Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-06-25
ONE ISSUE ONLY.
The Present School Contro.
versy.

sSSSsse SssOSs ~OssSs
versy.
THE SINGLE POINT Is Oh AMENT.
WhIns From the Morning Paper Abest
Its Pet Side Attrastion-rhs Simple
Dssy 1t the Eieetiee, which Occurs
Next Tuesday.
The morning paper emits . whine
anent the prospect Of defeat of its
proposed surrender Of the special
charter under which the Rock Island
schools are operated. and it fails to
understand why the teachers who
have 50 much at heart in the election
next Tuesday should be generally
disposed to oppose any change in the
law at this time. The morning
paper further INDUCES in . disserta.
ton about its 2O-year career-a coin
cidence that it tallies exactly with
Rip Van Wrinkles record-and about
how it has always fought for the best
interests and highest good of all. This
10 nice bit OF philosophy coming
from q paper whose editor was about
last Tuesday seeking to induce can-
didates to take the field in oppose
ton TO those who are known to up.
hold the teachers cause, and which
move the Union explained yesterday
was in order to place the proposition
to change the school law properly
before the people. Yet in the face Of
these facts the morning paper fails
to comprehend why the teachers
should oppose any measure in con-
nection with the election which has
been identified with an effort hostile
to their cause. Aside from this the
attitude Of the Union in taking up
the fight of man with the charac.
teristics Of Ament against the teach
ers who have been here for years and
have become endeared to the people, is
wonderfully consistent with its boast
OF this morning. Day after day the
columns of the morning paper have
been abandoned to calumny and
venom-such as would more properly
belong to the Sunday Sun-from the
pen Of the superintendent, DEVOTED
TO respectable people without regard
to sex who have offended him by up
holding the teachers, while the Union
has accompanied the same with ex-
pfessions of admiration of the super
intendent and his mastery capacity
for sweeping away his accukers BY q
dash of his pen. while frequent al
fusion has been made to "this
scholarly gentleman" and his clog
ical deductions" The teachers have
seen quite enough to understand ex-
actly where the Union stands. They
expect no quarter from it, they seek
none. and they propose to give it
none.
The Out and Out Issue.
The issue in the election next
Tuesday is simply Ament. The
teachers are against him. The Union,
DIR. Kinyon and the board members
whom the latter controls are for
him. The Union and DIR. Kinvon
are the originators of the scheme
to change the school law.
There is motive in the
desired change. With it success.
full DIR. Kinyon, although defeated
which, however, he does not
propose to be if he can. help it, let
the teachers understand that-imap-
ines he could rally his strength on
an election for nine members, under
new provisions. to elect ma ority of
next years board and then-woe to
the teachers who have asserted them
selves now. The noble spirit which
dominates the board at present cop-
trolled by Kinyon and Ament. was
shown when it dropped Principals
Haley and Fitzpatrick at the an
nual election and declined to accept
the. superintendent's resignation.
At another election when the present
issue has been settled aud order and
discipline reestablished in the schools
under a new superintendent, it may
be well enough to talk about q
change in the charter. At such q
time the public will be better pre-
pared to act upon il, and there will
be no conflicting interests and no
complications to prevent its success
full execution. We have had stir
enough in the schools for one year.
Let us have year Of peace and res
toration. Then we will be better
prepared to talk of q change in the
system about the time Of the gen.
eral election, when everything can
be done properly. In the meantime
the teachers cannot be blamed for
moving cautiously.
There have been Q great many re-
ports spread among the teachers aud
others for the purpose of confusing
them in their vote. Some have been
kind enough to impart the advice
that unless the school change was
voted upon properly the whole cleo
ton would be illegal. Others have
suggested the application Of the pro-
visions OF the Australian ballot law.
which are of no effect in an election
affecting schools conducted under q
special charter. There are to be no
crosses made on the ticket next Tues
day, and but for the superfuous pro-
vision tackled on to the bottom ii
would be unnecessary to make q
q RI npon IL The ~o>A H.