Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-09-07
SCHOOL BOARD TURMOIL
Of All the Mix-ups This is the
Worst
PRES. WELLlNGER RESIGNS.
For Nearly Two Hours There Was Dead
lock and Pandemonium Regned--Mr.
WeIIinger Finally Walked Out
and Calm Followed the
PRES. WELLlNGER RESIGNS.
Storm.

the City School Board, but the mix.
up Thursday capped the climax. For
nearly two hours here was dead
lock and the i've school commission
ers did nothing but sit there and
amuse the vast throng of spectators,
who had been attracted there to the
meeting place by the announcement
that there was blood on the moon"
When the time for the meeting ar
rived President Weilinger sprang a
surprise by handing TO the secretary
his written resignation as president
of the Martinsburg Board Of Educa-
ton. The resignation was not &C
companied by any explanation.
Secretary Pltzer acted as the presid-
ing officer and read the resignation to
the commissioners. After long ST.
lence, Commissioner Tabler, at the
urgent request of Mr.. Wellinger,
moved that it be accepted. Commits
sioner Whetzel seconded the motion.
Messers Tabler and Whetzei voted
in favor of it and Messers Evans and
Paulding against 1t and deadlock
| followed. President Wellinger said
he wanted 10 get out of the chair so
! that he could be more active in look
| ing after the interest of the taxpayers.
He said it had been EN- barrassing to
him all along to occupy the chair and
he thought 1t was unmanlv in the
commissioners not to accept his resig-
nation.
Commissioner Paulding replied II
don't like to be told that | am not a
man. but guess | will have TO take
it now. All have to say is that
there is niger in the wood pile and
Iwant to catch him if he comes out j
After being in the room for about
an hour President Wellinger finally
took the chair, called the meeting to
order and then III turn called on Com
missioners Paulding, Tablerand Evans
to take his place Each politely de-
clined.
This caused President WelliDger to
say. ''WeIl Great Godr What are we
going TO do? Let's DO something.
Haven't any of you the courage TO adj
iourn? don't proI ose to sit here and
be the laughing stock of the town. l
don't know how many DIggers there
are in the wood pile, but | saw them
there myself and want to get them
ont,
Commissioner Evans made little
speech endeavoring to smooth things
over so that "a meeting could be held.
I'VE are proud to represent saeh
city, and are proud to know that
the people thonaht enough of rs to
elect us to transact the business
which it is a school boards duty to
transact.
1--WE have conducted ourselves, we
believe, as we should. We have had
some little jars, bnt they happen
everywhere. If all of you spectators
came here tonight to see something
20 laugh at you are going to get left
1--WE are going to conduct ourselves
properly and act as gentlemen
should. The president wants 20 vacate
the chair, but the board won't let
him. We want him thore. With al
his faults we love him still and with
all our faults he loves us still,
Ii we only had music in the schools
now we conld have little song. Ii
| could be IN order now would make
motion to have music in the schools
now. Music hath charms to soothe
you know,
Commissioner Evans then tried TO
get the president to take up motion
relative 10 electing teachers which
had been made at the last meeting
and which had not been disposed of.
Mr.. Wellnger refused, saying that
the board adjourned to meet to take
up his charges against Prof. Cole and
that they would be taken up before
anything else.
President Welllrger then had the
Secretary to again read his resigna-
tion and Commissioners Tabler again
moved that it be accepted. This
time Mr. Wellinger voted to accept
his own reslgnatlos and the motion
was carried by vote of 3 to 2. He
then vacated the chair.
Commissioner Tabler moved that
Commissioner Evans be elected te
fill the vacancy in the chair, which
motion was seconded by Commits
sioner mot Presidency Wellinger. Al
Secretary Pitzer was about to put
the motion, Mr.. Evans halted him
and said - Do YOU think | would nc
cent such a position under such cir
cumstances? There never mas been
legislative body where the majorit,
is not in accord with the chair anc
do you think / would occupy tn