, 1890-12-03
a REPLY TO MIR. DAVIDSON.
Correspondence Winch Has a signR-
tuFe Attached This Time.

u.s.
To the Editor Of the Leader.
IRoN MOUNTAIN, WYo., Dec. Mr..
Bradford B. Davidson has evidently IN
dertaken to answer the charges made a
short time ago concerning the manner in
which school affairs are conducted in dis
trict No. ,
Whether he has lone SO on behalf of
the board OF directors Oh upon his own
individual responsibility is not known.
However, the shoe seems to pinch the
gentleman very tightly, judging from the
vigorous denial he has made. Has he
never heard that the people OF this dis
tnct wanted school legislation IN the pres
ent legislature2 Does he not think legis-
lation is needed?
The governor, in his message to the
legislature, recommends a thorough re-
vision Of the school laws. This. Mr..
Davidson, is in behalf of the people.
If the people who nave children are
verg anxious to have eight or nine months
school and choose the teacher who is
a relative, often one of the family, or
some particular favorite, " is urged in de.
Tense it may be policy to state that the
director must have adopted similar ideas
10 keeping his own f~avorite in employ
ment.
Some people in this district wonder
upon what authority Mr.. Davidson keeps
the teacher OF one Of the schools close TO
Iron Mountain, when the patrons most
interested do not want the teacher and re-
fuse to send their children Why do you
keep this school open with one pupil,
hired for the occasion) when you threat
ened to close No ~ if it did not repre-
sent on attendance Of more than one pu-
pill? Mr.. Dagidson's denial contains the
innocent statement that district No. 2 Is
not fifty nor seventy five miles diaRonally
across in any direction. What does this
mean? Did he not stop to consider that
a man who attends the school meetings is
reasonably expected 10 return home. un
less there Is foul play?
Again, l did not see that the article,
"A School Grumble, affords Mr.. David
son an opportunity to openly attack a man
employed on the TY rauch. The attack
in question says: He brought a wagon
and took two days so he could bring his
gall with him" Hero the director unin-
tentionally gives the people a true idea of
the distance travelled and the time en-
ployed to go from the suburbs of this
district. That TY man had about forty
miles to travel each way-nearly eighty
miles for a five months term.
As TO the matter OF the Horse Greek
delegation controlling elections illegally
and lawfully il must remain to be seen
what that means; the gentleman does not
deny the charges made, but says they
may well feel proud Of such power, but
We are not sure that they can feel
proud" of the use they make of it.
In regard to having teachers" and
Opening schools MIR. Davidson seems
to have been given absolute control in his
part Of the district. as applications in
these matters are respectfully referred to
hun.
Is there a law in district No. . saying
hat schools with one pupil only shall be
clpsedP If there is such a law you violate
it in keeping one school open: if not, then
you assume the power of so doing. In
either instance are you acting legally and
lawfully
As far as an individual case is con
cerned my school averages three pupils at
least, so your statement of only one pupil
in attendance does not apply.
The importing of children to obtain
schools at one's own house was praoticed
upon the lat meeting rs a burlesque?'
Was it?' Then we are sure you are prac-
ticlnR that "b~urlesgue" in one instance.
You say, Mr.. Davidson. in your OK
tended communication TO THE LEADER,
that a special meeting can be called if nee
essary, and vet you personally denied the
possibility of such a course a short time
ago.
Further, it was held on your part, as TO
employing teachers, that you believed in
giving everybody a show, and you
thought some teachers were having too
long a term. No comment need be
made on these ideas. they surely carry all
necessary commentator within them
selves.
1t is not an object on my part to crit
else that Upon which no criticism Is due.
but simply tt meet some of your asser-
tons which may be deemed characteristic
Very respectfully, II. S. PARKER.