Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-07-03
The situation and Its Logic.

The situation and Its Logic.
With regard to the above it will be seen
that. as between the Herald and the school
committee. the question is one of recol-
lection as to exactly what took place at am
interview held in the Herald office in Nav
last between DR. IIoton and Mr.. Stoddard
and certain members Of the Hcrald'S stan.
The only point at issue is as to whether
these two members OF the committee made
an unqualified promise not to reveal the
name OF the author of the Herald article
''Slashcd the Masters Hat" or whether
they simply promised not to use this infor-
nation for the harm or punishment Of any
teacher.
The public are 50 familiar with TIL,
whole matter that it is not necessary to 20
into any detailed history for its full under
standing. Immediately after the publca-
ton of the original Herald article. the
Bratteboro school committee very properly
began to use every legitimate means to
discover the author of the cruel libel on
Mr. Bingham's memory, and what appear
ed to be a malicious attack upon the Brat
tleboro High school In course of few
days after the appearance Of the article,
DIR. Holton. for the school committee. and
school alumni, called at the Herald office.
but after an extended interview with Mr.
Kempton, obtained no definite or positive
information. The matter was not allowed
TO drop. however and after gathering all
other facts possible, on the 22nd of MAY
last DIR. HoltOn and Mr.. Stoddarl made a
visit to Boston and called at the Herald
office. accompanied by Col. Albert Clarke.
a man of well-known prominence in Yer
mont journalism, and now the secretary of
the Home Market club, who kindly con-
scented to introduce them to Mr.. Holmes.
the managing editor of the Herald. At
this interview with Mr.. Holmes and Mr.
kempton. as We understand. the whole sit
uation, as it affects the Brattleboro schools
and the Bratteboro public, was carefully
discussed. Ii was shown to the editors of
the Herald that, as the case then stood.
several High school teachers were under
suspicion. that the committee were entirely
uncertain how 10 act, and that they were
in danger of doing grave injustice to one
or more teachers unless certain necessary
information was furnished them. The rea-
sonabeness of this view was conceded by
Mr.. Holmes, and the name of Miss Nam
ming was finally divulgcd as the innocent
and unintentional author of the informa-
1t is the recollection and understanding OF
DR.. Holton and Mr. Stoddard. as it appears
from their statement, that they were only
under obligation not to use the information
thus given them to the prejudice Of Miss
Manning or any other teacher.
Whatever was the exact agreement As
understood by the Herald editors, does not
seem to be now an essential point in t he
case in view of the fact that, entirely indie
pendent of Miss Manning. and after posi-
tive refusal on her part to give the name
OF her correspondent, they ascertained the
name of the gentleman in Boston to whom
her letters We're written and who commun-
icated the nature of their contents to the
assistant editor of the Herald with the idea
ON his part that some public benefit would
be gained by an exposure of the alleged
school situation in Brattleboro thus re-
vealed.
Since his name became known to them
the school board have had two or more in
tervlews with this Boston gentleman, whom
they md TO be man of honor and high
standing, and who regrets exceedingly that
he allowed himself to be the means of
raising this needless connection and bring
ing Miss Manning into it, He was willing
TO assume the whole responsibility himself.
keeping Miss Manning's name from the
public had this been possible. But since
the committees statement was printed last
week this gentleman has expressed, i'm let
tiers written to them, his cordial approval
of their course, and his belief that under
all the circumstances the best course has
been taken for Miss Manning and for all
others interested
There is one point further than this to
be noted, and it is an important one not to
be overlooked. If the Brattlehoro school
committee Were to have information as to
the source of the original Herald article
and to ever let ii be known to any person
that they had received such information
and were acting upon it, they must in
eVltably divulge the name of the person
concerned. In other words they must
either tell the whole or nothing No other
course was possible. This is the logic of
the whole situation. Public sentiment
never would have rested quietly while it
was known that this information was
possessed by the school committee, who
are simply the servants of the public. The
interest of every Brattleboro resident in
the base attack on a dead mans memory,
and III the incidental attack on the High
school, which was thus involved. was too
vital and intimate to allow the situation to
be other than this.
The Boston gentleman in question talked
with the committee of the case, and of Miss
Mannings connection with it, without any
reserve, and the information thus obtained
from him the committee were certainly at
liberty to use. While the schools were in
session they maintained absolute silence,
but when school was done and the wears
work was over, and the engagement of all
the teachers had ended, unless renewed, it
was the prerogatiye as well as the duty of
the committee to act in their best judg-
ment, according to all the information pos
sessed by them. This much, as it seems
to us, is due to be said for the committee.
The real mistake made by Miss Man
ning as is now entirely evident, was in not
at once frankly revealing herself to the
committee as the unintentional source of
the Herald article.
Mr.. McLachlin denies absolutely having
furnished any of the information on which
linn - l.tt.