Daily Republican., 1880-05-04

Abo4Vo'
Total for last three weeks, 1ol 25
Saturday, May |, 5,75
Monday, g. l, Us
ThOue hts Absua the School Board
The results which have attended tn
holding ii the late election for member
oft:e Board Of Education are cauae
for rejection, and the question arise
wheti er the present mode Of election il
any improvement over holding it at thu
same time other city officers are electet
If there was any possibility by the pre-
sent plan Of divesting the election Of its
partisan aspect, then there would be
some good reason for preferring it but
it mus! be patent to tha most casual
observer that year after year tie elee
tions are growing more partisan, and
hence tho Board Of Education is losing
caste and character. The latter is no
more ROW what it has betn in the past,
and even teachers AMI pupils of the
public schools are led to look upon it
as necessary evil which they have to
endure, and submit to. When the re-
turns of the election were all in OF SIT
urday night, and it was known who
were elected, some of the successful
candidates electst by the largest ma
jorities evidently looked upon the
whole thing as miserable farce, and
enc of them present suggested the pro-
priety Of holding the election for mem
bers of the Board at the election for
city officers, so that there should be o
more general vote cast, and more inter
est t.ken at the election. This prcpo- |
sition received the assent OF those who
were present, who also felt that the
elections fer members Of the Board bad |
degenerated, and that it was nc longer |
any very great honor to ba msm-
Der of the Board of Public Education.
We feel rather inclined TO favor the
suggestion for various reasons, though
We admit that it would make the elec-
tion straight out party affair the same
as the election Of members of the City
Council. This would do away with any
sudden surprises by some aspirants for
election to the Board, who are totally
unfit fer The Office, and though it would
result in the election Of straight out
Republican or straight out Democrat,
as the case may be, there could scarce
ly fail to be moral ppsnd Intellectual
fitness for the Office, which often seems
to be totally disregarded. 1t is doubt
full, however, if the result would have
been materially changed at the election
if party contest had been urged, ex-
cspt in the Third, Fourth and Ninth
Wards. The sudden Swinging Ct a
Democratic candidate in opposition TO
Mr.. Kent, Of course was the cause of
that sentleman's defeat, which had it ,
been known would have been met in
time to have saved Mr. Kent from de-
feat, as quite number OF the hest class J.,
Of Dene Gratis voted for him. We have :,
at ell to say against Mr.. Fue- 6
kel. He may possess an excellent ,
moral character and be we'll quail
fed fer the position to which he
has hecn elected, for aught we 2
know, but the fact cannot be
concesled that the election degenerated ;,
into q regular party skiimish, and the >,
Democrats when they got their blood
mp went at 1t with vim, as If just for
the fun Of the thing, in order to beat d
Mr.. Kent because he happened to be g
None doubted the ability Il
md character of the latter, and indeed b
itizens Of the Ward without distinc- T.
ion Of party considered themselves m
Vell and ably served in the Board by re-
lr. Kent. Had Mr.. Fuekle possessed cd
o Qualifications whatever for a member vi
the Board he would in all probability th
ave been elected as easily. He was St
Democrat and that was enough for oil,
i'm. Had the election in that Ward th
cen held at the city election and Mes CO
rs. Kent and Fnekls been put In mt
omiDaticn as the regular Republican 20
md Democratic candidates, there could hi
ave been no doubt tf the return of Mr.. ga
.ent to the Board. wi
In tie Fourth Ward there wss no par -.
: contest it is true, for both Mr.. Morrow rh
nd Mr.. Brady were rot only Democrats bs.
ut are Democratic Office holders enjoy ut
nS the positions and emoluments of I;o
flee at the hands Of the Democratic
arty. We merely mention the cleo W.
on in the Fourth Ward to show how oo,.
asy 1t is to spring a surprise under the itv
resent plan which could not be done if A.
le election was held in conjunction rir
it'll the city election. Every body SEEM Rb
perfectly satisfied with Mr.. Morrow al!
ia member Of the Board and especial for
were the Republicans 60 we'll sat's- No
ed that they refused 10 favor the pre- frs
'sed candidacy Of M Griffin in oppo- ke.
Enn. BIT fhS.a rran l;Itln -4a.aat L.