River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-10-30

EDS. JoURNAL:--lf you will give me space in
your columns | should like to say few words
ON the question OF Co. SUPPLEMENTARY. One
OF the numerous editors of neighboring pa
per, who appears to be PERSONALLY acquaint-
ed with the candidate which that paper sup
ports, occupied over a column in the issue of
the 23d inst. in a review of "Boomer's" letter
which appeared in your paper OF the previous
week, and in an ATTEMPT to give some FACTS
in regard to the comparative merits Of the
two candidates. Now facts are good things
in all matters and let us see if there are not
some that will trouble the gentleman to dis
pute in regard to the work of the present in
cumbent OF the coveted Office. 1t is an indis-
puted claim in regard to the schools in the
county that they are in a far better condition
to-day than they were four years ago and
though the gentleman tries to show that out
side influence has been the cause OF this I'M
provement, and that certain Mr.. Youngman
or somebody else, is deserving of most OF the
credit, IL is evident to all sensible people that
no one is SO likely to deserve this as.the man
who has made it his entire business and aim
to make this same improvement in the
schools. The groundless insinuation that
Mr.. Baker has neglected any OF the schools
in the county is too evidently false to need
refutation And now in regard to the polite
al status OF the candidates, it is certainly lit
tie in favor of Mr.. Bakers opponent that he
has been s'the CANDIDATE of but ONE PARTY"
when is well known that he has been twice
most Jealous but unsuccessful seeker
after the same place in the Democratic party,
with which he has been, until the past two
years, identified. And it sounds little Pc
culiar to hear a man make such loud profess
sions OflOyalty to the Republican party who
has been heard to boast of the success his
father had as a blockade-runner during the
civil war Again, word about that unlimit.
ed certificate of which so much talk is made.
Ill. l.
examination required to obtain it embraces
but five mere studies than are required by
Mr. Baker Tor first grade certificate, and
ALL of them are required to graduate from
the Normal schools of this state. Now no
one who has the least regard for his own
sincerity will say that graduate of Normal
school possesses the breadth Of culture and
variety OF attainments which are required to
enable one to graduate from regular estab-
lished college. Besides, the gentleman does
not state the matter fairly when he claims
that only three out OF nineteen were success
tut at the examination at which Mr.. McCleary
obtained that very wonderful document; tor
the "FACT" is that most OF those. who did not
pass this year, may next year finish the
work not done and be as successful as Mr..
McCleary was on HIS SECOND attempt. He
being last year in the class called by the gen.
tleman unsuccessful" and probably realiz-
ed the advantage OF having general idea OF
what the questions were 10 De, ands having
year may possibly haye had as good a-chance
to ''cram" as Mr.. Bakers teachers are said,
by the gentleman, to have. In conclusion
we will say, Judging from his reputation, that
we think Mr.. MoCleary gentleman OF good
ability and fair scholar, but do not think it
reasonable to claim that he is equal in his
educational attainments to Mr.. Baker who
has had the advantage of the thorough drill
OF regular collegiate course, in one OF the
prominent New England colleges In his
acquaintance with, and popularity among the
teachers, and his knowledge of the needs OF
the schools certainly no one will dispute that
Mr.. Baker has great advantage over Mr..
McCleary and we tail to see reason why the
voters OF Pierce county should give their
votes to one who has not sheen shown to be
either, politically. Intellectually or otherwise
in any way superior to the present incum-
bent. CIrIzBN.