Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-09-23
0PE MING OF PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.

SCHOOLS.
The circumstances surround
ing the opening fpublic schools
in this county on Monday last
were the most deplorable and
degrading ever known, and the
situation, as il now exists. may
truly be designated as a blot on
the cause of education. The
disgraceful circumstances, and
the deplorable situation, are
due, first to the Republican ad
ministration in the state. and
second, the unprincipled lead
ership of the Republican party
of Worcester. But for either,
the present outrageous and de-
plorable dissertation of the pub
lie schools would never have
existed. Both exist however,
and as a result. we have what
has never been known before,
two regularly organized school
boards in the county, in some
school districts two sets of trus-
tees, and in several schools
two teachers clamoring for a
position which can only be
filled by one. The old school
board, composed of Messrs.
McMaster and Quillin, ordered
the schools opened last Monday,
while the newly organized
board, designated next Monday
as the opening day for the fall
and winter term The result
of this situation is that most
of the schools were opened.
but a few, we are told, will not
open till next Monday. In
this, Snow Hill district. each of
the seven teachers in the Snow
Hill High School, disregarded
the commands of the Bosses
who tried all kinds of BULLDOG
ing tactics. Yes, they were at
their desks, and called their re-
spective schools TO order at
the regular hour last Monday
morning, all threats TO the
contrary Notwithstanding.
We repeat, that such circum-
stances, surrounding the open
ing of the public schools, is de-
plorable, and the situation a
blot on the cause of education:
the more so, because of the fact
that Republican greed for office
in a Democratic county should
have brought il about. That
Governor Lowndes, his advi-
sers and hungry ofiice-seekers
in Worcester are responsible
for the disgraceful situation, is
unquestioned by parents, teach
ers and pupils, all of whom are
loud in their condemnation of
him and his co-conspirators to
defame the fair name of this
county and destroy the fame
of its educators. No county i'm
the State has been able To boast
of better schools than Worces-
ter. and none can produce
greater men whose education
was limited to the public schools
of the county in which they
were reared. These facts being
true, its an outrage upon parents,
teachers and pupils, yea, upon
the whole people-the body
politic-that a Republican Gov
ernor should use his power to
defeat the high purpose of those
who have placed and would
keep the public schools on such
a high plane, by recognizing
unprincipled party followers,
who having no principle of
their own to sacrifice, would
destroy that Of others in order
to carry point in politics.
Such however is the situation.
such is the blot upon the
cause of education, wrought by
the nefarious scheming of un-
principled politicians. Such is
the insult TO the parents of
Worcester, such is the state of
affairs in the public schools of
Worcester that would never
have existed under Democrat
ic administration. The ques-
ton now is, will the people of
this state submit To such desc
Grafton of public education, or
will they rise i'm their might.
and vote for the man who gave
them free books-John Walter
Smith-for Governor: As for
this county, we know the peo-
pie are too honest to do other
wise, and Lloyd Lowndes will
be satisfied when he hears from
Worcester, that our voters are
the friends of education and
enemies of those who would
injure the cause of public
schools.