The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-04
IT AROUSED
THE PEOPLE
Case ofMiss Mason Sole Topic
of Discussion.
COMMERCIAL CLUB ACTS
Will Ask School Board to Pro-
vide Vindication.
EXPRESSION OF OPINION
Is General That Young Lady
Was UnjuStIy Treated.

OeiieNinq tnat the honorable school
board Of this city has unintentionaIiy
ooEe great injustice to Miss Anna
2. Mason by publicly cismssing her
without Cue notice, from her position
as teacher in the public schools of
this city; therefore be it
Resolved by US, as citizens of
Wichita and members CT the CONNER
ciai club, that a committee CT five
be appointed to call upon the mem
bers Of said beard and request that
they call a special meeting for the
purpose of reconsidering their action
In this NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. passed
by a mass meeting at the Commercial
ciun last night.
Not for ten years has ANYTHING If locs1
consequence happened in Wichita that
has so aroused public sentiment as the
circumstances which prevented the an
pointment Of Miss Anna Hason. teacher
In the public schools. at the meeting OF
the board Of education Monday night.
FROM morning till night yesterday. in
the offices, stores and homes il was prac-
GcalIy the sole topic of conversation
ana The Eagle telephone never rang I'D
so many times in one day, so anxious
We're the people TO express their senti-
ments and opinions. 1t was a matter of
general rejoicing that the affair happened
at an open meeting OF the board for
had II otherwise occurred, in an execu-
tive session for instance, the press would
not have gotten a. it and Miss Mason
after Ions years Of service. would have
been injured without the public having
been aroused. as they are. in her inter-
est The whole thing. in measure, is a
Vlndlcatlon OF the publicity Of the acts
OF public boards having the control Of
public interests and public affairs.
The opinion IS overwhelming that Miss
Mason has been unfairly and unjustly
dealt with and the demand for her vim
dication as an act Of justice is almost
unanimous. Miss Mason had no intima-
ton whatever that there was any com
blaint against her and after twelve years
OF magnificent loyalty to the schools Of
Wichita she would naturally expect that
II anybody was not satisfied with her
work she would be informed Of it. so
that she might have an opportunity to
offer explanations in her own defense.
SO confident was she that her manage
ment OF the fourth grade at Park school
house was satisfactory to her patrons
that had she deemed that she needed a
friend the very hrst person she would
appeal 10 would be Mr.. Stewart. the gen
Oeman VINO made such severe criticisms
upon her competency and methods. I
For ten years Miss Mason has taught (
in the Park school. and. being free from /
criticism during that length Of time she /
naturally had right to believe that she /
was doing what was best for education I
work She had a right. and a legitimate
one. TO expect that II she was not doing I
what the school board and the public /
wanted her 10 do. she would be informed .
OF it. = servant for a long time in any
Office. public or private, accumulates /
rights in proportion 10 his service and /
faithfulness and one Of these rights is .
the candor of those whom he serves And (
SO it is that the entire matter resolves (
itself into a question of justice and fair /
play.
Miss Mason was reared in Wichita and I
educated in its public schools. she is a I
young lady with n magnificent personal /
ity ard in the social, religious and edu- /
cauonal life in wichita none stands I
higher Her colleagues in educational (
work are her strongest champions in this +
the most sorrowful and pathetic event in +
her lise and many a tear was shed yes (
terday when school teachers read in the 4
Eagle the stinging criticisms made /
against her She had no thought Of such .
& happening herself for she knew that
she had been recommended for reap
pointment, not only by Superintendent
Knight who thoroughly appreciates her .
worth. but hy the committee on teachers {
and salaries as well Indeed. as a mat
ter of fact she did not know anything
about the misfortune until friends began
sending her their sympathy. many OF
them expressing it in flowers.
Her splendid character shone brilliantly
when q reporter for the Eagle talked with
her concerning her disappointment and
the distressing circumstances incident to
It. il would be hard 10 find another WOO
man in Wichita 50 devoid Of anything sa-
voring Of resentment She spoke with
tenderness of Mr.. Stewards children. re-
ferred To their superb conduct i'm school
and their aptncss 20 learn. She spoke
with especial feelings Of tenderness
about the boy who was mentioned hy his
father as not getting along well under
her tuition. She said thar he was a
bright little fellow and referred 20 his ok
animation cards 10 prove that he had
made far better progress than the aver
age boy Of his grade
Miss Mason. asked reporter. have
YOU any idea what prompted such pub
lie criticism of youe
u arm absolutely az a loss IN find 4 mo-
tive Tor IL she said II am impatient 10
see Mr.. stewart. that I may get some
OF IT,
Did De ever inform YOU that your
work was not satisfactory"
Never. That is WHY I DO not under
stand his criticisms II anybody else did
what he has done he IS the man Of ali
men would have gone 20 for advice.
The whole thing Is incomprehensibIe 10
ne
Did his children make progress At
school,
They made excellent progress. They
eNceilcd IN almost everything as the ,
record Of their work VIII SHOW IL you ex-
amino ST.
do you think the children had mis-sp-
resented you 10 their parents in any }
way"
Impossible, Mr.. s,evarrs children .
are exceptionally good children.
rs there a conspiracy anywhere 20 in
3ure you. or have you any reason 70 SUI
pect ones"
None whatever. All this thing has /,
come upon me ike thunder from a clear 4,
SKY I was perfectly 6umhIoaaded when ;
l first heard OF I" !
Miss Ada Brook. principal Of the school
II which Miss Mason teaches. does not ?
hesitate 10 say that she is one Of the !
best teachers in the city.
Miss Mason is & yous- lady Of beauti- I
ful temperament and II is Impossible for r
those who know her wen 20 believe the 2
chrase of arrogancy made against her +
She has certain anpes rance Of dignity r
and that possibly may he niSconstrueG to s
mean arroeancy bur ii is 81 entirely nat
ural that Il IS hard u understand why a
q man IKE ar Stewart would fan into
that error. The charge that she IS in-
competent Is entirely removed frorn the
Consideration Of the case A young