Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-12-14
BUTLERIsM.
The Trouble In the Board of Education
The Scheme to Force S. ". Butler Upon

| 1u6 DOaEu VI CuuChLlOH VI Vile SA'J RtOAA-
ises to be the battle-ground of contest that
cannot result otherwise thaR inIuriously to
the interests Of the public schools.
The facts are not at all pleasant to publish,
but it would be positive dereliction of duty
and contemplate cowardice to now withhold
them. They are already in the mouth of
Rumor, and form one of the topics of street
gossip.
Some time ago the selection of candidates
for School Directors came before the public
in the form of discussion as to the fitness of
candidates. 1t was the voice of the people
as clearly expressed as it could be, without
direct vote, that men who were laboring to Sc
cure nominations to Directorships (which are
| unsalaried), should not be countenanced. 1t
| is popular belief that if man is anxious,
| urgent and persistent in efforts to gain a seat
on the School Board there Interior
motives attracting him, either to use his
| place for personal pecunlsry gain to exer-
else authority to fistter his vanity; to adj
vance his political ambition, or possibly to
vindicate damaged reputation.
1t is not denied that it is at variance with
good government of the schools to make
School Dictatorship the stepping stone for
political advancement. Whenever school
| offices are 80 used the schools suffer. There
| have been attempts to use the school offices
of this city for such purposes. The RECORD
UNION took occasion to say that whoever
| aspired and worked and "log-rolled" to
secure a seat on the Board of Education
should be "sat down upon " without hesita-
| ton. 1t declared its belief that the nomina-
ton of S. w. Butler in the Fourth Ward
was not in the interests Of the school depart
ment. 1t was not the medium of personal
| animosity against Mr.. Butler; it opposed
him because he was working for the position,
and because as it then and still believes for
one or more of the reasons stated.
Such an assault was made by the press
| snd people upon the Republican City Cen
trail Committee that scheme in that COM
mittee to nominate Butler was defeated, and
Frank Avery was nominated and elected by
a handsome majority over popular Demo-
cratic candidate, Matt +, johnson.
By the acceptance of that nomination and
the ratification at the polls, the electors of
the Fourth Ward distinctly announced their
opposition to the aspirations of S. W. Butler.
But the ringsters were angered at the
RECORD UNION and every one who aided to
defeat their schemes. They swore to have
their sweet revenge, and vary soon began
to plan to take it. Their assaults upon this
paper for its position, we care nothing for,
but their assaults upon the public school
system shall not pass by unnoticed, and their
present plans amount to nothing less.
The election was not over before there
came to this journal all the details of
scheme to seat Butler despite the election.
The plan was to avail of the expected resig-
nation of Director o. P. Goodhue, of the
Fourth Ward necessary because of removal
from the city,. The Butler men held that
when that vacancy occurred they would have
enough votes in the Board, by the accession
of four new members, three Republicans and
one Democrat, to seat Butler.
But knowing Mr.. Goodhue to be friendly
to no such outrage upon the expressed desires
of the people of the ward, they anticipated
that he might tender his resignation before
the new members came in, to his old COL
leagues. This they knew would be fatal to
Butlerian hopes, for the present Board would
never reinstate him. They therefore ar
ranged. and it was known week ago, in all
its details, that two members, should the
matter come up, should arise and retire,
and thus leave the Board without quorum,
and unable to fill the Goodhue vacancy.
1t is understood that friends of Mr.. Good
hue communicated this news to him at San
Francisco, whereupon he sent up his resigns.
ton to the Board as now constituted In
the mean time the Butler men kept posted,
and left no stone unturned to attain victory
nents. They acted as if it were fact that
the Fourth Ward is so deficient of material
for School Director that no one but Butler
csn be found for the place. conclusion not
at all complimentary to the 800 electors of
that precinct.
OF course, after this exposure there will be
a ain raised the partisan howl about Repub-
icsnism and party interests, and abuse of a
press that dares to rebuke chicsne in it's own
xrill ba 2 10 70 ba al 81
the men who are most active in all the
schemes TO seat Butler are not residents of the
Fourth Ward. The active interest they take
in the affairs of that precinct must awaken
the gratitude of the electors of the ward
who are so foolish IS to imagine that they
best know whom they desire to represent
them.
The plan to seat Butler has one of the
roots of its early origin in a scheme to GUST
certain teachers now in the schools, in order
to reinstate dropped teachers. some of
whom have been indiscreet enough to boast
of their expected triumph
The outlook now seems TO be that the plot
to seat Butler will be successful, and that he
will be forced upon the people of the Fourth
Ward, whether they wish him or not.
The following report of last nights pro-
ceedings in the Board of Education testifes
to the faithfulness with which the Butler
sCLSuic Is DelHS WOIh6u dHu LIE programme
carried out
a special meeting of the City Board of
Education was held last evening, all the
members present except O. p. Geodhue.
The President Mr.. Tracy, stated that the
Board had been called together to consider
the resignation of Mr.. Goodhue, and to ap.
prove the teachers payroll for the present
month. so that they might have their pay be.
fore the holidays.
The resignation of Mr.. Goodhue was taken
up, and reads as follows:
SAN FRANCISCO, December IL, 1888.
To the Board of Education, Sacramento city-Ge
tlemen: ! herewith tender my resignation as a
member Of your Board. | regret very much to be
obliged to take this STEP but in Justice TO YOU as
well myself think it should be DONE as my health
prevents my attending to the duties. | remain
your most obedient servant,
o. P. GOODBYE.
Mr.. Tracy said he desired to state that a
| report had been in circulation that he had re-
ceived some time since, the resignation of
MIR. Goodhue, and that he desired to be
elected TO the vacancy. He would simply
say that he had never received Mr.. Good.
| hue's resignation, nor asked for it, and furth-
er, that he would not accept election upon
the Board under any consideration whatever,
| either to fill the vacancy or otherwise.
Mr.. Stalker said the resignation was re.
Gaived bS him by mail, direct from Mr..
GOOdhue, who Is now In San Francisco, on
Wednesday evening Mr.. Stalker moved
that the resignation be accepted and a va
cancy declared.
Mr. Cooke seconded the motion.
Mr.. Stevens asked if there was not com
municstion on the table that should be read
before action was taken on that motion.
The Chsir directed the Secretary to read
any communications in his hands, and the
following from the Republican City Central
Committee was read
SACRAMENTO December 10, 1883.
Understanding that the resignation of .. p. Good
hue, one Of the members Of Your honorable
Board will be presented at your meeting toni ht
we respectfully request that the vacancy that will
be thus created be not filled until the coming in Of
the new Board Of Education in January. As the
member who will be selected to succeed Mr.. Good
hue will serve with the members Of the new Board
for an entire year. we deem as simple courtesy to
the incoming members 10 allow them voice in the
selection Of their colleague.
To the Honorable Board OF Education Of the city
Of Sacramento
Winfield J. Davis, Chairman, representing City
Committee; A J. Khoads, Secretary; X. F. Vie
meyer, j. W Wilson, K. T. Devlin, r. A. Smith,
D0ugald ellis, s. J. Jackson and Conran
The Chair-Are there any more commuui'
cations, Mr.. Secretary-any from the Demo
cratic City Central Committee or the eiti-
zsus' organization?
The Secretary replied that there was not.