Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-04-02


county, but whatever of rancor
editor may naturally feel toward al
good and honest man, has in this II
stance been vented not upon the obje'
of this assault directly, but upon h
friends. No one would deny that
pleasant and friendly relation exists an
has existed for years between Con
futile and j. n Mccall, but the state
ment that the influence of the latter ha
or does dominate the former, is IA libe
upon Mr.. Tuttle's manhood, which al
who know anything of the two mel
must recognize. If we believed tina
our commissioner acted as an agent TO
the Herald or solicited job work for tina
office, we would not hesitate to say tina
he had forgotten his position and haC
failed to prove worthy of it, but W,
know better.
If an educational trust" exists in
Gratiot, we are sorry that Brother Van
dercook has not been eligible for mem
bership. He should remember that
trusts are formed only by those who are
rich in certain article, and unless he
can contribute something of ability or
brain power, he ought not to expect to
be admitted. But what twaddle An
educational trust A corner on brains !!
a monopoly of school influence In
point of fact, while this locality has not
for years been recognized in the mem
bership of the County Board, we know
that in its selection the Supervisors have
sought only the best interests of the
schools of our county. and no petty feel
ing of local jealousy should lead anyone
to play the baby act when we secure so
excellent results. The teachers of this
county are not influenced by fear nor
by base motive of another sort, but
with hardly an exception they are work
lug for Mr. futile.
The best of reasons are patent. The
office is filed at this time to remove it
as far as possible from political influ-
ences. The welfare of our schools is of
more Importance than the dominance of
silver or of gold, the triumph of protec-
ton or free trade The issue is less vital
for the villages than for the rural com.
munities In towns we employ COM
petent superintendent and retain them
as long as possible. The same should |
be done by the people for the rural
nor xx-1,n ly,,p hoe u,
character and failings of the schools,
the resources and possibilities of the |
districts, the successes and failures of |
the teachers, the efforts and ambitions
of the children is best fitted TO be our
With all due regard to
Mr.. Covell, who is an honorable and in
telligent gentleman, the man who pos
sesses this knowledge is O. G.. futile.
He is, therefore, the better man.
Mr.. Tuttle has been connected with
the schools of this county for over ten
years, and always more or less intimate
Iy related TO the district schools Mr.
Covell has taught German and Latin for
two years in st. Louis. Mr.. futile was
1
A boy and has grown to manhood in our
county. Mr.. Covell was boy some
where, has boarded seventeen months
n Gratiot, and goes "home" somewhere
,or vacations. Mr.. futile has given his
undivided attention to the work, and
will continue to do so. Mr.. Covell may
10 so if elected, but it is understood
hat he proposes to continue his German
md Latin in the schools of st. Louis.
There are nearly two hundred schools
II this county, and over ten thousand :
persons of school age. The question of
the man whose influence shall
dominate, is of too vast importance TO
ach of US to be decided by the chance
citation which the candidate happens to
ustain to the political parties. Let us !
ay aside party ties and think only of !,
he greatest good of the institution upon
which rests the safety of the country.
The RECORD does not urge the election ,
lr. futile because he is a Republican,
hough we are glad he is, but because of
hose qualities which he possesses, which
Te believe peculiarly fit him for the
flee of Commissioner of our Schools.