Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-05-21
ISSUE Is INSISTED.
School Situation is Not Changed
in the Least.
VAIN ATTEMPT TO M1scoHsrRuE,

IL Ii the Superintendent Not Against Two,
| Hut the Entire School systsm-re.cher,
Have Not Been Treated Fairly By Sing
ling Out Two of Their Members.
"The School Issue: Choose We
Between the Superintendent and Two
Principals: So Says the Board to the
Voters by Its Action: A Slightly
Changed Situation"
Under this scare heading the Union
pu blishes this morning an article
relative to the school situation which
has very distinct ear-marks, aud
the purport of the contribution bears
| out the suggestion contained in the
headlines. Andtt is held that the
board is RELOCATING to the people the
controversy in refusing to accept the
resignation of Supt. Ament and fail
ing to reappoint Principals Halsey
and kirkpatrick. and appointing all
the other teachers practically leaves
them out OF the issue at the polls,
except so far as their personal feel
ing may lead them to activity. Fur
Their in the same connection it is
contehded by the Union that "the
teachers ought really to have no
further fault to find with the con-
trolling majority of the board of ed
ucation. They have received their
| anti-Ament resolutions courteously."
Then as to Mr.. AmeAt, the Union
says the board virtual y holds that
it has refused his resignation be-
cause 1t believes in him, aud "has no
idea what answer he will m axe, that
''his resignation was rendered in good
faith. not because he did not wish to
remain and allow his work another
year to speak decisively for him,
but because he did not think that
the merits OF the contention could
be impartially weighed and settled
at the polls with the teachers ba.ded
against him, with all their affilia-
tions of families aud friends" Then
it is said that Mr.. Ament may not
think the situation is materially
changed in this respect, but in con-
clusion. however. the path is gently
paved for the presentation of candi-
dates before the people in support of
the Ament idea. and which candi-
dates we may expect to come for
ward in due time. all in conformity
with the cut-and-dried plan SO clev-
erly conceived.
Too Patent to Require Extensive Comment
The course suggested by the article
in the Union is too patent to require
extensive comment. The idea is to
beguile both the public and the
teachers in the same breath, and to
divert as far as possible from the
main issue. which is-Ament not
against two principals. but Ament
against 81 teachers and the entire
school system. 1t is. indeed, sur
prising that the Ament constituency
should SO quickly and so distinctly
lay bare itSplot Does the ruling
element of the board of education
estimate that the sense of honor on
the part of the teachers can be so
dwarfed by the act OF Tuesday night
that the resentment they have voiced
above their signatures will be SUBJ
dued By saving them and picking
out two Of their number to stand
alone the persecution of the board.
The teachers OF the Rock ISL
and schools are not made of that sort
of material. They are loyal, true
hearted and reliant. Is there any
one preposterous enough to think
that they will any of them he misled
by such twaidle as this p The tea CHI
ers ought really to have no further
fault to find with the controlling ma
lority of the board of education.
rhey have received their anti-Ament
resolutions courteously
The very suggestion is an insult
to the teacterS. Their anti-Ament
resolutions were received courteous
ly by not receiving even the formal
ity Of a parliamentary reception.
Nothing whatever was done with
them. They were presented, but
that was the end of them. There is
no record of the board to show that
anything further was done with
them. Aud yet they were received
coucteously."
Subterfuge.
No stronger proof of the farce of
Supt. Ament's resignation could be
desired'than the article in this morn