The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-10-30

County School Commissioner.
It is told of an ancient king that, whel
sbd&k to be ds&ESnH f6r msl.adni1btt stion,
he was determined to appoint his successor,
So 1t seems with our present School Superin!
tendent, ], N. Day.
This famous hbbby rider, who has held the
office until the people can bear him no longer,
is not content to abide by the wish of the
peoHle, but scents II, etraveling thr6ish thii
county 99 an electioneering tour, in addition
to the duties which he is expectedto perform,
and circulating reports concerning epr.can!
didate, Mr.. Wedgewood, which, while they
gre net worthy the consideration Of, spK sem
sible man, are Intended to defame his chaarac!
ter and prevent his election.
=, Il may be proper here to give brief &C.
count Of a little difficulty that exists between
Mr.. Day and Mr.. Wedgewood, which will &C,
count for the bitter feeling felt by Mr.. Day.
aIt,H wellSknown that Mr.. Day has helissiy.
eral " Normal drills" in this county each year
for the benefit of the teachers and schools. II
has been necessary to employ other teacheri
to assist him, and the Supervisors have all
ways BEEN willing to give money to pay them,
But instead of doing this, Mr.. Day charges
ZACH teacher. tuition fee Of three dollars fet
two weeks, thereby, making from 800 to $3.50
at each session, which money he calls per-
quisites." This money is paid by our COUNTY
teachers and put into. Mr.. Dsys pockets.
During . conversation between Mr.. Day and
Mr.. Wedgewood, the former told the latter
that he usually cleared about 800 at each
session. Last spring, Mr.. Day issued call I'd
the teachers to meet ct Marseilles and, in this
call, required the teachers to pay % for two
weeks Instruction, or g. for one week. He
employed Mr.. Shurtlife, of Blue Island, I'd
assist him, but told Mr.. Shurtiiffc that he
could not 4remunerate him in any way, as hi
received No pay for it himself. But he was
generous enough to offer to pay his fare from
Blue Island to Marseilles This game would
have worked we'll had. not Mr.. Wedgewood
heard of it, and, as Mr.. Shurtliffe was his par.
ticular friend, informed MI. Day that the best
thing for him to do was to pay Mr.. S. a fair
priceIfor his services, and, in consequence of
which, Mr.. Day paid Mr.. S. $50 for his two
weeks work, instead Of putting it into his
own pocket, as he had formerly done.
Mr.. Day has lost his influence in this coun-
ty, and is obnoxious to nearly every teacher
in the county and when he found that he
could ot'be nominated by the Republican
Convention, he, instead Of supporting pub
lie school man, carried the little influence he
had left toMr. VIM. RI 1T
Against Mr. Winn, as man, we have moth
ing to say; but he is not in any way connected
with the public school system; uor does he
associate with the teachers of the county.
Neither do we believe that any man of ordi-
nary ability would content himself in little
ssctariauconcern like the college at Mendoza,
while SO many good opportunities were offer
ing as were in the public schools of La Sale
County lCh Hq WNGwG
Perhaps Mr.. Day thought that Mr.. VIM
being elected, he could become, a Deputy
Commissioner, and thereby continue in the il,
terest of his favoritc publishing house, and
by occasionally speaking a, good word for the
little college, with which Dir. VIM is con-
nected, lie might be able to continue his in
PRODUCTION of school books into our public
schools. But Mr.. Day may understand that
he has not worked in the interest of pub
fishing house, and made money by it, without
its being known. = w. wa es
I'VE have public school men enough in Ia
Sale County, whose Interest for the welfare
of the public schools, aud whose desire to as,
sist the many ardent teachers of the county,
will not allow them to sell out the publiC
schools for the sake of pocketing few dol
lars, received as bonus from book agents.
There are schools in this county that MI
Day has not visited iorsfour years; while he
has visited the schools Of the cities often. ia He
goes where he, is not needed, while he neg,
lects to visit the very schools where his set.
vices might DO of use
Many teachers of the county understand
that, unless they attend Mr.. Days drills, u
will be impossible TO- procure ,Gcertificate
while Others, who ought to be attending
school, tickle, his pockets to the tune Of, three
dollars and are forced upon the public as
teachers, while good, competent teachers afe
kept out.