The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-31

ton are out of the city and will not
be here to vote at the meeting Monday
night. The absentees are ]. w. Gleed
and L. C. Bailey. OF the ten members
in the city, seven will vote for Mr.
Nelson if he signifies willingness to
accept the position. When the an
nouncement came unexpectedly to the
members of the board that Mr.. David
son had been elected superintendent
of the Omaha schools and that ne
would leave Topeka by April II, the
members of the board were at a loss
as to the proper person to succeed to
the position. Several names were men-
toned. The three who commanded the
most attention were L. D. Whittemore,
principal of the high school, Eli IL
Foster of Harrison school, and John
Mcbride, principal of Branner school,
but none of these would announce
themselves as active candidates and
none was particularly desirous OF
leaving the line of education work they
are engaged in.
Several names have been suggested
but none have met with the hearty
support which followed the mention
of Mr.. Nelson's name. For personal
reasons some members of the board
will feel that they must cast votes for
other candidates but on an informal
ballot Mr.. Nelson would receive seven
of the ten votes and after the three
complimentary votes had been cast he
would receive a unanimous ballot.
Mr. Nelson is a receptive candidate.
Whether he would accept the position
or not is unknown to the members of
the board Mr.. Nelson, before he be-
came state superintendent, was dean
of the normal department at Bethany
college, Lindsborg. The annual musi-
cal festival at Lindsborg is being held
and will not end until the Sunday rem
dition of the Messiah. is given Mr..
Nelson's home is in Lindsborg and he
will not leave there to come to Topeka
until the festival is ended. He has
been invited by members of the board
to come to Topeka. He has replied
that he will not be able to come to
Topeka before next week.
Since the death of DR.. Carl Swens-
son, president of Bethany college, Mr..
Nelson has been talked of for the pres
idency of the college. The election of
q president will be held at Lindsborg
the last week in April when the Swea-
| isb Lutheran conference meets. The
fact that he is being talked of for that
positfon probably leaves Mr.. Nelson
undecided about announcing himself
as a candidate for the superlntendency
in Topeka
IF Mr.. Nelson does not allow his
name to go before the board. it is a
question who would be the strongest
candidate. There are two or three
available men among the ward prln-
cipals. In the event that the board de-
cides to consider applicants from out
side of Kansas, it is likely that Mr..
Charles Summer Stewart. superintend-
ent of the schools at Elnlwood. III,
will be considered
Mr. Stewart is a graduate of Knox
college. holds the degrees of Bachelor
of Arts and Master of Arts, and is
recognized as one of the strongest and
abIest educators among the ranks OF
the younger men of his profession in
| that state. He was soldier in the
Philippine war. and after being honor
ably discharged he returned home and
was afterwards instructor in mathe-
matics IN the high school at Galesburg
H., where he made fine record, and
| for the last two years he has filled his
present position as superintendent OF
schools at Elmwood. He has very
strong recommendations and while il
| is not certain that he could be secured
it is probab Bile that he would accept
the position here and fill it with credit
He is an enthusiast in his profession
and uD in the best and most modern
methods He is son-in-Iaw of Johr
E. Frost. of Topeka.