The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-06-14

Evans dismissal had been precipitated,
as coming like thunder clap out OF a
clear sky. He said while it was true
that Mr.. Evans had resigned, he under
stood that it was not of his own volltlon,
hence it was tantamount to discharge.
He euolized the principal as man of in
tegrity, a good citizen, a desirable neigh
Dor, who had filed the onerous position
to which he had been elected, year by
year, for the past eight years, with
marked ability, therefore he should not
be turned out from their midst with the
implied declaration that he was not able
to meet the requirements that his sltua-
ton demanded. He averred that so far
as he knew, the people of the district
were not dissatisfied with Mr.. Evans,
and if there was any dissatisfaction In
any way the time to express it was now.
After paying further tribute to Mr..
Evans ability he declared the meeting
open.
MIR. SEDGWICK'S S STATEMENT.
G.. G.. Sedgwick was the first called on
to explain the reason for the action of
the board in engaging another principal
in preference to Mr.. Evans. He said
that he had not come to the meeting to
talk but to listen. He knew nothing of
the origin of the protest and was not
prepared to make statement for the
board. He, however consented to say
something as an individual and said in
substance that Mr.. Evans had done we'll
He referred to the fact that his own
membership on the board was stimuli
taneously with Prof. Evans appoint
ment MS principal, and he thought that
in the eight years that had passed he
had worked harmoniously with the pro-
fessor and had always tried to meet his
wishes along educational lines. He said
in qualifying tone, that Prof Evans
had been reasonably successful, after
which he emphasized his remark, by as
severating that the principal had been
quite successful.
In the matter of substituting Princi
pal Hires of Rhinelander for Prof. Evans,
he claimed, he had as an individual
member of the board acted according to
the best direction of his Judgment. He
asserted that the members of the School
board had for many years, faithfully
performed their obligations to the dis
trict, and that>none of them were actu-
ated in the present circumstances by
acriminous motives, ot from any person
al bias. He said he hoped the school
directors had made no mistake, and he
pleaded with his auditors that they
make no mistake. He closed by saying
that the board had elected man TO
succeed Prof. Evans whom he felt as-
sured would greatly improve Prof
Evans work.
MR. ALTERS VERSION.
Mr.. Alter then said that he would
speak as did Mr.. Sedgwick, individual
ly. He thought the work of the School
board had been entirely impersonal. No
one, he alleged, had any personal griev-
ance against Prof. Evans and that in
changing principals only the best vel
fare of the school has been considered
He pointed to the fact that he was a
close personal friend of the principal
and that under no conditions would he
do him wrong, but said Mr.. Alter de
liberately, Il will not allow my person
al feelings to say me in the least in a
subject of this kind" He continued
that when the directors had concluded
they had good and sufficient reasons for
substituting principals, he did not opine
any such opposition to their action as
was manifest at the meeting. He wound
up his remarks by complimenting the
work done by Prof. Evans, but assert
ing that it could be improved.
W. F. Smalley wanted to know
whether a contract had been entered
into with Mr.. Hires.
Mr. Alter replied in the affirmative,
qualifying it, however, by saying that it
was but verbal that the board was not
permitted to make written contract
until after the annual meeting. He said
that the arrangement made with Prof.
Hires was such that the board was III
honor bound by its terms, and there was
no way by which it could recede from
its action.
Mr.. Smalley then said that he was
we'll aware that the board was actuated
bv the best interests of the district in
its desire to do the right thing for the
school He claimed however, on the
part of the parents assembled, that they
individually were equally as intense in
their loyalty to the district as any mem
Der of the board, He believed that the
majority of the residents Of the district
desired the retention of Prof. Evans,
and he asked was there no way for the
board to retract from its position. He
hoped that the meeting would act wise