Rock Island Argus., 1896-04-17
AS REGARDS AMENT|
Morning Paper Admits Injustice
to the Argus.
MEDICATION OF MOTIVE ACCEPTED.

tIemsniy Uttefances Before His Teach
ers, and His Right to Demand an Inves-
tigation.
The Union of this morning accepts
with as good grace as could be ex-
pected The ARGUS vindication of its
own course as regards Superintend-
ent of Schools j. Z. Ament, in view
Of the allegation made yesterday
that such position was attributable
to personal motives and chagrin over
disappointment in the appointment
of teacher or principal. And the Un-
ion after referring to the proof pre-
sented yesterday by THE Argus in its
own defense remarks: at may there
fore be assumed that its systematic
ill-treatment was not due to chagrin
over this particular matter, though
We had the best possible reason for
believing in its truth when written.
The Union did not know the state
ment to be an unremitting, IN
biased falsehood' or even o REMIT.
ing, biased falsehood, or it assuredly
would not have appeared. The Union
does not know it now, except on the
strength Of very Incorporate de-
nial. coupled with an assertion as to
the Unions veracity and honesty of
purpose that is unqualifiedly false"
Tho Discussion OF Ament.
Then the morning paper enters in
to discussion Of The ARGUS charges
made from time to time against Mr..
Ament. The Union saws lit does
not believe that q series of savage
attacks on the character and meth
DDS Of the perintendent Of our city
schools has beneficial effect upon
the schools themselves; on the con-
irary i; regard. them as subversive Of
proper discipline and respect and gen.
orally demoralizing. Neither does
it consider that it is the business Of a
self-respecting newspaper 10 peddle
spiteful gossip. such As the story Of
running up a gas bill on the theory
that It had to be paid by the land
lorc." AS to the latter grave charge
The ARGUS used the illustration
merely to contrast the real acts Of
the man with the boas, he had made
that Rock Island was not big enough
for him, u right that any
seli-respecting newspaper has, if that
sell. esrect is sustained by a resent
ment Of a slur upon the city to
which it is attached and should be
devoted. Nor is it an evidence Of
peddling spiteful gossip. THE ARGUS
contends. to show by such practical
demonstrations that the man who
imagines himself bigger than the
town which supports him-be he
superintendent of schools or any
other officer of high rank in the COM
munity-is not yet so big but what
he can Learn few of the customs OF
8 cosmopolitan community.
Now on the point Of the effect Of
an attack on the character and meth q.
DDS Of the superintendent. None
can reasonably gainsay the fact that
severe criticism of the superintcn-
dent is demoralizing to the school
system. THE ARGUS has taken that
into full consideration, and none
deprecate more than this paper that
such an attitude is necessary. But
with the conviction that a remedy
can be had for the abuse of teachers
only by such line OF action, a con-
viction that has been strengthened
by the blind action Of three school
directors this week, then the duty of
self-respecting newspaper is to
| continue its defense Of the teachers,
even though the heavens fall. and
this The ARGUS has pledged itself
to do while present conditions
exist. There is to be no backward
step as far IA it is concerned. Ii
knows the ground whereon it stands.
and is ready for the consequences be
they what they may.
Let the Investigation be Made.
The Union in its headlines says:
"Supt. AHept has right TO demand
an investigation OF Argos charges. "
and then it declares that it has re-
liei entirely on the statement Of
Mrs. Hamilton. made in the board OF
education meeting Tuesday night;
that Mrs. Hamilton had been i'm
pressed by these stories to the ex-
tent OF saving that she should not
vote for Mr.. Ament's reelection: she
changed her mind, because, as she
said to the board, she had of late
made searching investigation Of
stories rejecting on Mr.. Ament's
management Of the schools or attrib-
uting to him lack of consideration in
the treatment Of teachers and pupils,
and found them to be the result
either OF misapprehension of
facts or deliberate falsehoods.' :"
All of which together with the state
ment made by Mrs. Hamilton that
many of the teachers had told that
they believed they had never done
better work than during the last
year. the Union accepted as "a COM
prehensive aud conclusive answer"
In conclusion the Union in follow
ing out its position that Supt. Ament
has right to demand an investiga-
tion, holds that il the statement by
Mrs. Hamilton is not regarded by
the public a. covering the entire
ground, or il TaE ARGUS can prove