The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-30
DR.. DAVIS DECLINES H
ANSWER TO ST. PAUL
SCHOOL BOARD
TRYING TO GET MILLsPAUGH
WinOna Normal President Is Being
Urged by BusybOdies Who
Desire nn 'EOatside
Man. Selected.

President ]. w. L. Corning, Of the
board of school inspectors, received d
cablegram from Prof. George w. Davis,
from Paris, yesterday morning at 10
o'clock, declining the position of super
intendent of the city schools rendered
him by the board last Saturday A spe-
cal meeting Of the board was imme
diateY called by President Corning and
a 4 p. m. the inspectors filed in one by
one at the superintendent Office and al
once turned the key upon a curious
crowd of school officials and others.
Just what passed during tie hour that
the board was in session is not known
except that Mr. Davis laconic answer
was received with a great deal of regret.
as the board had counted somewhat upon
his acceptance.
Inspector B. Zimmerman, following
the meeting. stated that the discussion
had been directed towards the super
intendency. A majority of the board
were ready yesterday afternoon to v0@e
upon Mn Smiths successor but three
members, including Mr.. zimmerman.
believed that me matter should be laid
over, as there was no occasion for undue
haste, it was urged.
Yesterdays development leaves the
situation just as it was before the po
sftion was rendered the dean of Macal-
ester. 1t is quite certain that the board
will give 10 publicity to its deliberations
until It agrees unanimously upon ar
other mar. This docs not seem to be
the prospect Of the very immediate
future, and 1t would not be surprising
if the election was delayed until late III
the summer.
The news of the offer being rendered
DR.. Davis by the school board, published
i'll yesterdays G o b e, was received
with a great deal of interest and sur
prise by those interested in the schools.
Some asperity seems to have been pro
Vaked by the intiIlation that the Civic
league, 0r prominent members of 1t, were
mixing obtrusfvely in school board af-
fairs. Relative to this, the Dispatch last
night quoted E.. E. Mcdonald, of the
beard, as follows:
about May / 1 was called upon and
asked to meet Mrs. Hamlin, Mrs. c. A.
Dibble and three or four other persons on
some school matters l agreed, and they
then urged me strongly against the re-
election Of Supt. Smith. They produced
a letter, which they said was written by
one of the principals, "1iticising MT
Smiths administration, and Mrs. Hamlln,
or Mrs Dibble, spoke of it, and said she
would not disclose the name of the writer,
because the letter had been secured on
promise of secrecy in that particular.
81 then told the committee or delega-
ton that l did not wish to hear the
anonymous letter and that l felt less re-
spect for the author of it, whoever he or
she might be.
THAT was before Mr.. Smiths declfna-
ton was made public, but the board had
already been informed that he was not
a candidate
Mrs Hamlfn is president of the Wom-
ems Civic league, and Mrs. Dibble is a
prominent member of it. Mr.. Mcdonald
could not recall the names of the other
persons, and did not know whether they
were members of the Civic league. The
meeting was held in the office of an at
torney who is a leading member of the
school union.
1t was also at this meeting that Mr.
Mcdonald asked the committee who was
preferred as against Mr.. Smith, and the
answer was Immediately given, 'Presi-
dent Millspaugh, of the Winona Normal
school"
The offer which was cab ed to DR.. Davis
last Friday night, following the special
meeting. was unanimous. Inspector Nc
Donald from the first took the position
that a home man should be named from
the number of local school officials who
are deserving of promotion.