The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-10-28
Menae8io Kansas Schools
FRANK NELSON UNFIT TO SERVE
AS SUPERINTENDENT.


4gad Rot Identified with tae States Eda-
--sasf0naI Growth
The time was when the Republican
r DartY Of Kansas selected from among
she ablest educators OF the state it's
candidate for Superintendent OF Pub
zIc Instruction. In years past when
sEae party has nominated political
s6rfmmers with unsaEOry records for
other Offices, its convention dared
not outrage the people by selecting
Tor this high Office other than a man
with state wide reputation as an
educator and teacher
This year, however, the private
Interests OF a few Republican bosses
were considered paramount TO the
interests Of the public schools OfKan-
E8s, and In the nomination OF a can
S1idats for Superintendent Of Public
obstruction young Frank Nelson
OF Mcpherson county, was picked up
because he might be Of service to Cy
leland and a few Of his henchmen-
This young man, scarcely over thir-
y years Of age, a resident OF Kansas
six years, and unknown TO the teach
GTs OF the state, IS put forth as the
guardian Of thep public school system
The sum total OF Nelson's cOnnec-
zion with the schools OF Kansas IS
that Of teacher Of elOcutiOn two
terms in Bethany College. and insti-
EUte work in Mcpherson county.
de has never taught a day in the
public schools, and more than that, in
Mcpherson county where heis known
Ne has never affiliated with the teach
Srs, and to this day has never been
granted even a third grade ceTtifi-
cate. Frank Nelson is simply a local
politician in Mcpherson county, and
ais nomination was made to carry
out a political deal thus degrading
the ca use OF education by dragging
1t down into the mire Of political
ehicanery and corruption
The inside history Of Nelson's
nomination ought to be known
80 the people of Kansas. The
great masses Of the people who
are proud Of our splendid pub
dc school system have no interest iR
che local wFangles and Quarreis Of
Mcpherson county Republican Office
seekers For years. jim Simpson,
CF Leiand's chief satellite, and Far
-neF Smith have been fighting for pO-
5s3CiCal supremacy in Mcpherson coun-
" Both are tarred with the same
5tick SO far as OdiOUs records are
concerned. First Smith would run
- county convention, and then Simp-
SOn would get the upper hand OF him
and run the next one. This year &c
seemed to be Smiths time. Simpson
wanted to be railroad commissioner
again, in the event of the election Of
%be Republican state ticket in Nov
Ee8lbeF, and, Of course, he could not
expect TO Win.OuU if he permitted his
old time political enemy to select
Ghe delegates from Mcpherson cOun-
y TO the Republican state COnven-
sion.
simpson thought the matter over I
and an idea came to him. Il viii run
Frank Nelson, OF LindsbOrE, for
State Superintendent" he said. ''By
doing this 1 can get help from the
aOrth part OF Mcpherson county to
5eat Smith in the county cOnven- I
7s5On, and local pride viii help me to
get a delegation that can be put
where / want It for other candidates
and enable me to get enough pledges .
% tx myself for railroad commits I
8iOner-" Young Nelson, Of course, (
was willing to be used as simpsons !
sOOi, and when Leland and his ma
EaiRe went to Hutchinson the deal /.
was cOnsumated. PEARS and other I
well known educators were candf- /!
dates for this Office, but they were /
friends were not even permitted by I
J RsBurtOn, who was running the /
convention under orders Of Leland I
and Simpson, to place them IA nom /
lnatiOn.
Bat the great cause OF education,
che elevation of the public school /
system to the highest standard, to .
sle end that kansHs may retain her /
place in educational work among the 4
Of T1rerrrra.-
ZhOughts which never entered the 4
Grains Of such men as Cy Leland and 1
Jim Simpson. These machine man /
ss3UiatOrs regard the sacred cause Of 4
8dBeatiOn with the same concern as /
aEaeY would the result of q state or 4
1O8nty convention which they had /
DGc3ed with their ward bummers 1
sd party heeleEs- What do they /
EaEe about the public schools Of Kan 1
8asf Why should they elect a well |
Shown educator Tor state 'superin- /
aeeRGeBt when an ordinary local poll !
lz0lRn without standing among the /
-beacheFs Of the state would better I
serve their puFpOse2
Tfl2e public school system OF Kan |
lEas Is the pride Of the people. 1t is I
the most precious heritage that can /
De F0Uchsafed to their children. !
They intend that the present high I
STANDARD shall not be endangered BY I
z2lecting to the position OF state SUP /
-erlnGendent an Incompetent who Is 4
expected to carry out the ideas Of q 4
-eOTrUpt machine now in control Of I
che Republican party. On the con
zEaTTs the people may be relied UPON /
20 cast their votes for the man who I
las done more to advance the cause I
81 education, lift higher the standard /
a the public schools Of the state. /
and save the uponla of kansas han,
.2reds Of thousands Of dollars in the /
Drice Of school books, than any man
Who has ever filed that Office. Prot /
@4ER- Stryker need not fear the DOlfti-
81 combination seeking to supplaat /
ain with the young politician from /
county.
WEBB NcNAzL has compelled IRE
assurance companies TO pay their 4