The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-21
SCHOOL BOARD PARTIsANIsM.
1t Has Controlled All Appointments
for the Past Two Years.


To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
An editorial in the Evening News. 1.-The
School Board and Party Politics." con-
tains some assertions that need correction.
1t takes Mr.. Martindale's remarks at a
meeting of the alumni of the High School
as a basis: 1--WE can help to make a public
sentiment strong enough to overcome the
attempts to make of the School Board a
partisan machine, and it is our duty to
do So"
The sentiment is good enough and is all
right, but Mr.. Martindale's votes and infiu-
ence since he became a member of the
School Board do not warrant the show of
virtue he is now making. Politics never
cut any figure in the School Board until
two years ago, when the Democrats got a
majority. For the tr~uthfulnesst Of this as
sertion reference is made to DR.. H. G..
Carey and Austin H. Brown, one a Repub-
lican ard one a Democrat. both ex-school
commissioners Two years ago, the Demo-
Gratis. by the hard work and good money
furnished by some one. got a majority On
the board. In the organization of the board
Mr.. Frenzel was elected president. He was
reelected again last year. Every thing he
has lone since he has been president of
the DOdIu, mas DcSn QOnc Will Ill eye SlnSic
to the advancement Of the interests of the
Democratic party. In making up the COM
mittees a majority in each instance was
from the Democratic side. without any re-
gard for qualifications or fitness. For two
years past not a single employee has been
given a place in any OF the school build
ings or library unless he could show a
good record as a Democratic ward heller.
Last year Mr.. Frenzel could only secure
his election by promising a commissioner a
certain position on one OF the important
was a party to this compact, and yet ne
has the gall to stand up before the alumni
OF the High school, as a member of the
board that has the management of all the
schools, and talk TO them about "overcom-
ing the attempt TO make the School Board
a partisan machine" Mr.. Martindale's idea
Of not making the board a partisan ma
chine has been to vote on all occasions,
even to the appointment Of a janitor, with
the Democrats. The first act of this nom
partisan party was to elect to the impor-
tant post of superintendent of buildings and
grounds, a boilermaker, a good ward-work-
er, and, OF course, a nonpartisan Demo-
Of this man is his constitutional capacity
for rest. When teachers send for supplies
they may get them in a day or two, or
they may not; usually, they have to send
two or three times for the same thing. II
repairs are needed to any of the buildings,
he Is the last man to discover it, and after
tic 0ASOONCIy 10 ltQ Hc waits uUII some
good Democrat can be found to do the
work at the highest price.
A good many thousands of dollars were
spent in extras" on the new library build
ing by the on buildings and
grounds. Mr.. Scott made an effort to get
from that committee a showing for their
authority for these expenditures, and the
amount so expended. This matter was
called up meeting after meeting without
bringing any report, and finally he, like
Mr.. Vonnegut in his fight for interest on
the funds. gave 1t up in disgust.
An idea OF the extent to which these
nonpartisan Democrats have carried politics
in the schools may be seen in this: The
chairman of the on teachers and
salaries said to another commissioner that
he found too many of the same family in
the teachers list. He referred to one
name, saying there were three of them.
and every - one a Republican, The
trio were sisters, and have served long and
are considered amongst the most efficient
teachers of the corps.
The and Democrat are great
nonpartisans, however, so long as they are
in the minority. but they invariably ex-
perience a change Of heart as soon as thew
get In the majority, and rapidly develop
into partisans of the meanest and worst
type. JOHN SMITH
Indianapolis, June 10.