Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-02-13

| gave just cause 1Or complaint, IN tne
management of the schools and the
finances, ,.or the appointment OF teachers.
Both men happen to be of the same
religious faith as the majority Of the
present board, but their past actions as
directors show that such matters are
not allowed to influence them in making
selections for teachers, nor would they
use the office to further any ambition
they may have to lead in societies or
orders The children OF the township
would be under safe guides with Messrs.
Snyder and Hough on the board, and
every class could look with confidence
to them as men who believe in "equal
rights for all, special privileges for none. >
These candidates have accepted the
issue which the controlling element OF
the Republican party in Foster precip-
itated and insists upon, and the choice
on the part of the voters should not be
hard to make. The board, through the
election of the Republican candidates
ask an Endorsement of their religious
discrimination in selecting teachers, OF
the appointment of superintendent
with salary of 81 900, of a unnecessary
expense of over 81 500 in changing text
books, of the uncalled-for expenditure
of 81 200 or more for so-called repair
work, and to give them permission and
authority to continue their eXtravagant
and sectarian policy. Messrs. Snyder
and Hough promise to Danish religion
from the business of the board, so far as
they are able, to conduct tho schools
upon the highest possible plane consist
ent with judicious economy, to abolish
all sinecures for which no adequate
returns are apparent for the money
spent, and to appoint teachers solely
upon their merits, giving the residents
of the township precedence when theii
ability is equal.
Here, in short, are the two platforms.
and which shall be adopted is question
for the independent Republicans, who
hold the balance of power, to decide.
The Importance of deciding this election
right should not be overlooked by any
real friend Of the pupils or by the tax
payers. If the Endorsement asked by thu
board is refused the old system will bo
returned to, and the past year will be
the only blot upon the townships fail
name; If it is given by the Republicans
of Foster next week it will be accepted
as authority to continue on the present
lines, bigotry on both sides will be
famed into blaze which no man can
stay, and in few short years, when in
the natural order of events the tables
will turn, this rule will react with crush
ing effect, perhaps not upon those now
in power, for their popularity will soon
wane and they will pass out of public
life when they and their friends have
"milked" the treasury, but upon many
innocent and helpless teachers and
others, Just as the rule works it's hard
ships today upon the deposed young men
and women.
If iliberalism is indorsed this year il
will undoubtedly be indorsed in the
years to come, and the men who vote for
it on Tuesday may be surprised to find
how quickly the effect Of their ballots
will return like boomerang. The
Democrats this year are in the minority,
but they have ticket and platform
which any man will honor himself by
supporting, and it rests with the in
dependent Republicans to say which
shall win. That the township shall be
spared from the blight of sectarian
struggle should be the earnest desire of
all its good citizens, and it remains for
them to decide next Tuesday what the
future policy shall be in relation to this
matter. Let every voter weigh well
the responsibility OF the marks he in
tends to place on his ballot, so that the
result of this test election can be point
ed out in future years as the honest eX-
preston of the present majority of the
citizens, and the people will then know,
once and for all, whether the Republi-
can party is nothing more than mask
behind which intolerant bigots can take
refuge in safety or whether it is com
posed of manly men who have the cour-
age to repudate and cast out the gang
which now has the party by the throat
and demands that their disgraceful ac-
tions be indorsed.
Deafness Cannot be Cured