an inland waterway from Beaufort, N. C, to Nor folk and is confined to completion of existing projects in line with the ad ministration policy. It will be report ed to the House probably Wednesday. The principal provisions follow: Mississippi river, from its mouth to the Ohio $5,000,000; from the Ohio to the Missouri $350,000; from the Mis souri to Minneapolis $1,200,000; be tween Minneapolis and St. Paul $170, 000. ' Mouth of Columbia river $1,200,000; waterway connecting Puget Sound with Lakes Union and Washington $348,000; at Los Angeles $75,000; at San Fran cisco $15,000. Delaware river from Philadelphia to the sea $2,500,000; at Philadelphia $65, 000. Inland waterway from Beaufort, N. C, to Norfolk $1,000,000; Galveston harbor $325,000; Galveston channel $300,000, When the committee meets Tuesday it is expected to vote in the bill, as the only new" project, an initial appropri ation of $200,000 and an authorization of $500,000 more for deepening to" 85 feet that part of the East river pro ject from the Upper bay to the East river. . Removal of Coenties Reef will be included. President Wilson in a letter to the committee today urged this improvement to insure at all times an adequate approach to the Brooklyn navy yard. The committee . probably will defer action on other parts of the big East river project, which contemplates the expeniture upward - to $13,000,000 ulti mately. y IS EFFECTIVE MARCH 1 United States May Define Position Sometime This Week Attitude of Central Powers Well Founded Some Believe. Washington, Feb. 12. Germany's formal note to the United States, an nouncing its intention to treat armed merchantmen of the Entente Allies as warships, after February 29 reached tho State Department today. The poli cy of the United States In regard to the declaration of the Central Pow ers probably will be defined some time next week after a note similar to that issued by Germany Is received from the Vienna foreign office. ' It was pointed out today in high official quarters that the United states would have to reach a decision quick ly, only 17 days remaining before the effective date of this declaration, after which commanders of German and Aus trian submarines are expected to re ceive orders permitting the torpedoing without warning of any ship which is armed. There are strong indlctaions that va rious high officials believe the position of the Central Powers to be well found ed in view of the changed conditions of sea warfare. In many quarters it also is considered ' that the Teutonic declarations are a development of the American memorandum to the Entente Allies, suggesting the disarming - of merchant ships and indicating that armed merchantmen entering American ports might be regarded as warships, subject to interning. , Might Cause Entente Protest. Representatives of various of the Entente Allies have made oral repre sentations to Secretary Lansing regard ing the American memorandum. Al though the State Department declined to make known the nature of the rep resentations, it was believed the secre tary was informed that at. least some of the Entente governments were un willing to adopt the . Suggestions and that Strang - protest . ? might r .follow. Should the . United ' States N attemnt to put into practice the suggestions, it has made. 'The State Department has been in formed that others of the Entente gov ernments were viewing the question with open minds, but it, was stated on high diplomatic authority that the Entente Allies probably would agree upon a position in the near future. The contention, made in certain En tente diplomatic circles, that for the United States to change during the war its policy regarding the right of merchant ships to arm for defensive purposes would be an unneutral act, was answered by a high" official today. He denied that he thought such a change would be incompatible with the neutrality of the United States and add ed that -should the United States take the position that Germany an dAustrla ars right in their contentions, it might be claimed that instead of operating against the Entente Allies such a dec laration would in reality help them to save the lives of their nationals and possibly their ships. The plan of the United States has been to secure from Germany and Aus tria pledges that no unarmed ships will be attacked without warning. It is believed here that the Teutonic powers readily would give such pledges. Offi cials did not seem inclined to doubt that such pledges would be given in good faith and that together, with as surances already given the lives of non-combatants on unarmed ships would be safe In the future. Americans to Be Warned f Prospects of a warning to Ameri can .citizens to remain off vessels that are armed, loomed large today. One high official expressed the belief that Congress would be called upon to take some action