Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-05-05

him an increase of salary next wear:
1t is amazing that these people
should condemn me for what they dc
themselves.
In reference to the charge that
have carried communications di.
rected to the board and have not pre-.
sented them at the proper time,
deny the charge. 1t is not true. ]
know the petition to which they re-
fer, and for good reasons l did NOT
desire to give this petition publ
city. Ut was protest against the re
tention of Mr.. Ament) and showed
it to all the members of the board
individually. except DIR. Kinyon, who
was not present when the petition
was presented. 1t was ridicoled By
Mr.. Ament's supporters.
They accuse me of threatening the
members of the board in open ses-
sion that if they did not vote with
me in the matter of the superintend-
ency that l should see that members
we're elected in June who would vote
with me, etc.
This is willful perversion of what
I did say. Neither was it said at
an official meeting OF the board. We
met to talk over the matter in an in
formal way, and 1 took the position
that the present board could not
legally elect superintendent and
that if they persisted in retaining
Mr.. Ament that the people would
elect new members in June who
would refuse to retain him, that
the people who opposed Mr.. Ament
were already talking of candidates to
present for election on this issue.
believe that told the truth in the
matter. and if these people had had
any regard for the schools or the
people whom they represent they
would not have persisted in retain
ing the man. The responsibility for
the present condition Of our schools
is upon their heads.
The Teachers' Resolutions.
They say that l gave to the public
the resolutions adopted by the teach
ers before presenting them to the
board. did that, and l had q right
to do it. In referring these resolu-
tions to me the teachers intended,
and it was SO understood by all, that
should give them to the public
whenever l should deem it wise to
do so. A motion made at that meet
ing to refer the resolutions to the
board of education was withdrawn
after discussion of the same. / be-
lieve that the public has right to
know what is going on in reference
to the schools, and that l betray
no trust in giving it such infor-
nation. All through this contro-
versy these members of the board of
education have acted as if they were
superior to the public-superior to
the power which created and clothed
them with little brief authority.
They arraign me for refusing to
examine matter presented to me in
defense of the superintendent,
etc. Mr.. Ament asked me to read,
or if l cared to read, some personal
letters. declined to do SO. have
investigated this man until l am
nauseated.
L don't want any more. do not
confess 10 any prejudice against Mr..
Ament. but admit firm and abiding
that he is not a proper
person to be entrusted with the con-
troll and supervision of our schools,
and in this conviction l am in very
respectable company.
Tho Reference to Assault.
They arraign me for threatening
to strike a member of the board with
a chair; this is also true. was ex-
asperated beyond endurance, and for
a brief instant lost my self control.
However, l was not prevented by any
one. recovered my composure and
apologized at once. DR.. Kinyon
called me a liar. l cautioned him to
be careful, and when he repeated it
threatened to strike him. / was
sorry for it, Of course, but think
the common experience of all con-
firms the fact that there is a limit to
human endurance. We are all sorry
in our sober moments for our ou;-
bursts OF passion, and yet we are
powerless to prevent them at all
times. "Even Homer sometimes
nods," and even, even good DR.. Kin
yon has been known to lose his bal
ance. 1t is sad, and may possibly
be revelation to some OF his ardent
admirers, but true, true it is, that
once upon time at a meeting of the
board of education, l had to hold
the good doctor to prevent him from
striking with an uplifted chair
principal of our High school. And
yet this man is wholly unconscious
OF the beam in his own eye. In ref
erence to the charge that 1 have been
contentious. undignified. etc., 1
scorn to make reply-the public may
Judge between us.
The last whereas" l refer to the
public without comment. It posi-
ply would have been more dignified
for me to have remained silent under
the charges. inasmuch as they are
but the petulant ebullitions Of dis
appointed people. and yet 1 feel
some personal satisfaction in defend
Ing myself. believe that am right
in this matter, and SO believing ]
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