Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-10
The Thirteenth Ward Will Have No
Representation on the Central
Board of Education,
BECAUSEOF THE DoGGED DEADLOCK
The Members of the District Board Unable
to Agree Upon Member, After
Numerous Ballots.
LAST NIGHTS MEETING A LIVELY ONE.
Parliamentary Tactics Prevent the Presiding Cheers
Reversal.

The special meeting of the School Direc-
tors of the Minersville district, held last
evening in the Webster street schoolhouse,
was lively one and quite lingual war
was INDUCED in.
It was the last opportunity of breaking
the deadlock existing between james Nc
Millen and Robert Chalmers for representa-
tive of the Thirteenth ward in the Central
Board of Education, WHICH reorganized this
evening. and naturally the supporters of the
two candidates were considerably excited
over the affair. Colonel Sam Buchanan
was the first of the sextette to reach the hall.
To THE DISPATCH representative be said:
Outside of these blamed little petty things
I'll bet there isn't nicer board in town,
but don't think we'll have representative
in the Central Board this year.
Shortly. S. B. Waughter, the President.
came in, and Immediately afterward Robert
Chalmers, these three representing the
Chalmers constituency. Some time elapsed
before any of the opposing party entered,
but expressions Of back-down were hushed
by the simultaneous appearance of Messrs.
Alfred Lawton, Secretary james McMillen,
and C. Geisler, who constituted the McMillen
party.
One of the Members Caught Mapping.
The meeting was at once called to order,
and the oral balloting commenced. Several
ballots were taken, always resulting in
tie vote, when Mr.. Chalmers, in pre-
occupied manner, upon the call of his name
x,otad ,M;l1anO
A look of astonishment crept over the
countenance of Mr.. McMillen. Mr.. Geisler's
black eyes snapped triumphantly, and the
secretary's pencil dropped from his fingers.
For few moments paralysis had posses
sion of the meeting. .Arousing from his
temporary preoccupation, Mr.. Chalmers
suddenly CALCULATED: chalmers, mean
Chalmers" With that the secretary re-
sumed his pencil, and the balloting went on
merrily enough, until Colonel Buchanan ex-
ecuted flank movement on the opposing
forces by announcing "Waughter." The
score then stood: McMillen, 8; Chalmers, 2,
and Waughter, 1.
WELL said Mr.. Geisler, 'that elects
McMillen. He has the most votes. !"
"How is that?" asked Mr.. Lawton.
"That goes" Then, turning to the Chair,
Chow do you decide that?"
81 decide that he's not elected" answered
the President
"Then." said Mr.. Lawton, 81 appeal from
therdecision of the Chair"
The question as to whether the Chair
should be sustained or not was then put,
Mr.. McMilIen's three voting against the de-
cision, and Messrs. Buchanan and Chalmers
voting to sustain the Chair They were
Joined by the President himself
Sustained by Voting for Himself.
"You can't vote to sustain YOURSELF"
spoke up Mr.. Geisler.
How do you decide that ?" asked Mr.. Law
ton. sal castlcally.
II decide that can." emphatically replied
the President.
Mr.. McMillen then sprang to his feet and
said: '1n my judgment Pm elected, I" supple
menting the remark by few observations one
of which was: 1--we been member of this
the Central Board for II suppose this will
go before the people of this ward. am in this
fight to stay, and think I'll win. All ask Is
that my record be examined into fairly"
Then followed a few cros>fire remarks, in
which Mr.. Geisler said that the only objection
against Mr.. McMillen was that he had been
there long enough"
Mr.. Chalmers remarked it was time for some
one else to have a chance.
MIR. Geisler reiterated his statement, and
looked at Mr.. Buchanan, who leaned carelessly
back in his chair and replied: well, that's
not my reason for voting as did"
Atthis juncture Mr. Chalmers suggested the
election OF an outside party. Mr.. Lawton
denounced the idea. and said, looking signi-
fcantly at the Chalmers party: ''If there isn't
brains enough in this Board to take a repre-
sentative from, we'd better all resign, but
Knox, in case of tie. Knox gave it away
himself on the street."
A AGeneral Denial of the Rumor.
'T haven't" retorted Mr.. Waughter.
Nor l." said Mr.. Chalmers.
"Pm not a candidate" said Colonel
Buchanan.
We'll" said Mr.. McMilen, "I have been In.
formed by the Superintendent of Public
Schools that Rev. MIR. Knox asked him if he
could fill the position in case of deadlock
here, and said that he had been waited upon
by couple of gentlemen regarding the mat
ter"
Spirited repartee followed the mention of the
1T length resumed, only to result in a de.
termined deadlock that precludes the posi-.
bilityN of the ward being represented in the
Central Board this year.
motion for adjournment was carried, and
with familiar slap the back, Mr.. Geisler
said to Mr.. McMillen: Never mind: we will
! take it before the people next Tuesday," re-
ferring to the election, at which Colonel
Buchanan is a candidate for reelection, land
we'll win yet"
STARVING FnR wEAITu