The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-07
The "Newsv and It's discarded Idol.


The "News' and It's Discarded Idol.
While old, to say nothing of late, files of
the Evening News are ordinarily very duh
reading, it occasionally happens that ref
erence to its ready opinions affords enter
tainment for idle hour. It's views on
School Board matters offer an opportunity
of this sort. Last June, when Mr.. John p.
Frenzel was candidate for reelection to
the board he found in the News a most
ardent supporter. 1t grew eloquent in his
behalf; it almost tearfully besought his
district to stand by him and informed the
voters that by doing so they would save
the schools from ruin or something near it.
On June l it said:
If we We're asked to- pick out the two
most useful members of the board we think
out disparagement of certain others.
lect these two men (Mr. F'renzel and Mr..
Of Judgment at times, but they have shown
that they have the best interests OF the
School Board at heart: II men
served the city school commissioners so
well and faithfully. for these many years
voters of these districts owe it TO them
selves and to the city to re-elect them.
- We are perfectly we'll aware that
unpopular with many people. Ills strenu-
Gus opposition to the proposed revival of
school fund has been much and justly
criticised. His manner off conducting the
considerate of others feelings. He ' is i'm
patient of criticism or suggestion when he
has n, once once decided decide on course of action
devotion to the best interests of the
schools, nor affect in the least his great
fairs on business principles. In
view of both the general and particular
We are strongly Convinced that Mr.. 1 Fren-
Eel should be continued on the board.
On June it held to the same opinion and
said:
No ADLER man than Mr.. Frenzel has ever
that ability to deal with large public ques-
tons, SO essential to. the members of the
ton, the valuable experience acquired dur
ing twelve years of incumbency. During
these years Mr.. Frenzel has increasingly
demonstrated his fitness for the position.
He has always had the best interest of the
schools at heart. We believe that
good citizens owe it to the community to
return Mr.. Frenzel.
On June it still seemed to the News
that lit would be a mistake to retire Mr..
Frenze1- It would be harm done to the
school system at this particular time when
the manual training school, with which Mr.
Frenzel has had more to do than any one
else, is under way Mr.. Frenzel cannot be
spared. He ought to be reelected"
voters of the First school district turned
Mr.. Frenzel down with much emphasis.
The News refused to be comforted and
on the day following expressed the opinion
that in the defeat of Mr.. Frenzel the re-
suit of Saturday was also calamitous in
that the standard of the School Board takes
slide downward
After that time comparatively little was
said about the board for some months
other public matters being prominent. The
recent legislative investigation of its pro-
ceedings has brought IL to the front again,
however. and started the News to talking
The investigation has disclosed little if any
thing that was unknown to the public con-
corning the malign influence exercised by
Mr.. Frenzel over the board. The Journal
pointed out his selfish characteristics and
his objectionable methods of manipulating
public affairs in his OWE interests before the
election, and the voters acted upon their
knowledge. He is exactly the same ma.l
with the same ends and aims that he had
then, and the News cannot have seen him
in "a light Nevertheless, it sings a
new song, and not one of praise of its
former idol. Whether this change of tune
grows out of its custom of always holding
up citizens for personal assault, and Fren-
eel is now reached in alphabetical order, or
habits of proving independence by being ON
beth sides of the same issue. whatever its
motive, the fact remains that il has
Topped and is now "agn a man whose
defeat was considered fatal 10 tue schools
only last June.
On March 1 it made the following re-
marks with the air of telling something
/, the people of Indianapolis did not know
| Air. John P. Frenzel has had compete
| He is no longer a member. but the evidence
| Of members and of ...fnself before he In
! is not in the least relaxed. And then Ar
Frenzel sereney assures the cousmittee
| that he does not know what ''cinch'' Isl
For the informal ton OF ignorant Mr.
| Frenzel: The latest dictionaries define a
| ..cinch' as "a tight grip. a SIRE thing:''
| and a snap as "a position, piece of work.
etc, tnat is pleasant. easy and remuneg-
ative' We guess he knows in each ease
| the ding and SIGH even il he Is 50 strangely
| and unaccountaby unfamiliar with the
| picturesque and itminative name.
| And this:
The true inwardness OF the Ricketts, lard
| Eel advised 1t!
The whereabouts OF the Iron Hall funds
was known to all indianapolis before last
| June. but it was apparently only discov-
| cred by the News last week, II these para
| graphs may be considered an indication:
/ Receiver Faiiey is a director Of the Mer-
/ chants Bank, He has deposited the bulk of
| the Iron Hall plumber in that bank and
! the bank pays no interest. And Mr.. Fren-
! eel serenely assures the investigating COM
| mittee that he does not know what d
.scinch or a snap is.
| The cinch par excellence is a ...ead-pipe
/ cinch:'' But an Iron Hall cinch is about a.
/ good-about good.
With. the School Board 'cineh' and the
/ Iron Hall "snap"we should think a man
could stand pat
/ On Saturday ii remarked:
+ In view of the testimony before the
Moore committee. proving that the majority
OF the school Boards have plaes.caiiy no