Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-10-29
"A VOICE FROM THE TEACHERS"
And a Lot of Other Nonsense Of
Similar Kind.'
CHESTER Iowa, Oct. 26, 1897.

CHESTER IOWA, Oct. 70, 1871.
To the Voters of Howard County.
At the urgent request of fellow
teachers, voters, and others intere sted
in the schools OF our county, present
to you Supt. Mcpherson as he is known
to the teachers through the medium
of his inetficiently performed or neg
lected duties.
One instance in which his neglect
has worked to the disadvantage OF the
teachers was his disregard OF the state
superintendent's communication, OF
the summer of '96, advising that
summer Institute be conducted for the
purpose of preparing teachers for ex-
animation in the branches OF civics
and economics.
He has been unjust to his teachers,
lowering the grade of certificates to
vent personal spite.
: He has been unwise in his manage
ment of county institute work, and his
employing seven instructors to con-
duct an institute of three grades,
consider rank misappropriation Of
public funds.
He has been not only unwise and
unjust in his administration OF affairs,
but his extorting from teachers who
had not attended Institute the one dol
lar fee which is collected from those
in attendance, claiming the same as
his by legal right, points either to ap-
palling ignorance or wilful noncon-
tormity to law.
His former reason for these unlaw-
full collections was that he was deter
mined to compel the teachers attend
anoe at institute, but at present he is
reported as trying to excuse his un-
warrantable proceeding on the grounds
that be wished to apply the funds so
obtained to the liquidation of debt
incurred by his predecessor. Either
or any excuse is inadequate. No cause
can Justify the obtaining OF money un-
der false pretenses.
understand that Supt. McPherson
is endeavoring to re-estt.bllsh favor
able public sentiment by stating that
he returned the teachers dollars as
soon as he found he had no legal right
to them. He did refund the money,
certainly, but only after.1 had written
letter of investigation to the state
superintendent and on receiving the
following reply from him, suggested
to Mr.. Mcpherson that he must either
refund the money or abide by the con-
sequences.
DIES MONIES, Iowa, Aug. 81, 1896.
MISS ANGIE VAN NIMAN, Howard Co.
Dear Madaln:-Section 1863 re-
quires the county superintendent TO
collect one dollar from every appli.
cant for a certificate. This is the only
fee that is required by law for a
county certificate. If any county
superintendent requests any other
fee than as named 10 section 1859, the
applicant should refuse to pay It,
See COPY of section 1863 inclosed.
Yours respectfully,
HENRY SABIN,
Supt. Public Instruction.
IRA G. Killing,
Deputy.
This one dishonorable action alone
stamps him as unfit for public trust
We want officers who do not need sur
veillance. He has proved himself al
together incapable OF the office to
which he aspires. Letters OF inquiry
directed to him are ambiguously an.
swered. Appeals for helpful sugges
lions are met with the thread-bare
..Well, really, am not prepared tt
say which to say the least is not al
eminently satisfactory response.