Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-03-12
LIFTED OUT.
wICKERsaAN TO Gu.

School Superintendeus.
Harrisburg Dispatch to the Press.
The appointment of q superintendent Of
public instruction to succeed DR.. Wicker
sham will doubtless be made by the COVER
nor next week, and the probability is that
the choice will fall on Rev. DR.. E. E..
Higbee, president of Mercersburg college,
Franklin county, who is strongly urged
for the position by some of the leading
educators of the state. The governor was
given to understand as far back as last
June by Professor Wickersham that he
would not be q candidate for reappoint-
ment, and he rendered the position to Dr..
Cattell, president Of Lafayette college,
Easton, who declined the appointment.
This fact Was made known to Superinten-
dent Wickersham, who refused to resign,
aud in the meantime a powerful pressure
was brought to bear on the governor in
favor of j. A. NJ. Passm0re, of Schuykill
county.
During the month of January an often
sive circular was sent broadcast through
out the state setting forth that st the men
who cared little for the interests of educa-
tion, but who manage what is known as
the machine in politics. of PenDsylva-
mia, are believed to DE doing what they
can to prevent the denomination of DR..
Wickersham, because, having admins
tered his high Office with conspicuous in
tegrity, he has never been able to be used
in any way for their improper purposes, -
and adding "They are the same class of
men who tried few years since to make
an immense job for themselves through
the Textbook bill " This circular glorifies
the virtues of DR.. Wickersham in italics,
giving twelve reasons for his appointment.
The eighth Of these sets forth that
"he has been and now is opposed
by interested and corrupt politicians,
who find his honest devotion to the
interests ofpublic education an insuperable
obstruction to their personal and destruc-
tive schemes" 1t also adds that ''Governol
Hoyt is too deeply interested in the vel.
fare of the common schools to be desirOus
of replacing the present great executive
head of tho schoOl department with an
officer Of inferior merit, experience and
executive ability but says that the
pressure upon him is very strong from the
machine element in our state politics, u
and that ''his hands sh0ul be strengthened
by the scllOolmen of Pennsylvania II
urges meetings of tho directors to be hello
without delay in the various districts ol
tho state to pass resolutions and forward
them to the governor in Mr.. Wickersham's
interest, and makes fervid appeal for "a
clarion call" on this absorbing subject.
As soon as the governor received one OF
these circulars few days ago, he sent fol
DR.. Wickcrsham and questioned him on
the subject. The latter professed to know
nothing of the subject, although it is
claimed that the circulars emanated
from the Office of the School Journal oi
which he is editor. Gov. Hoyt was very
indignant and said that in view of the en-.
tire circumstances there,Was no other hon.
Orable course left for him but to request
Superintendent Wickersham' resignation.
Mr.. Wickersham protested that he had
no knowledge of the circular, and thus far
he has not resigned. The governor feels
aggrieved at the reflections Of tho circular
upon him, and after conference with some
of the leading educators of the state,
he has concluded to appoint DR.. Higbeo
next week. The probable appointee is about
so years of age, man of learning and
ability, who is earnestly devoted to the
cause of education and strongly recon.
mended by State Senator Stewart, DR.;
Philip Schaff, one of the leaders of the
Bible Revision society, and many others
prominent in education and religion. A
strong pressure was brought upon the
governor in favor of the appointment OF
Mr.. Passmore, but the governor already
decided to divorce the position from poll
tics and to confer it upon a gentleman
conspicuous for his learning and ability,
and whose appointment would give entire
satisfaction to the most ardent friends OF
public education throughout the state.