The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-06-04
SUSPEND JUDGMENT.

The deserving Republican members of the
School Board, by their course at the re-or-
ganizaton Of that body, appear to be the
entering wedge of Il bitter factional fight. |
How long it will continue is matter Of con-
lecture, but all friends of the public schools
hope that the Directors will not allow their
personal preiudices to further get the better
Of their good Judgment. The parents and
scholars have rights that must be respected.
Superintendent Whitaker's term expired
on Monday and the schools are without an
official head. Why? Because four of the
DemOeratic Directors, without the knowl-
edge Of their colleagues or the public, saw
fit to file remonstrances against the issuing
Of commission by the state authorities to
the newly-elected superintendent, Prof. G.
d. Bogart, In the judgment Of all fair
minded people of both sides to the con
troyersy, it would, to say the least have
looked better on their part had they made
the grounds of their protest known to the
School Board, instead Of adopting the course
they dids
We do not wish to shield Prof. Bogart If
he is incompetent as an instructor or as a
man, the fact cannot be made known too
soon in the interests of the schools, But it
only fair to say that the public should with
hold judgment on the charges prelerre
against Prof BOgart. This is an act of
justice and courtesy which he has a right to
expect from the people of Shenandoah. 1t
must be remembered that his election to
succeed Mr.. Whitaker as superintendent of
the schools Of this town has aroused sense
, of resentment on the part Of the Democratic
members, and there are grounds for believing
that in their eagerness to thwart the will of
the majority of the Board they may have
beenstempted to assai Mr.. Bogart with much
more force than the circumstances warrant.
To say the least, those responsible for the
filing Of the protest are guilty Of duplicity.
They knew very well that Prof. Bogart
could not get his commission until the pro,
test was quashed, yet they were at the same
time making inquiries as to why the new
superintendent did not put in an appearance,
On the other hand, Prof, Bogart has dis
played good judgment and the proper
courtesy to his predecessor by remaining
away until his commission is issued.
So far as we can learn the charges are based
on newspaper clippings and idle gossip, in
which it is alleged that the Knoxville School
Board requested Prof. Bogarts resignation.
Notwithstanding this a member Of the School
Board here holds a high recommendation of
iProf Bogart from the officers Of the Knox
willie Board, dated subsequent to the time the
oiiense is alleged to have been committed and
the resignation is alleged to have been de-
manded, Thus we say, the public should
withhold judgment until the state authorities
have passed upon the question.
1t is not our intention to whitewash Prof
Bogart We simply advocate fair play, an,
for the sake Of free and healthy education vs.
hope that our plea will be yindicated by tn
gentleman proving his innocence, Whethe
or not such will be the result, the fact re
mains that the Democrats have waged one O
the most extraordinary campaigns to retail
an official in office ever witnessed in tn
state, and we know Of none in which judl
ment has been declared with such swiftnes'
or rather recklessness than in Prof Bogart'
case. There is always two sides to aquestior
and until the other is heard criticism shoul
be withheld.