The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-01-29
SHEATS HAS GOOD RECORD.
HAS BUILT UP SCHOOL SYSTEM
IN FLORIDA.
Opposition to Him Is on Purely Per-
sonal Grounds, Not Because
Of Inefficiency.

Gainesville. Fla. January 27-(Special.)
One of the prettiest and hottest political
lights In Flori1a this year Is going to be
over the succe essen to the Office of state
Superintendent of public instruction. Hon.
w. N. Sheats, the pres snt incumbent will
stand for denomination before the demo-
cratic state convention, but he will have
serious opposition. A prominent educa-
tor OF peninsul1r FLORIDA, who has the
confidence Of all and the support of very
many of the teachers of the state. and
who can claim substantial strength with
influential politicians. is being carefully
grcCmed TO enter the race. and 1t is said
that at an early date his name will he
placed before the people In this connection
with much eclat.
"A prominent politician of Gainesville,
the home of Superintendent Sheats. who
IS regarded as being friendly disposed to-
ward the superintendent. but who Is I'M
usually well posted regarding the condi-
lions, both pro and con. surrounding his
candidacy for enomination and re-elec-
ton for Il third term of four years, today
made the following statement to a repre-
sentative of The Constitutions:
II have been a friend of Mrs. Sheats
throughout his administration and am not
unfriendly to him now. But the feeling is
becoming irresistible all over the state
that the time has arrived when a change
Is positively demanded. No one will deny
the fact that Mr.. Sheats has made good
stete superintendent of schools in many
respects. Under his guidance the edu-
Cational interests of Florida have I'M
doubtedly advanced and today occupy an
undoniably better position than they held
seN en- years ago when Mr.. Sheats entered
upon the duties of state superintendent
''It cannot be gainsaid that the prog
ress made in F'lorIda's school system is
due i'm no small measure to the fighting
qualities of Mr.. Sheats He went into
the office at time when an aggressive.
energetic, earnest worker in the cause
was necessity TO the school interests.
Mr.. Sheats has displayed all of these quail
tiles In unusual degree, and the state is
indebted 10 him in so much as she has
profited by his offices.
But the fact cannot be concealed that
the usefulness of William NJ. Shcats as
state superintendent is ended. No one
could have looked upon the scenes enacted
during the last session of the legislature,
so far as public school matters were con-
cerned. and not recognize this fact. 1t is
indisputable-Mr Shcats himself will
hardly attempt to deny it-that in order
to have school measure favored In any
way by the members of the legislature
the fact hat Mr. Shcats commended it had
i'm every case to be concealed; while to
kill bill beyond hope of resurrection it
had only To be made known that the pres
ent superintendent favored IT.
AT one time the entire fabric of the
public school system was endangered sim
ply because Mr. Sheats had become SO OBJ
noXious TO legislators. The antagonism
was not To public education, not 70 the
public school system, not to particular
measures. 1t was directed against Su.
perintendent Sheats himself and was IN
almost every instance on personal
grounds True. this does not by any
means reflect credit upon the legislators,
but il is evidence that a change in admin
istratiOn must come, Is necessary ana Is
inevitable.
"'rhat friends of Mr. Sheats, as we'll as
opponents. favor a change Is shown IN
the fact that il is proposed TO succeed MN
with man in line with his thought ana
general policy but without the character
istics that render the present incumbent
SO distastcful. The new candidate Will he
found to be quite acceptable to both the
gI,,,.te, .fnA tins anti Skpats f""t. o'fs
"'The people of Florida have 40 assuf
ancc that the scenes at the capitol during
the legislative session of lSJ9 VIII not pc
repeated during the session OF l90l, ShOuld
Mr. Sheats succeed himself. and That
way danger lies We cannot afford to
have the whole school system Jeopardized
because one man VINO Is decidedly persona
non grata desires to hold Office, herce the
friends of the gentleman who has been
eolarfad rs an opponent Of Mr.. SheatS
for the nomination from the democratic
convention find sentiment almost every
where with them. and when inns sehtle-
mans name is formally placed before
the people there is scarcely doubt that
his nomination and election Will follow
with certainty and with enthusiasm.