The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-05
SCHOOL ELEcrION.

SCHOOL ELECTION. 81
The intense interest, verging at times.
on absolute enthusiasm which yester-
day characterized the voting for tive
members of the board OF school trus-
tees, is a most cheerful omen for the
prosperous future OF u public schools.
1t is of comparatively slight Importance
to what special features in the contest,
it any, the increased interest vas due.
1t is sufficient that the voters OF Helena,
both male and female, have at last risen
to Il conception of their duty towards
one of our most important public instl-
buttons. All afternoon the voting place
was literally besieged, and We have moth
ing but congratulations for the earnest
manner in which the ladies have at last
taken hold of a duty which should be
also a pleasure. The matter is n that
should be of special interest to them.
The rising generation must of necessity
owe much to their mothers and their
sisters from the intimate and close as
ISOLATION which always exists between
them. And it is for these mothers and
sisters to see that the power behind the
teachers and the schools is of an earnest,
straightforward, upright character. We
cannot in honesty say that hitherto that
result has been achieved. A board OF
school trustees should be, like Caesars
wife, above suspicion, and, while at the
time of this writing we are not pos
sessed of the details of the result OF
yesterdays contest, we have sufficient
confidence in the good sense of the
constituency to express the belief tina
the days of crookedness and nepotism
are past. At least, we shall have had
an expression of the will of the people,
and it is that will that ought to guide
the destinies of the public schools and
place in office the men who are entrusted
with this onerous duty. 1t can no longer
be urged against Helena that the moth
ers of the city are less interested in
what most nearly concerns their child
rem than in the choice of a new ribbon
or a hired girl.
There are, it seems to us, II or two
palpable lessons to be gathered from the
contest. The continuous crowd of yes
terday proved conclusively that the
hours Of voting must be considerably
heightened, or the number of polling
places increased. The arrangements
we're of the crudest kind. We know
that many busy men, when they saw the
polls besieged, returned to their press
ing business and gave up the hope of
casting a vote. That is not as it should
be; every man and every uni in the
city, who is entitled to a ballot, should
be enabled to exercise their right with
as little inconvenience as possible.
Further, in view of the confusion that
existed yesterday as to the terms for
which the candidates might, could,
would or should hold office, it would
seem highly desirable in future contests
Of he kind that nominations should be
accompanied by any conditions of
this kind. The man who is fit to per-
form the duties of a school trustee for
n year is fit to do SO for three years.
A simple nomination should hereafter
be sufficient, and it should rest with the
public vote to decide the term of office.
The nan or at the head of
the poll has received the endorsement
of the majority of the voters, and their
confidence should entitle him or her to
the longest term available. The rest
might follow in the order of their vote.
These and other possible improvements
may, however, be safely lett in the hands
of the electors, for we feel no doubt that
the interest which has been manifested
will tend to work in the interests of
simplicity and the effective, economic
and honest management Of the public
schools.