leading to that end. Officials of the State Department also are considering what effect its deter minations as to policy will have upon American naval policy and operations in the event this government was en gaged in war. The question probably win nave an imponani Dearing upon the final decision. Washington, Feb. 12. The new flood control committee of the House left late today for a week's tour of in spection in the Mississippi flood dis trict. They will go first to Cairo and then to Memphis by rail, and front there will proceed through the flooffed area by boat. Oklahoma City, Okla., Feb. 12. A joint resolution authorizing the sub mission of a female . suffrage amend ment to the State constitution .was adopted today by the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The vote was 62 to 15. THE DAY IN CONGRESS SENATE - Met at noon. Lands committee continued oil lands hearing. Adjourned at 12.58 p. m. till noon Monday. HOUSE Met at noon. Debate on Postoffice bill continued. Speeches on Lincoln's life were made and Lincoln's Gettysburg address was read. Rear Admiral Benson told Harbors committee improvement of New York harbor channels leading to navy yard was imperative. , Hearings on . administration's ship bill was continued before Marine com mittee. -Majority Leader KItohin deferred un til' next week's introduction of the resolution t" repeal the free sugar sec tion of the tariff law. Adjourned at 5:03 p. m. until noon Monday. Raid of Jan. 31 Confined to Midland Districts. 179 KILLED, IS REPORT Passengers on Liner Adriatic Who Were In London on Night of Raid Say None of Craft Reached the British Capital. New York, Feb. 12. Zepnelins did not reach London in their raid on the night of January 31, according to pas sengers from England who arrived here tonight on the White Star liner Adriatic. There were reports in the British capital, however, that 179 per sons were killed and nearly 300 wound ed in the midland districts not far from London by bombs dropped from the German airships. George T. Knowles, chairman of the American University Club of Liverpool, who was on the Adriatic, was in Lon don the night of the raid and declared the Zeppelins .bombarded neither that city nor Manchester. Considerable damage was-done, however,, at Burton-on-Trent, he said. He visited that l place and -saw the ruins " of a large brewery which had been burned. Bombs were dropped also In Nottingham. The missiles evidently were aimed, Mr. Knowles asserted; at large buildings in the hope that arsenals might be struck. George H. Dora, a New York pub lisher, confirmed the statement that the raiders did not visit London on the night of the 31st. Aboard the Adriatic were 40 of the passengers who were aboard the Phil adelphia of the American Line when she collided with the big sailing ship Ben Lee six hours out from Liverpool on the night of January 22. The prow, of the Ben Lee struck and raked the starboard side of the steamer. All the boats on that side of the Philadel phia which had been lowered in prepa ration for emergencies while passing through the danger zone, were destroy ed. The main mast was broken oft and the pilot house badly damaged. The wireless apparatus also was put out of commission. ; The night was clear, the Philadel phia's passengers stated, and they could see no excuse for a collision. LTherei.was considerable excitement aboard the steamer after the crash, as It was feared at first the vessel had been torpedoed. High tribute was, paid to the stewardess on the vessels who went about among the women passen gers supplying them with life belts. The ship's orchestra began playing im mediately after the collision and the music continued until the excitement was over. There were 824 passengers aboard the Philadelphia. Boats were sent out from the steam er to the rescue of the crew of the Ben Lee which went down not long after the crash. So far as known only one sailor perished and his death was due to exposure. The Adriatic brought $30,000,000 in gold and securities consigned to New York bankers. She was escorted by nine torpedo boat destroyers for 24 hours after leaving Liverpool. SOUP USEDAT BANQUET Assistant Chef of University Club Disappears. Believed Attempt Was Made to Poison Guests at Banquet In Honor of Archbishop Mundelein Many Were Taken Sick. Chicago, Feb. 12". Virulent poison was found today by city chemists in samples of the soup served at the ban quet in honor of Archbishop Mundelein at the University Club Thursday night. The discovery, coupled with the disap pearance of a kitehen employe of the club and the finding of similar poison, in a private laboratory in his room, together with literature classed as an archistic, led the police to believe that the illness which overcame more than a hundred of the diners was the result of a deliberate attempt to poison the guests. The