New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-15
CRAWFORD UP IN ARMS.
Citizen Issues PrOnu1cidmentO IN q
Professors Behalf.
iREAT MIXUP OVER SCHOOLS.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]


Crawford N. J., May 14.-This little village.
whose name recalls the delightful memories OF
ancient maiden women and village pastorals OF
literary delight. lends it's name to yet another
bit Of village heartburniug, such as Mrs. GaSKell
recorded in the English Crawford. WITHIN lhe
last few hours there has been circulated a docu-
ment as remarkable in its nature as it is hery IN
its denunciation. and the citizens Of this quiet
town beside the Railway rubbing their eyes
in wonder at the new version of an old trouple.
The dull fact, which underlies this rural quar-
rel is that the school trustees of the town have
not only refused to reflect the present prin-
cipaI Professor Wendell NJ. Thomas. but last
Saturday chose his successor. The tenure of Of
fee by Professor Thomas has already been the
issue OF an election, columns of bitterness have
been published in the local paper on the ques-
tioc and to-day Roswell A Benedict Issued
the following remarkable cali to arms to the
citizens of Crawford, which truly mirrors the
intensity Of the Cranfordan nature.
Under the suggestive title of Pearls ana
SWINE MT Benedict has written ITO the Peo-
pie of Crawford"
Can you afford TO have It go out to the world
that the controlling force in Crawford is Of that
semi-crmnal character furnished by black
guards and DULLES to whom no human virtue Is
sacred? Are you going to adopt as your own an
act of pure revenge, abherrent to a civilized
soul as cold blooded murder? l hear some OF
town by stirring this matter up further? Let
what drop? The pursuit Of a redhanded as
sassin? Would You compound CRIME II Is
safer to take crime by the throat and throttIe
it. If you don't, sooner or later 1t VIII throtue
you What are my fellow citizens Of like nina
going to do about It? Stand up and be counted
or remain stuck in the filth of foul and bar
berous persecution? Wash themselves of this
abomination or share in the brand of Cain?
Stirring as is this jeremiad to the Crawford
nation, Mr.. Benedict's wife, whom local paper
has unsympathetically named Carrie Nations
| Understudy" finds yet more bitter words to de-
scribe a Crawford that appears, after the joint
+ assault of the Benedicts somewhat more wicked
| than the ancient, unlucky Gomorrah.
II would be mercy IT, for the trustees who
! voted against Mr. Thomas. could pray, in the
| language so we'll known to US all, Father. for
| give them, for they know not what they do.
| But no. These men sinned against light and
| against the free opportunity that was at hand
! to know the true nature Of the terrible act
| which they contemplated Is Crawford to rest
! under the stain cast upon her by this cruel ana
/ wantonly destructive act? Are we to be known
as a people of so little intelligence as TO permit
| the destruction Of noble school system to ap-
! pease the petty wrath of the spoiled children Of
/ the snowy side of our society?
Here. then. is a sample OF the fierce white
| light" that beats about Crawford. Now, there Is
| another side not less bitter.
! DO I favor dropping Professor Thomas?" de-
| claimed one indignant Crawford matron. whose
| is not TO be mentioned 10 L! why,
what do you think that man said to a lady Of
| our society? He told her little girl, who was
| late at school. that he supposed that she had
| stayed at home to keep house while her mother
j went to euchre party! What do you think of
that?" There are other school rumors flying
! furously around Cranford-the tale Of a maiden,
! slender in age but large of frame, who sat on
/ the floor at school a warning to her mates;
of a step ladder which encouraged the "Ex-
| celsior" idea among the reluctant minds This
| is Crawford gossip. Only Mrs. Gasken, of lit
erary memory, would dare to say such things
really happened
Meantime the alarm sounds through the quiet
streets, and even the Railway grows muddy as
the conflict continues, growing yet btterer when
the men depart for work in New-York and the
women alone remain to the battlements.