The herald., 1897-11-23

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which has since come to light. greet
ed him heartily, and asked him. in
general way. how everything was going
We'll. to tell you the truth said he.
things are somewhat stirred up HIS
speech and actions seemed somewhat
peculiar, and Immediately felt curious
to know where, when and how the stir
up was being effected. After some con-
versation, during which time Adams was
beating about the bush, he finally told
me that he had seen q blacklist OF
thirteen principals of schools in the city,
and that, II he remembered rightly, my
name was among them. This at once
started me thinking, and l asked him
what could be done in order that might
retain my position. This he refused to
answer for some little time, but finally
| told me that had better see Axtell. Tor,
said he, 'Axtell is so much better in
| formed as to the actions of the board In
these matters, and he can do something
for you If anybody can. We then
parted, and 1 took the first opportunity
could set of seeing Mr.. Poor who is
elector for the First ward, in which my
school is situated He Informed me, in
answer to my question as to reelection.
that he did not think it likely, in fact,
that he knew that l would not be re
elected to that school. refusing at first
to tell me the reason. He admitted
that it was not through incompetency.
and finally said that they wanted the
school for another man. AT this nat
urally became incensed, and told him
that it was hardly gentleman's action
to dismiss me on those grounds. ana
nothing else. then asked him If there
was any chance to get another school If
did not receive my own, to which he re-
Piled that there was a way. / inferred
from this that he naturally meant the
same thing as my adviser Mr.. Adams.
Nothing happened for q week or So al
though l gradually learned that Others
had been approached in the same way,
until received a call from Axtell at my
school on the Monday, think it was,
preceding the election. We went into
my private office and discussed things in
general, he being evidently n little
frightened of broaching the subject.
Finally he mentioned the fact of the
proximity of the election. and we grad
ually drifted into the subject until 1t
became so plain that each of us threw
ull tilc anu e5'N t'N II ~
My sole idea was to see how far this
thing had gone, and how much farther it
was going. He mentioned the fact that
my name was on the blacklist, and
also that there was way to remedy
matters and retain my position.
but are you sure, said l, that this
can be DONE? 1t can be done he said,
for there is a way l asked him out
.l.k IL a
get at least as large school, or even
ten or twelve-room building.
- can promise you that there is a
way, but 1 can't say anything definite
yet. If you will call and see me in the
Wilcox block on Friday we can talk the
matter over more thoroughly.
Here the interview ended, and /
had already made up my mind to bluff
right up to the last notch. During the
week l saw r J. Phillips. and found he
had been approached in much the same
manner as l had been. l asked him
what he was going to do about it, wheth
er he would accede and remain or refuse
and get the marble heart. Refuse and
get the marble heart he said enphat
ically. 1 don't want to be under obliga-
tions to anybody especially to such 4
crowd and in such dirty low down
way.
''On Friday I went up to Axtell's Of
flee and we discussed the matter in its
entirety. He told me that the mysteri-
Gus Thirteen Blacklist was adaman-
tine, and that the only way to retain my
position was to put up. He demurred
at giving me the exact amount which I
was to pay. but finally said that one
months salary, S120, would be enough
l then asked him IS to how l should pay
the money. Should l bring it down to
him, or would he come ana get it from
me? Here he became little excited and
said that on no account must l give
the money to him directly. He declared
he was not making anything out OF it,
and that he was merely acting for some
body else. lie said he would arrange
for Mr.. J. S. Fitnlan to take it from me,
and that this arrangement would be
satisfactory. I did not promise him
that l would send it, but he evidently
thought was in earnest, as he appeared
to be quite satisfied that l was agree
able to the proposition. When l asked
him how soon he wanted the money he
said it must be paid before tomorrow
Saturday night. This rather startled
me at first, but l appeared to acquiesce
and Axtell assured me that l would
never regret what ! was going to do.
Next day / was informed by Mr.. Nc
Inerny that Mr.. Poor had assured him
confidently that l should be reelected.
on Monday. as you know, all the teach
ers whose names had been on the black
list were reelected. Yet not one of
them, to my knowledge, had paid one
cent. Evidently they had got scared at
the way things were running and had
backed down entirely. This is the whole
history of the affair so far as l know
and as to the blacklist, / was told the
name of every man on it, and am con-
fidcnt that there was and still is such a
list in existence. ! have already made
my statement to the grand jury but am
quite ready to back up all l have said
should the occasion arise. The papers
have taken the right course, and all
the teachers connected with the affair
are satisfied With the way the thing has