Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-05-23
More of the School Board.

Iron County Register-We, the un-
dersigned members of the Ironton
School Board, had not intended to re-
ply to the REGISTERS caustic criticism
of our action in supporting Jesse NJ
Hawkins for Principal of Ironton Pub
lie School.
But the REGISTER is still croaking
for reasons. We will herein give them
that we think the REGISTER is
legitimately entitled to a Syllable from
US, but because we do not wish to con-
the motives which actuated us to
do what we conceived to be u duty.
We may do more than merely assign
reasons, and If we happen to criticise
the REGISTER and ''the facts hit a lit
tie hard it shall not be because they
come from IN envenomed Pen," but
because the REGISTERS Editor (Our
friend and Hawkins friendly has been
persistent in medling where he haG
no business. we ave not written a
composition Since u School days,
Still we think we can tell as much
truth in the Same Space as the REGIS
TER and we are morally certain that
we can express less of that other ele-
ment which enters so largely into the
late Compositions of the REGISTER.
We will admit that two Statements
made by the REGISTER in articles criti-
Ching our actions are true: First. the
REGISTER is pronounced in its OPPOSITION
to the Public School SYSTEM: Second,
that we voted for Jesse Hawkins. The
rest is principally Rot, christian name,
Tommy. Our reasons for supporting
Jesse Hawkins are too numerous to
mention. Here are Some of them. He
is a gentleman. a Scholar, a perfect
success in the School room, has made
his own way by indomitable will pow
err and energy is IN honor to his u
ty, his State, and his parents and
friends. He is a home product whose
only crime is hat he, applied for the
Principalship of the Ironton Public
School. No better tribute could have
/, been paid to Sterling worth than to
have elected him Principal of Said
School and in Our Judgement, (f you
will concede that we have any, no
better thing could have been done for
the Patrons OF the School.
We were solicited by citizens OF
every class to vote for Jesse Hawkins
while on the other hand we were re-
quested by Prof. Wilkerson himself,
and one other individual, Only One, to
Vote for Wilkerson.
We are still proud that we supported
Hawkins, and are sorrow that those
who pretended to be his friends con-
spired to defeat him. 1t is a known
fact that in March April and May OF
each year it is the habit of Prof. Wilk-
erson TO Shoot an Application at every
desirable School within easy reach and
the Spring of 1901 was no exception to
the general rule. We concede Prof.
WIS Superiority as a man but do not
understand the law of Physics by
which he expects to Occupy more thar
one place at the Same time. 1t is
highly probable that he would not
have taught the Ironton School had
his application met with Success. Ii
he ment to teach here aud Knew as
the REGISTER did that there was prac-
tically no OPPOSITION (P) to him. Why
did he apply elsewhere? As we have
said, many patrons ask that Hawkins
be elected. you Say that nine tenths
of the people opposed him, that state
m6ub pEON0S Ou6 il bWO AAbSos Ahoe
the Public did not recognize you as
the Ironton School Board and therefore
lodged their Complaints with us in
stead of the press-G CeTy sensible thing.
Again you Say, or rather insinuate,
that Jesse Hawkins is a Victim spar
excellence" has been made ga cats
paw" of, etc. We don't Know what
that French word means but we under,
stand the seats paw" expression, and
If Such applies to US we wish to brand
it as cowardly. u~nwarranted and an in
famous LIE. 1--WE would express this
idea in foreign phrase and ambiguous
terms If we were learned as the Editor
of the REGISTER but we are so limited
in Our lingo hat we must call a spade,
a spade although it may appear harsh
and unrefined). We are aamzed at the
Editors unfair criticism that has beer
hurled upon us. In former days we
have found him t be a staunch advo'
cate of independent thought and &C.
ton and we think it unfair that thi:
privilege be conceded to us. the Edi
tor has tried to make the Public be
lieve that the Board bad a call meet
ing for balloting upon applications fol-
teachers before the regular time fol
the purpose of rolling Prof Wilkersor
the Editor we'll knows that this is un
true.
the meeting referred to was an ad
journed n for the purpose of Paying
teachers, Janitors and appointing al
Enumorator, but at the Solicitation o
the Teachers, an early election was at
tempted. although the president Of the
board questioned the legality of such
action. Now as to the question of re
tention and DIR. Marshall's anti-elec
ton promises, there has been mucf
said and little sincerely expressed
Honestly, now, did the REGISTER wan
all teachers retained or just HIS part
We think he was opposed to one. W.
have heard him make remarks to tina
effect. We have also heard him de
nounce actions of the man prof w.
he now praises. We could quote a few
things he said during the High Schoo
agitation in Ironton. We have know
him to make other .'1ops" that Wer'
astounding for a mar of mature years
We and the Public wonder why tn
REGISTER is such q launch friend o
Prof VS. Is it county printing n
wantsP Wonder why the Editor cal