The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-13
POI WASHINGTON ST.
CRANSTON.
A Defeat for Almy ana Dut.mpie Result
OF School Board Meeting.

Ei xhty men and twenty ladies armed
with two petitions numerously signed
attended the school committee meeting
last evening 10 request the committee 10
reappoint Mr.. John A. kerns principal Of
the Cranston grammar school for the
coming year.
At the June meeting the committee
passed Mr. Kern's name aud gave no rea-
sons for so doing. The news spread
throughout the western end of the town
and the people arose indignantly. Five
petitions in all, signed by about five hun
dred people were prepared and presented
TO the committee. Messrs. Balm, Pearce
and Gardiner were strongly in favor of
Mr.. kerns and could see no reason for his
rejection.
No charges were preferred against MIR.
kerns and oven when he appeared before
the committee in a special session in June
and asked them To prefer their charges
and give him an opportunity TO vindicate
himself in the eyes OF his friends and
to help him TO clear up the blurred, hidden
attacks that had tcen made upon his
reputation, no committeeman in opposition
said q word.
So the only theory left was to suppose
that the three men from Auburn who
were working so hard To defeat Mr.. kerns
were actuatod bv political motives In.
deed, the regulations OF the three men bear
out this theory. One is a small scheme
concoctor. he was arrested and fined n
short timo ago for paying boys TO throw
rotten eggs at an Indian show. He was
defeated in an attempt 10 gain "A place
upon the school committee two years ago.
He attributes his defeat 10 Mr. kerns'
friends and now says: II am paying back
old scores. 4"
One other OF the three Is n man who,
once set in his opinion will not waver,
regardless OF changes in circumstances.
He is accused of entertaining spite and
living In expectation of getting back" at
his enemies. This man opposed MIR.
kerns to tho last.
The third and smallest figure In tho
reyengeful trio is n man upon whom pub
lie disregard has been hurled many "a time.
Tho committee went into executive ses-
sion about s 10 last evening and discussed
the case until 40. Meanwhile, the i'm
patient ladies and gentlemen waiter in
anxious expectation. Many in utter dis
gust left the meeting and went home.
The committee did not announce the
result of their actions Immediately upon
coming into open meeting. Mr.. Patrick
Mclaughlin asked the committee TO hear
the ladies and gentlemen present con-
ccrning Mr.. kerns' case. but was told
that it had been settled in a manner sat
isfactory 10 the committee, viz: That
Mr.. kerns had been reappointed for "a
year. The reople clapped their hands,
stamped their feet upon the floor and
were logd I'm expressions Of approval.
Mr. Dutemple ara DIR. Latham of Au-
burn refused TO vote for or against Mr..
Kerns. Ii is said that nine men were
banded together with the avowed intcnt
Of thrashiug Mr.. Dutemple had not Mr..
kerns been reappointed.
Never has such "A showing of apprecia.
tion for teacher and disgust for peliti-
clans been shown in the town. The
people are indignant that few uDpopu-
lar politicians from Auburn shall come
into their district aud tell them who shall
teach thoir childron. There is an interest
ing story in Cranston school circles.
Why was MIR. Freeman droppedg Why
was Mr. Kerns attackedl Why was he
rcappointed If he is not worthy, as SAYS
Mr.. DutempleY Why Gro certain men
employed in the schools when the people
roduce their salaries and generally con.
uni.l N fLnlll