The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-05

~ sayfng that you wsll .nna
means Of investiGating this mat
ter II IT IL brought 20 your ON
cinl notice.
III trust that this viii he regard
ed ~ sumcsenf notice to act NJ
ON. I believe 1t to be my privs-
lege and my duty to demand .
thorough. searching and ex.
haustive investigation Of thi.
whsae matter, for the reason that
the public good demands IL and
the pub1ic press has referred to
me In such . manner as to re-
nect upon my honor ~ m ofIacer
ana ~ = citizen. I challenge the
closest scrutiny 81 ny ealcial acts
from nrst TO last and hes Of you.
II Yen poss~ss the power, . thor
ough investigation Of ali matters
connected with the conduct Of
the state board of education ar
any OF its members and OF my
>conduct NJ an anlcer of this state.
Very respectfully,
an. y. bryan
Two days later. on June u.s. 1890 at the
insfigation OF Gov. Ferry. the matter
jury OF Thurston county. Indictments
were brought against r. L. Edwards and
J. w Womack. agents OF the American
Book Company. and againsf Eames and
sullivan. said to have been in their en-
ploy. The cases were never brought TO
trial and In 1885 were thrown out OF court
BY nolle prosequi
1naorse Mr.. Bryan.
Nothing could be found to IN the slight
est degree implicate Mr. Bryan In the al
legged nefarious transactions charged
AGAINST the book conpany's agents Some,
time thereafter. however, a new board OF
education was appointed. consisting OF
~ Bemiss. OF Spokane: n. C. Kerr. OF
walla walIa; p. w. Brintnail. OF olym-
pia. and John d. Atkinson. OF Seattle
When the Republican state convention
assembled In 1899 the bitter fight between
Seattle and Tacoma over the indorse-
ment OF the Lake Washington canal pro-
1ect was at its height. Rather than seek
denomination, which might necessltate
taking side with either faction, Mr.. Bry-
an refused 20 allow his name TO 90 be-
fore the convention.
Following ID an extract from the pro-
ceedinss of the state board OF education
at session In Tacoma In December. 1897:
Tacoma. Wash. December a. 1881
sWhsrsas. This e the fnsl meeting Of
washington, and whereas. our most hien-
ly estsemed chairman. Hon. n. r. Bryan,
state superintendent Of public Instruction.
from the ofiicial duties he has very ably
and efficiertly performed. be IL
Resolved, That In him the state loses
public servant OF eminent ability. unim-
during his term OF once. given constant
evidence OF his more than ordinary knowi-
edge OF men, AFFAIRS and the educational
needs Of this young and rapidly develop
''Resoived. THAT IN our ofsiciai relations
we have found him ever courteous and
fair, a man OF high culture. Of broad
prsSsn.i.s range Of professional 1 ana s sdn-
cattonal attachments; and we express the
earnest hope that his eminent ability as
an executor and AZ an educator VIII ind
OF our state. Very heartily
ID. BEMIsb.
superintendent, q spcssne Schools.
~sup.r,n..nd.n, = w & Eva Van. Schools.
.'B. w. BRrNTNALI.
superintendent OF Olympia schools.
JOHN d. ATKINSON.
"Attorneyat-Law, Seattle and Secretary
OF the state Board Of Education.
Members Of the state board Of educa-
ton
Employea ~ store saIesman.
Mr. Bryan went out OF once January
13, fSA, shortly thereafter ne was taken
seriously III and after two months OF
sickness faced the necessity OF finding
Immediate employment which his Illness
had prevented him from seeking earlier.
He wrote a number OF letters to county
school boards and friends In this state
and Oregon and about May received an
offer OF permanent employment from r.
T.. Edwards, in charge Of the American
Book compauy's once In Portland. Mr..
Bryan made II understood that he was
not suited by temperament or experience
for book agent, and was given q piaet
in the Portland store OF the concern.
After 80 many years NJ his profession
Mr.. Bryan soon found that he was not
the man for the place and was not giving
satisfaction TO his employers as a store
salesman. The employers made tho same
discovery at about the same time with
the result that on November |. 1853. Mr..
nrvan was summariiv discharged.
During HIS residence IN Oregon Mr.
BRYAN was twice I'm Salem. the capital
city. lie has never thus far In his life
been IN Salem at a time when the oregon
legislature was IN session.
Following his discharge from the EN-
ptoy OF the book concern Mr.. Bryan
again found himself In embarrassing
financial condition The school year had
already we'll begun and all places both
In Oregon and this state were filled. For
eleven months he was out Of employment.
Al length ending place again In the
schools Of Washington, becoming super
tntensent NJ Aberdeen. Cnehalis county,
watch pasition he held until May Of thss
gear when he retired o. his own volltton.