nature of the poison discovered and fear that perhaps a slow acting poison had also been mingled with the banquet viands prompted the city health commissioner, Dr. John D. Rob ertson, to iss,ue a warning to all who attended the banquet to place them selves immediately under the care of a physician. Several of the distinguished guests were so affected that they have not yet recovered. Two;. are still confined to their beds and a 'number of, others today "said that they still felt the ef fects of the poisonous soup. Archbishop Mundelein was not ef fected. He ate very sparingly of the soup and said today that he had not felt any ill effects. The absence of Jean Crones, assist ant chef at the club, was noted by the manager, H. J. Doherity, and his suspi cions were aroused. With a policeman he went to Crones room and there dis covered the laboratory and found poi son flasks. Crones, according to the club offi cials, was employed last September and was fond of discussing economic ques tions and was said to have often in veighed against the present order of society with its stratas of rich and poor. In the room which he had occu pied, the police say they found many volumes by anarchistic authors, ex plosives and weapons in addition .to the solson vials. - POISON DISCOVERED 111 ' n i Mrs.' St. Clair Stobart. ' Mrs. St. Clair stobart who was a British, nurse in Brussels, was sentenc ed to ,be; shot ' like Edith Cavell. She managed to escape, and later went to Serbia, where she wa's sick with the typhus. ' -.Whs'i sfre 'recovered she was in the retreat to the Adriatic. Having cheated .' deathVhree 'times" TsKe Went home to . England. . PLAN OF Would Place State Troops Un der Federal Control. FEDERAL PAY FEATURE Proposals Would Increase Strength of Militia in Peace -Tim4U to 200,000. Junior Guard- for - Boys Is Also Proposed. Washington, Feb 13. The proposals of the National" G:uard Association for federalization' of state troops were be- j fore the military committees of Con gress today in the form of a -bill draft ed by representatives of the associa tion, at fhe request of -the Senate com mittee. The regulations contemplated are given force by a provision limiting participation in the Federal pay fea ture to officers, men or organizations complying with certain' specified re quirements. -The scale of annual pay proposed is as follows:; Major generals, $800; brigadiers, $700; colonels, $600; lieutenant colonels, $550;' majors, $525; captains $500; first lieutenants', $300; second : lieutenants; $250. Enlisted men would be paid on the basis of 25 per. cent of the pay rates of the" regular . army, a private receiving approximately '$45 a year. The maximum" number of troops pro vided for by the bill is 500 for each congressional district or a, total peace strength of approximately 200,000, an increase of 70,000 over the present strength of the National Guard. They would form a separate branch of the regular army "in time' of war. when called into the Federal, service. The act would take effect July "l, 1916. ' Provides for Junior Guard. The bill provides also .for organiza tion of a junior guard . composed of boys between 12 and 18, available for active ' service only after every other class of militia had been called out. The juninors would be divided into two classes, cadets, or those of 15 and above, and cadets of the second class those less than 15.. An enlistment contract would be re quired under which the soldier would bind himself to serve the Federal gov ernment "within or without the conti nental "iimits of the United States" for a period of two years or until dis charged should the guard be called out at any time tluring his three year en listment period. The enlistment period of any soldfier whose time was. close to expiration when his regiment was called would be extended automatically. It Is proposed . to do away with choice of officers by election, and com missions would be limited to' specified classes and granted jnly after exam inations by the War Department. Pro motions during active service would be made by the President from the com missioned force or ranks of the organi zation, dependent upon the grade to be (Continued on Page Two.) GUARD PRESENTED Democratic Party's Public School Record Invulnerable, STRIKING COMPARISONS Shows That Former Republican Sena tor' Basic Flgnrea are Inaccurate and His Deductions More So Records Quoted. (Special Star Correspondence.) Raleigh, N. C, Feb. 12. Declaring that the North Carolina Democratic administration deserves to stand or fall on its management of the public schools and presenting facts and figures that make a splendid showing for the Democratic management of the schools, Secretary A. J. Maxwell, of the Corporation Commission, gave out a statement today that completes the annihilation of the Marion Butler "Ex cessive Taxes anu