The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1888-05-10
INTIMIDATION

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INTIMIDATION.
1t is brought to the notice of THE
TINES that Supt. House is put to
rather desperate straights when lie
attempts to obtain Endorsements
through a method winch promises
more of intimidation than anything
else, in his electioneering for third
term and six years school superlnten.
dency, and this is found in nothing
more nor less than the fact that
three OF four school teachers have
come to town with the following
circulars, the first one reading sub
stantially as follows, with the ex.
ception that the teachers name is
here omitted
WAnPEToN, ID. T., May I'd 1888.
Will you kindly sign the enclosed
testimonial and send it to me by re-
turn mail. Ii convenient ask Il
friend to sign with you.
Yours truly, S. MOULToN,
Director Of school No. 5, Summit.
The second circular and "testi-
monial'' reading as follows
We desire by this testimonial to
express our esteem and high regard
for our county superintendent, Mr..
w. NJ. House. The high standing
and advancement that have been
attained by the Rlchland county
schools are mainly due to the super
intendent' earnest zeal and con-
tinued efforts in their behalf. We
earnestly desire that Mr.. House be
retained in his present position,
that he may perfect the educational
system which hc has SO we'll adj
vanced.
In addition to which circulars
were inclosed a stamped envelope
with printed address to S. Moulton,
Wahpeton, Dakota, that the teacher
would have simply to sign and re-
turn to him when latter coud hand
the document over to Mr.. House,
in whose hand writing (several COM
petent men have declared) the origi-
nal and outside envelope to have
been addressed to the teacher, Mr..
Moulton's name it would seem hay
ing been used simply as blind.
And we presume Mr.. House would
not deny that he personally wrote
and ordered his endorsements"
printed and paid for them himself,
the stamps and the envelopes, pre-
suming that if all the teachers
in the county signed the endorse
ment" their name could be annexed
to the endorsement, proper, and
used as simple and innocent elec-
tioneering dodge. And the fact
that these three or four young teach
ers came to town to advise with
their friends before signing Il thing
of that sort, showed the effect it had
on them. They at once said that if
they refused to sign and Mr.. House
was reelected they could expect no
favors from him, and if they did
sign it and Mr.. Muggley was elected,
they could expect no favors from
him, and thus they were in a
quandry! OF course the old heads
and Mr.. Houses trained and par.
ticular friends whom he has set uI
in schools will know what to do. and
no doubt the public will hear from
them in some shape, but We submit
that when a school superintendent
descends to this plain for endorse
ments," that it should at least LET
in little light upon his true char.
acter, and he be unIesitating rele.
gated to the rear by honest men and
tax payers. TIE TIMES again sub.
mlts that it is about time there be {,
change in this office. The idea that
Supt. House has done any more than
any one else would have done, OF
that lie is entitled to special credit
for the natural development in
school matters in the county the
past four years, is all moonshine
If a man is to believe all he hears
the superintendent has done little