The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-05-13

The serious charge in last weeks DEMO
Graf that the Board of Education allowed me
Sooo IN addition to my original contract fer
the brick work upon the new school house, is
the most serious yet brought against the
Board. l desire to correct the position the
Board are placed in, as well as to right my
own. In the first place the writer in stating
that L went to the individual members and So
hclted them to vote for my claim on the
grounds that l had lost money upon the con-
tract makes it appear that l was begging, and
finally received charity at the hands of the
Board. When the Board met and considered
the bids for the erection of the new building
they were found to exceed the estimate and
the contract for letting could not be made,
therefore, lawfully. They held n session in
the afternoon and adjourned till after supper
without letting. During that time the archi-
tect sent a man to my house to tell ne to
come down to the hotel. When I called at the
hotel he explained the matter to me and told
me that L would have to make a reduction
answere that my bid would not allow it.
Then he gave me the assurance that if would
make the reduction that my reduction would
be afterwards replaced. After this conversa-
ton had taken place he called me before the
Board and l there made a reduction in my bid
of 5000. After the brick work was completed
IN June, 1884, L went to the Board when in
session and asked them to replace the amount
deducted from my original bid, as the journal
Will show the entry. l was informed by one
OF the members next morning to be patient as
other reductions had been made. | waited
till the house was finished, then a committee
of two were appointed, consisting of Mr.. Ed
son and Mr.. Unger, to examine my claim
They sent for the architect to appear here, and
in my presence held a conference with him. |
On that occasion he said that he would O.
home and would then send the matter back in
shape to be passed upon. Mr.. Edison receiv-
ed a communication from him. l met Mr.. |
Edison at his store and he told me he had re-
ceived it, and asked me if would make any
reduction. | said | wanted to do what was |
right in the matter, and rather than have any
l would make a reduction of $500
Very well, said he; / will report your claim
favorable. He handed me also a communica-
tion that he had received from the architect,
l was to hand to the Board personality
1t was a threat that if the Board refused to
allow my claim to bring suit against them; it
in the handwriting as also the 81 rnatu, e
OF the architect. These are only a few of the
leading points in the matter, but enough for
the present. 1t is true that | stated to the
when in session that l had a hard con-
The only wonder is that my partners
and my self succeeded in completing the con-
tract at the price we got for it. The method
by which We were robbed of the price the
work was worth | will not speak of now. 1t
is not true that 1 ever asked member to vote
for my claim.
far as the brick work was concerned. That
is true, as we did the work 81, 1000 cheaper than
It would have cost in Richmond, Hamilton or
Dayton. These are the facts in the case in
answer to the charge against me in last weeks
in reply on School Board affairs.
l appealed to the editor for the name of the
writer, and l was told that was a matter he
would not tell. A personal attack upon an
in disguise and without a signature
$ the lowest type of ~villainy. l asked why
his matter had been brought out at this time
md l was told that it was on account of the
part G. H. Moore had taken. REMARKED that
had nothing to do with c. H. Moore; he was
bile to take care of himself. From his con-
luct towards me l have reason to believe that
he article either was written or suggested in
Whole or in part by one who has no interest
n the schools other than to draw a salary.
Now, Mr.. Editor. why this attack on me-?
hey done their duty in the matter and no
nore. l was born and raised in this town,
nd my career is we'll known. have three
hildren in the schools and pay my taxes the
anne as the rest, and have as much interest
a their advancement as any citizen in Eaton. j.,
Yours Respectfully,
MARKS W. NATION. s