Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-10-29
A Natter of Personal" Explanation

nee for School Superintendent, is en-
dcavoring to make capital out OF the
assumption that the editor Of this pa
per. while acting as delegate in the
Democratic County Convention, Sc
cured her defeat for the nomination
from that party, on "personal
grounds. Nothing is further from the
! facts There is not even the sem
hlance of truth in her statement.
The writer never knew, till after the
| Democratic Convention had adj
journed, that the lady had said or done
anything that would place him in an
attitude Of personal hostility to her.
In fact he had the best Of reasons for
believing her to be sincere in her
professions of friendship, and the
STANDARD had shown its good will by
frequent reference to her Jealous work
fore, to wear the crown of self-imposcd
martyrdOm, must prove an ignomin-
ious failure, when it is known that the
young lady virtually acknowledges du-
plicity when she endeavors to supply a
motive so foreign as that which intlu-
enced a preference for another to her
sci in the nominating convention.
The aggressive course of the Peoples
nominee compels us to state precisely
the reasons which Influenced the wri-
ter's choice for School Superintendent
| in convention. The first of these was,
an honest endeavOr to secure efficiency
in the educational service; and the
second, to place in nomination a can
didate who would have a reasonable
prospect of being elected. We believe
that both objects appeal to the reason
of every fair, impartial and unpreju-
diced voter Mrs. Hale came to the
Territory with highest recommended
tons, not only of graduation but of
practical labor in Chicago and other
large cities, in normal work as Il teach
err of teachers. The admirable system
| to which she has reduced the service
here, has given ample evidence of the
thoroughness of the training in her
lifelong vocation. Miss Stevenson
may hold a diploma, as is affirmed, but
that is not, of itself, an indica-
ton of proficiency, when subject to
practical test, nor of the possession
of that sympathetic nature so essential
in the teacher for gaining and con-
trolling the innate capabilities of
childhood. Who can for a moment
doubt the superior qualifications Of
Mrs. Hale when the two candidates
named are measured by this scale?
Only those whose judgment is willfully
blinded, or those who have had no OPP
portunity of forming an opinion of the
qualifications of either. A candidate,
who, as teacher, has been compelled to
apply to other teachers, for solution of
plain mathematical problems, should
not make the educational qualification
prominent claim for support, and if
Miss Stevenson possesses any other
special adaptability equal to either of
the other aspirants for the office, it is
yet to be discovered. 1t was because
the writer had been afforded the best
of means for forming just estimate
of these matters, that he voted for Mrs.
Hale in convention. If this is "per-
sonality," SO be it; but We apprehend
that it will not be so regarded by the
voter.
In justice, We must accord Miss
Stevenson the credit for possession of
considerable political ingenuity, if she
is wanting in other requirements. She
has constructed plausible if not true
story, which we will accord her the adj
ditional credit of believing to be true,
as she was the only and best judge of
the provocation which she assumes
constituted the basis of opposition on
personal grounds" But, like the
boomerang in unskillful hands, it will
be likely to do herself the most dam
age. It is little surprising, however,
to those who know how she has ele-
waited her nose" at woman's rights,
that she should take to politics with
the avidity eff duck to water, when a
small Office, with still smaller salary,
is in sight.