Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-08-19
SOME SCHOOL
...POLHTCS.
Commissioner CULLEN Turned
Out by Gov. Lowndes.

y
of Whalcyvillc has been commissioned
by the Governor.
Oh, no the Republicans don't have
any politics In schools M indeed:
they are too good. All the way from
Governor I.owndes down they are Saints
MIR. Labam 7. CULLEN, Republican
member of the Worcester County School
Board has for sometime been thorn in
the flesh of those who wanted 10 wipe
every teacher out Of Worcester schools
who was not Ia their liking politically
Mr.. CULLEN has always been II Repubh.
can through thick and thin. while those
so much interested in clearing ont the
schools are largely new converts. He
has refused 10 countcnancc anything
tending Ia wholesale change of teach.
crs. and therefore il was necessary To
get rid of him.
All kinds of bulldozing tactics We're
engaged in To get him to resign and
man who claimed Ia he messenger
from the Governor followed Mr. Quill
len about Ocean City trying To get his
resignation. offering him a good posi-.
ton under Mckinley if he would vacatc
the Office of School Commissioner Mr.
CULLEN said he had done nothing that
he should resign and was no going to do
IL. Then he was threatened that he
would be turned ont, Sc thata more ply
ant man might be appointed in his
place, but he refused to be hulldozcd.
He has made good Commissioner. has
been attentive To his duties and CON
sidcrate for the public welfare He
otherwise. but certain Republican, poll
ticians could not handle him To their
liking. so they determined 10 make
Lowndcs get him out of Office and to
carry out this plot, at n conference of
Republicans held in Baltimore several
months ago some of the Worcester Re-
publicans announced boldly that they
were opposed Ia the Governors nomi
nation. This was not pleasant news to
Mr.. Lowndes, the candidate for rcnomi
nation. So we have no doubt he deter
mined to help get rid of Quillcn.
Complaint was made to the Governor
that Quillin was incompetent. and had
neglected his duty in the appointment
of School trustees. The law requires
that Trustees shall I've appointed ~ the
first meeting of the Board in May Mr.
Calvin b. Taylor says. during the time
of his serving as Examiner all the trus.
tees We're not so appointed because 1t
was next To impossible To do so. The
Commissioners always went over the
list and began To make their appoint
ments as the law required, but it was
hard to find men who were competent
or who would serve. 80 the Board made
the appointments afterward as they
found good men To fill the positions
This is done we believe i'll nearly
every county in the State and no such
action has ever before been taken against
"a Commissioner for not making al the
1T the first meeting i'll
May.
But politics demanded Mr.. Quillcns
removal.
If he is guilty every member of the
Board is guilty. because Mr.. CULLEN
does not stand alone in this matter. He
sent TO the Governor copy of the MINI
utcs showing that he was present At all
of the meetings of the Board, but this
did not cut any figure with I4owndcs,
the man Processes opposition To hav-
ing politics in schools. No. all he want
cd was To gain the good will of the men
who petitioned him to remove CULLEN.
One of them is Il clerk III the Comp
trollcrs office and of course is not inter
cstcd in politics. oh. no he is too in
noccnt for anything like that These
petitioners say the interests of the pub
lie schools of Worcester demand Quill
lens removal.
The whole truth of the matter is they
want to turn out certain trustees and
put in others and Quillcn would not
consent to do the bidding of these
would he political bosses there
fore he must 20. and Governor Lowndes
who is now very much interested i'll
politics. has given him the grand bounce.
and for fear that SOME of the. Trustees
his political friends did not want would
be appointed Thursday, he sent special
messenger, the gentleman who is paid
To serve rs Il clerk i'll the Comptrollers
office, down here with Mr.. Dalc's COM
mission. Mr.. Dale anticipated this
action and was here TO qualify before
the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Mr.
CULLEN was also here and claimed that
as no charges had been brought against
him before the Board and the Board
had not acted against him, he was still
commissioner, despite Gov. LowndcS'
action. and in fact the Governor had no
authority to remove him. Mr.. Jones aS
his counsel, appeared before the Board
and argued i'll the same tenor. relying
upon the Act of Assembly creating the
School Board. which Act provides
''In case of inefiicicncy. refusal 10
''act, or breach of trust. the Board
''may by Il majority of it, members,
declare the office vacant. and give
''notice to the party concerned. An
appeal may be taken To the State
Board of Education. whose decision
'shall be final; but if no appeal be
taken in ten days. the vacancy
shall be filled rs hereinbcforc pro
''vided tby the Governor
MIR. Jones asked McsSrS McMaster
and Riley if any charges had been made
before the Board against Mr. Quillen
and they admitted that there We're no
charges against him. After hearing
Mr.. Barnes in behalf of Mr. Dale.
chairman McMastcr recognized Mr..
CULLEN rs Commissioner. and they pro
cecded TO transact the business of the
Board. Messrs. Riley and Dale with
drew and did the same, DIR. Straughn
acting secretary of both Boards.
We do not give any opinion as to
what the outcome will be The matter
will be taken to the Courts for settle
ment and under any conditions the
Republicans have gotten themselves
into an awful muddle and made CULLEN ;
following mad by their acts. and have