Debt" pamphlet and the" J. E. Little "political thunder" letter that was based on the Butler pamphlet. In a recent analysis of the general taxation features of the Butler-Little "Republican dope," Mr. Maxwell set the figures right as to North Carolina and ten other states cited by Messrs. But ler and Little in comparison and show ed that the people of North Carolina have fared better in the per capita taxes than either of the other states mentioned, in addition to this State having substantially less per capita tax than any other State in the Union as the State Tax Commission original ly asserted. ' Turning his attention to the Butler Little charge of Democratic extrav agance in the management of the pub lic school system of the State, Mr. Maxwell declares that if the party has been either unfaithful or inefficient or extravagent in a matter so close to all the people, it would be .undeserving of continuance ' in authority. Continu ing, Mr. Maxwell says: Butler's Basis Wrong. "The Butler charge of extravagance is based on just two statements : "1 That the school fund was in creased from $894,000 in 1898 to $2, 703,990 in 1913. "2. That the length of the .school , term war only increased from 14.06 weeks in 1898 to .18 weeks in 1913. "Of course Mr. Butler could not state even the basic facts accurately. The report of C. H. Mebane, superintend ent of public Instruction (fusion) for the year 1898 shows expense of public schools for that year $931,082.86, in stead of $984,000 as given by Mr. But ler, and the repbrt of Dr. J, Y. Joy- Ufter for 1913 shows length of school term 20.48 weeks instead of 18 weeks aa given by Mr. Butler. "But the Increase in length of school term is not the largest item in the Inventory , of public school improve ment. , ' "Mr. Mebane's report for 1898 shows value of public school property $930, 214. Dr. Joyner's report for J.913 shows value of public school property $5t 030,710.02, an increase Of 541 per cent," "The average, monthly salary paid white teachers in 1898 was $24.66 for- males and $22.96 for females ror aver age term of 71 days. "The average monthly salary paid white teachers In 1913 was $41.37 for average term of- $102.4 days. The Facts' In a Nutshell. "With log school houses and $22 teachers in 1898 there was only 34.3 per cent, of the white children ot school age attending the schools, or a total for the State of 140,162. In 1913 54.8 per cent, of the white children were in actual attendance or a total of 235,504, the average attendance being nearly double. "The average attendance of white chOdren in 1898, multiplied by the av erage length of term.gives 9,811,340 school days, counting each day's actual attendance by each chila. "The average attendance of white children in 1913, multiplied by the average length of school term, gives 24,025,609 school days, or nearly three tendance as in 1898. ' times as many days of actual school atw So that while the total cost in 1913 is three times as great as in 1898 this actual cost per child per day is but slightly greater than In 1898 to send a child to a school with equipment 541 per cent, better than in 1898 and to a teacher paid a salary 77 per cent, higher' than in 1898. - ' Which is extravagant, the old log school house and board bench and the $25: teacher, or the modern school house and the $42 teacher? Rural High Schools. "In 1898 State-aided rural high schools were unknown in the State. In 1913 there were 212 rural high schools, preparing the boys and girls of the rural districts for a college course, not counting of course the city graded schools. "There was almost no supervision of the public schools in 1898, Mr. Me bane making the statement in his an nual report for 1898 that the super intendent of schools for Wake county, having in charge the expenditure of an annual school fund of $56,000, was paid a 'salary of only $128. The average salary of county superintendents in 1903 was $948.99. "These plain facts need no argument to enforce them. They furnish ample answer to any charge of extravagance, if indeed any answer is needed. All the people of the State know these things in a general way. But no amount of statistics can adequately present a fair comparison of the effi ciency of the public schools in 1913 with conditions that prevailed under the Butler regime In 1898, when not only poverty was written over every school house, but when the shadow of the negro school committeeman, serving on, school, boards having the management of both white and colored schools, furnished a large part of the indignation that grew into overwhelm ing revolution. "The Democratic State administra tion will take more pride in Its in (Contlnued on Page Two.) i ! 1 s, I1; I! I Si i Hi if; 7B! - - v
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Feb. 13, 1916, edition 1
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