Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-23
NO CHOICE.


Difficult to Select a Superintendent
of City Schools Prominent
Candidates.
The board of education met last
evening and took 45 ballots for super
intendent, all being similar to those OF
Monday evening and no choice was
made.
No subject has during the past few
days been so generally discussed in
Abilene as the election of asuperinten-
dent of the city schools. The difficulty
experienced by the board of education
in agreeing upon a man for the posi-
ton has been to some extent sur.
prise and has awakened a wide interest
in the matter.
When in last March Supt. A. V.
Jewett sept communication to the
board saying that he would not be a
candidate for reelection there were
many who thought that he might be in
duced to reconsider his decision and
that if unanimously rendered a re-elec.
ton he would accept. This idea was
soon dissipated by Prof. Jewett's en-
phatic reiteration that he would under
no circumstances take the superinten-
dency again.
Then the applications began to pour
in upon the board. From almost every
State in the Union and from all parts
of Kansas they came Until about
ninety were scheduled, representing
that number of gentlemen who desired
the position.
At the regular May meeting of the
board of education, May 9th, COM
mittee of three was appointed to con-
slider the applications and present
them to the board. At last Monday
evenings session the committee re-
ported seven names from among the
ninety as those of the leading appli-
cants, giving the other members of the
board the privilege of adding to the
list.
THE CANDIDATES.
The names presented by the commit
tee were all those of experienced edu-
Gators. Of the seven only five have re-
ceived any votes in the full meeting of
the board. Of these the best-known is
H. F. Graham, principal of the Abilene
high school during the past three years.
Mr.. Graham's home was at HOlton,
from which place he went to the State
University, graduating in 1886, since
which time he has been in the Abilene
schools. Another is Prof. Reynolds,
of the Delaware University, Ohio. He
is a young man, little less than
thirty years of age, has taught school
and attended college, making his own
way in the world. He is highly spoken
of by the professors of the University
from the advanced course of which in
stitution he will be graduated next
month. Prof. Sherman is a New
Jersey man who stands well in his
State. He married Miss Carrie Dryer,
a young lady well known TO the older
residents of the city. Prof. Moulton
has been teaching in Pennsylvania and
New York, near the line dividing those
States. He has had wide experience;
he comes with good credentials. Prof.
Mclean came to Kansas from the East
about two years ago, taking the super
intendency of the Usage City schools,
which position he now occupies. He
is a scholarly, unassuming gentleman
about So years of age and has had
abundant school experience.
The above named gentlemen are the
leaders in the race. No others have
received any votes and the indications
are that one of the five will be selected.
THE BALLOTING.
When the board took Its first ballot
Monday night Prof. Graham had five
votes-Messrs. Dyer, Baker, Stoddard,
Davidson and Lightner, and the other
votes were scattered among the other
four candidates. During the go ballots
of Monday night and the 40 ballots of
last evening. there were still the five
votes for Graham while the other five
were dispersed in various manners
among the others.
The board will meet again Monday
might, at which time a choice viii un-
Idoubtedly be made. The result is con-
sideraDly in doubt and an entirely new
man may be chosen as a compromise
between the factions, both OF whom
seem determined not to give up.
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