Bisbee daily review., 1903-04-16
SCHOOL FIGHT
 IS UNSETTLED
CHARGES OF PERSONALITIES
 COMING FROM BOTH SIDES.
In the Meantime the General Public Wonders What It Is All About. News from Both Sides.

Wonders What It Is All About.
 News from Both Sides.
 Especial to Review)
 The utter indifference of the two factions constituting the school fight has led many to the belief that unless one side or the other would soon de sist from further squabbling, the in serests of the public al large would be subiugated to the satisfaction of per sonal desire. And this belief Is per fectly right and we'll founded. Wit ness the progress of the case fo- proof of this statement When the hght was first inaugurated, nothing was ever heard of personalities or personal feeling entering into the matter. Now. from both sides of the battlefield can be heard statements to the effect that it is either a fgh. against E. R. Pirtle, real estate man, in distinction from E. R. Pirtle as school trustee; or one hears that it Is a personal matter with Mir. Pirtle and Mr. Overlook. in the hope of getting large contracts for a school building. Now. should either or both of these statemenJs have any founda tion, the fact still remains that the school house or its grounds is not a place for sham battles, but a sacred seat of learning, where the youth of the land has inoculated in him or her those germs of knowledge which form the foundation of a successful career The time has come when both sides should consider this phase of the sub ject and act according to their highest instincts. The cry of parents for the right of their children to an edu- cation cannot long go unheeded, and whether it is on Mir. Pirtle or A. c. Lockwood as head of the opposition that the resentment of these parents fall. should the school house fail to materialize. one or the other. cannot afford to carry the burden of blame that is sure to come 1T September. 1903. does not bring with it well equipped school for the city of Doug las. In justice to all. The Review states right here that while the oppo- sition has a ground for action from a technical standpoint. so also has Mir. PirtIe the right to claim his election valid aside from that technicality. II seems only just and reasonable that both sides. instead of fighting to a finish. should put their heads together decide who is right and who is wrong. and adjust the matter to the satisfac- ton. of both and the welfare of the public.
 If. as the opposition claims. it is only taking up the matter to see that the bond issue is properly carried out and bonds subscribed for the expenses of purchase and erection Of school property, 1t seems as though that matter can be settled at once Sup posing Mir. Pfrtle is allowed to remain in office and is really not entitled to do SO; Mr. Overlook is unquestion- ably a lawful trustee, and all that re- mains to make Mir Kenyon so is 10 have his election repealed and his appointment by the county school su- perintendent substituted. Mir. Ken yon was shown at the polls to be a popular choice of the people, and his appointment should follow his resig- Pirtle continue in office, granting if you will that he was not eligible, and what effect will his election have on the bonds? None, absolutely none. It is a vote of a majority of tie board that counts as to the legality of its acts, and the fact that Mir Pirtle was not taxpayer in 1902, and is one in 1903, should at least be looked upon by the opposition as showing his in tentioas in the matter.
 Now. as to the hue and cry set up by the enemies of Pirtle, to the effect that if allowed to remain in office. he and Mir Overlook syould keep both the real estate deals and building con tracts at home, such statements are absurd in the extreme. The opposi- ton rests its case on technical point of law. Is it not a poor rule that does not work both ways? The law is quite plain to the effect that no school trustee can obtain such a con tract or receive any moneys from the purchase of land for public purposes.
 So far as the handling of any real estate is concerned. which might operate to the profit of Mir. Pirtle. such deal is too remote to be con sidered. for the International Land & improvement company has already offered to donate block 62, between Sixth and Seventh streets, for school grounds. The acceptance of this ground cannot well be refused by the school board, as the item of school grounds alone means. an outlay of a. least $5.00G. if purchased by the dis trict. s. F. Mcguire, in speaking of the matter today. stated that should