Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-09-04
The School Board wants the "Shnnty'
Endorsed Party Measure.

Endorsed AS a Party Measure.
Taking their cue from the Weltburger
which two or three weeks ago parted our
charges against the school board by saying
that they were made for politics effect,
members of the school rng-oI the stump
tail portion Of it which is left after the res
ignation OF Messrs Specht and Chadwick
are trying to make it appear that we
had no other object in view than to create
dissension among Democrats. In this way,
these men hope to make it a political ques-
ton and thus array Democrats solidly upon
their side. But it is the old cry of "stop
thief andj is made with very much the
same purpose; TO divert attention from the
real culprit and throw the unsuspecting off
their guard. If any one has been actuated
in this business by political considerations,
it is the school board; indeed there are cir
cumstsnces pointing plainly to the fact that
Its members have been governed by no
higher motives. 1t certainly is singular
coincidence that while the board is Demo-
cratic, the parties most interested and ac-
tive against the school building are Repub-
licans. Dr.. Wigginton, D. O. Bradbury,
Michael Boyne, Theo Prentiss, W. H. Clark,
John Ford, ]. H. Sleeper, L. Charboneau,
and 81. A. Wedemeyer are among the many
persons who have been earnestly opposed TO
the ''shanty," and who, as it happens, are
Republicans. Furthermore, we know that
appeals have been made to Democrats who
have sympathzed with the opposition, and
have been no less outspoken ia their views
than the Republicans above named. to
stand by the SCHOOL board Is a means of
strengthening the Democratic party, or vt
| least preventing division in its ranks.
Democrats have been told that it is their
duty as Democrats to stand by the board
whose members are Democrats, because a
| the controversy over the school house, the
| opposition has come mainly from Republic
cans. What effect this kind:of talk may
have had in all cases we cannot say; but
we are confident that many Democrats have
| not taken such a contracted view OF the
question, and have been, and are, as vigor-
ous!y opposed 10 the action of the board,
as men can be. PEI haps the nece ssities of
The Democratic party in Watertown are so
great that appeals such as we have spoken
OF are essential to its salvation; if so, it
must be in the last throes of dissolution
But we have too much faith in manxi ind to
believe that any but the most unprincipled
and hide bound party hacks can be swayed
by such sordid influences. The: ringsters
and their tools, of course, are expected to
subordinate every thing else to the good OF
their party, but the rank and file are pos
sessed of too much good sense to applaud
the corrupt and infamous actions OF any
body of men, no matter whether belonging
to their own party or not? The ringsters
who wear the party collar, and who have
sought to make this school shanty business
a party question, may therefore find after
ell that they have fallen far short in their
calculations. Fair minded men. whether
Democrats or Republicans, will condem
any measure which has no more merit tina n
that for which the school ring is contend.
ing, and when they come to make 1t a ties,
Of party feslty, the attempt will prove q