The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-01

SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION.

THE election Of three members of the
school board will be held on Saturday.
Nr. ]. II. MacDougan and Mr.. W. J. Col
kett retire after long service. during
which they have experienced a full share
Of the viessltudes OF public office During
their term the school system OF Seattle
has been greatly improved, and is spoken
OF with pride abroad, but ON the retirement
OF the present members the public is much
more likely 10 remember the occasional
errors OF judgment than the very great
good accomplished during their term.
Tie ideal public Official apparently ex-
ISIS only In after dinner speeches; Ia
sometimes makes his appearance during
a campaign. but even his most enthusiast
tic friends wouldn't recognize him three
months sitter he gets into Office. During
most elections he Is annIhllated by his POI
iltIoal adversary. but in a school election
there ~ less OF personal dissection, and
this year Is no exception.
Thsre are three tickets In The field. but
there seems to be only one platform. That
is enough. however. IL Is SO easy TO make
up school election platform. We know Il
by heart: We are in favor OF the highest
possible standard Of education commen-
sarate with a due regard TO tho interests
OF the taxpayers. We are opposed to in-
curing Indebtedness, and at. The same
time feel that It IL good palicy sometimes
TO SO into debt. We are Ia favor OF the
strictes, economy. bat are opposed to cut
ting down salaries or doing away with
branches OF instruction which the poor
cannot get elsewhere. We aenounce ev-
erythlng that has been done Ia the past
and make The vaggcst and most glowing
promises for tho future. We are willing
20 condemn everything and promise every
thing which viii caiole Votes Tor us.
TIE r0pGust platform secs even further
than most documents % ne kind, Il de-
elares IN enc plank shat all schools ''msia-
tanned by public Funds shah De free from
sectartan control or influence" bat in an
ether denoences as "un-Amer.can" all a.
tenpts OF arg other organic ton So en-
force thAt doctrine. i Gonouuees AS "ua-
American" any attempt TO deprive any
American ciszen OF any r.ght. either evil
or religious" ana IN another plluk pro-
tesis against school teachers .I&lng any
part IN school elections 1, H. by lc'cr-
snce. ''tae exercise 5Y Tao teacher sol
constitutional yssAt' 10 work for Tora-
list candidate. Ant "perncioas political
activity" 70 work for any other eau1ila-e-
Excep, fer these iltue partisan eecea-
t,iolties ana "glttoring Rsuertr.es.'
sAshod in the eyes ~ tao people in order
to attract the.f votes. there is vecy u,te
10 crlticlse 50 tGe declarations @: any os
the eaudiaalcs Trey are al fan 81 prom
ise of keeping up the American i3ee. ana
even the candidates on the A. T \. Ucket.
every ore ~ whom SO saretkn-horn. vie
Win each o;acr 70 tse fersor alta which
shey denounce anything taat IS 'en-
American"
Il would seem. therefore. as s. ;he peo-
rle need only concern themselves VITA
the character - gho candidates. That i
abe safest test. TIE office g ore calling
Tor good Judgment, not fsmNoyant tax
An eptgramuaslc speech Is not the ssre~.
Indication of capacity for dealing Wa
she msnaremeut o. tae public Schools -
evcry voter shah csst his ballot for ;he
man whose ira lainS. sxpcr,snce ans char
acter vii. " the Judgment - she vote-.
81 aan best far fae position we wg} have
an election oase4 apoD the ~ -4ei-s ~
shls government. The majority rules. an4
as by lis good Judgment we shall hepe-
1T. so ~ its srfor ~ Judgment saaH Ne
suffer