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In 1908, Columbia faced a crossroads, and chose wisely "If you have plenty of money and no children, count it a God given privilege to help bear the burdens of others." -Elder Z.T. Williams By "Jim" In the fall of 1908, voters in the Columbia school district faced a distinct choice in a late November special election: they could vote in favor of a graded school (and by extension, a state-mandated high school open to all Adair Countians) and the resulting increase in school tax, or they could vote to reject the measure out-of-hand. The debate raged in Columbia from early summer until the election, with passion and persuasion flowing from both sides of the issue. In the forepart of July 1908, then-retired Judge Herschel Clay Baker penned a letter to the News in which he supported the measure, a letter which he concluded by stating: "The alternative is before us. Which shall it be? I am a tax payer and have no children to educate, but it seems to me our duty is plain."In another letter which appeared in the News 101 years ago yesterday, (November 18th), Eld. Z.T. Williams, a former businessman and educator who by then was the much-beloved minister of the Columbia Christian Church, eloquently echoed Judge Baker's sentiment in this gentle admonition: "Let every citizen consider well what the present opportunity means to the future upbuilding of the town. If we would keep apace with our neighboring towns, and with the demand for a higher and more universal education of the future generations, we must avail ourselves of these modern and better advantages. Don't vote against the measure because of the little money it may cost you. We can not have advancement on any line without money. If you have plenty of money and no children, count it a God given privilege to help bear the burdens of others. 'Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.'' (The quotation Eld. Williams used comes from Galatians6:2.)The last edition of the News before the election stated that "in our judgment the race will be very close" -- and close it was. The vote tally wasn't reported; rather, the News simply stated that despite inclement weather, "a good vote was polled for and against the Graded School proposition...[and] the district is now committed to the proposition by twenty-seven majority" 27 voters who laid the foundation of the modern public education system in Adair County. This story was posted on 2009-11-19 10:41:53
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