Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-06-21

What is Involved in the Pending
School Election in Rock
Island.
DISTRIBUTE TIE REPRESENTATION
And Likewise the Responsibility
for the Control of the
Schools.

THE Argos. in the course of a half
column article on THE ARGUS COM
mittee's school ticket, says: The
principles at stake do not involve per-
! sonalities or malice" We should
hope not, indeed, whatever these
principles are. BY the way, what are
these principles, anyhow? THE ARGUS
mentions none except flair represen-
tation and business management, "
| that it is representative ticket, ~
and Islands for all parts of the city, "
in the face of the fact that the Seventh
ward, which constitutes one-tifth of
| tative upon iti-Union.
The above paragraph might be sur
prising but for the fact that it comes
from the Union, that there is school
election pending and that the Union
is as usual on the unpopular side. 1t
was the hope of The ARGUS that the
| election might pass without contro.
versy or feeling. but il seems that ac-
cording to an unfailiDg custom the
morning sheet has gotten the wrong
steer, and is bound to say something.
AS far as The ARGUS is concerned
it has no interest in the school cleo.
ton beyond that of fair p,av, the
Unions inuendo TO the contrary not
withstanding. L. has taken kindly 10
the ticket that was first in the field
because it represents public sent
ment and is representative and fair.
1t has entertained no prejudice to-
ward the self-announced ticket of the
''ins," as the Union calls it. 1t
has no personal feelings in the matter.
And it would pass the Unions para
graph over without further comment.
but the fact that it feels that some
thing more than casual reference is
due the morning papers observations
when il first asks what are the
principles at stake in the present
election, and then adds that THE
ARGUS mentions none except fair rep
resentation and business manage
ment." The ARGUS is forced TO adj
NIT that it 10 unable to discover
stronger principles on which TO
appeal 10 the public. Fair repre-
sentation and business princip IN
volved in q ticket represen-
| tative ticket indeed, that stands for
all parts of the city. What
| more does the Union want, except to be
contrary, as it always is at school cleo
! tion times? 1t IS but the exhibition of
the same trait that it has gratified on
numerous occasions with which
the friends of public schools are
familiar. 1t is by nature opposed to
being in accord with popular opinion,
in school matters, particularly. The
suggestion that it makes about the
Seventh ward might ust as we'll be
answered by asking how about the
First ward on the Robbins ticket?
Distribute Representation.
But it is not in the wards separately
that the public generally is interest
ed. but the public is and ought To be
opposed to the Capitalization of the
me IN bers and the control of the board
in one ward, a is the case now What
the people want is a just distribution
of the mem bership. The election of
the four members who are standing
for reelection would mean a continue
lion of three out of the five from the
Fifth ward, with one from the east end
and one from down town. leaving the
central ward without representation,
while the success of the citizens ticket
would insure two members from the
west end, one from the Fourth ward,
one from the Fifth ward and one
from the east end. Can any fair
minded taxpayer regardless of where
he resides object to such distribu-
ton as this? Is not in truth the
ticket composed of Messrs. Denk-
mann, Stewart. Hull and Seidel
one that stands for fair representation
and business principles?
Distribute the Responsibility.
1t is not to be construed as an evil
dence of personal feelings on the part
of The ARGUS to say that it is opposed
to Mr.. Robbins methods of naming
his own associates on the board and
of seeking to down those who may
differ with him. Such a practice
places entirely too much of the peo-
pies interests in the hands of one
man regardless of how worthy his
motives or ambition.
Let all sections of the city aud all
interests, political and otherwise. be
represented on the school board.