Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-11-19
KEEP TO THE MARK IN VIEW!

II will no doubt be painful news TO
the Board of Education, that one Of
our morning contemporaries does not
agree with us In the opinion, that the
present board "has been satisfactory to
(. the majority of our citizens That
contemporary seems to imagine that
1T Is the majority" We DO not re-
gard ut" as representative even, OF the
majority. but simply as voicing its own
Views, and they, sad to say. are not IN
consonance with the facts.
II Is not true that the business OF the
board has been neglected. either
through the absence, occasionally, OF
some of It's members who have had to
leave the State for while on business
or to lack OF devotion to the interests
OF the schools by those who have been
present, or 10 the incapacity of any
members who have devoted most at
tentioD to the work. Statements have
appeared In the Tribune about meet
ings Of the board which, on inyestiga-
ton, proved to be totally Incorrect. If
charges are to be made against the
present board. they should be made
specific SO that they can be met and
answered.
We believe the present board has
served the public faithfully and efilci-
emily, has had the cause Of public edu-
cation at heart, has exhibited thorough
acquaintance with the needs of the
schools, and has exhibited at least as
much ability In school management as
any of Its predecessors. What good
purpose Is to be subserved by attack
ing that body just now. In this general
and ungenerous manner we fail TO dis
cover.
There is no need to attempt to cast
discredit on the labors OF the past In
order 10 secure what Is needed for the
future. We are in favor OF selecting
the very best talent available for the
important position of members Of the
school board. We desire to see parti-
san politics and religious differences
completely excluded from the election.
The people should see to It that these
are not permitted TO govern In this
matter. The choice IL with them. They
ehn 10 Int
question, and exercise the power given
to them on the ballot. the potent weap-
on Of free citizenship, They should not
permit the old leaven Of bitterness to
rankle In their bosoms for a moment
in deciding on this issue. They should
come together, in their respective pre-
cincts or districts. and determine that
their voice shall rule, and not The
schemes or carpings or antagonisms
of few irreconcilables, who wish TO
run things according to their narrow
prejudices
The question before the Salt Lake
public is not so much the course OF the
outgoing members Of the Board OF
ducation--though that may come up
incidentally and at the proper moment
as It is the choice Of the right kind OF
men for the place in the immediate fu-
ture. 1t Will not help the cause OF
present candidates TO berate unjustly
the work OF those public servants whose
term is expiring. Every calumny
against them can be answered when It
is made sufficiently explicit, but that
will not add a single encomlum to the
prospective nominees TO fill their places.
Give us good and efficient men for the
work to be done; and that does not in
volve unjust fault-hndlng with the gen.
tlemen who are about to retire, after
energetic, intelligent and gratuitous la
bors solely IN the public interest.