Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-12-05
THE ATTACK ON THE SCHOOLS

The antl-"Mormon' spokesman in
this city continues the silly pastlme In
which Il has INDUCED lately II con-
tlnues painting Bcelzebub on the wall.
and telling rs audience that he VIII
surely get 'em. M they do not watch
out" The performance would be at
least as amusing as the average Punch
and Judy show, but for the fact that
the performer for apparent selfish pur-
poses. ls trlnlng with interests vital
TO this community II is for The voters
to administer, at the polls, the proper
rebuke to the malice and ogotlsm that
dictate such course
We are told now that un-
less the Board Of Education In
this city Is made over into an anti
"AIormon' machine. the schools win be
go "Mormonized' that none but Nor
mon teachers can be employed That
IS one Of the ugly features painted on
the wan. by the antl-"Mormon' organ.
There are others. But that one is made
particularly prominent. And does it not
friRhien the innocoats3
But what Is the record Of the school
administration IN this city so far? tits
this that "A "Momous' and 900 nom
"Momona" are now employed IN the
public schools. The High school has
a5 non. Mormon" and 2 Mormon
teachers. OF 25 school principals, ~
are nom "Mormons" And this not
wlthstandlng the fact that OF the 1850
children attending, at least 5000 are OF
Mormon" parontage. Does this show
ing Justify the malicious cry that the
schools must be rescued from Nor
mon" domination?
Further, school teachers are now al
ways appointed without reference to
their religion, or politics, Merit alone
Is considered. These are facts that cam
not truthmlly be contradlcted, But how
viii this be, II the Board OF Education
IL made partisan, and anti Mormon, 10
as the plan is2 Then. merit would no
longer count Political services would
have to be rewarded with positions
and salaries and the schools would be
so used. "Mormons" would be dis
charged because Of their religion. Hat
red and strife born Of blgouy would
soon penetrate from the board to the
teachers and from the teucners 70 the
classroom and the playground, until the
children themselves would be divided IN
hostile camps, mutually ostacisIus
each other. Can parents take the rss
OF making such conditions probable2
can business men. interested in the
preservation Of peace aud good win
among an classes ot good citizens be
supposed to countenance an effort NJ
dealing "body blow to the schools?
VIII Taxpayers generally be guided
by the rhetorical outbursts Of cir
Gus barker Advertising fake showy
The "Nows," as has been stated re-
pcatedly, has no candidates. 10 support
but there is a non-parusau ticket in
the field, and one partisan, anu."Mor,
mon" The former has been selected
by citizens of AIN parties IN the bes5
interests OF the schools, The other was
selected, with % view OF dealing a body
blow TO a church. We do not believe
;hat anyone animated by a sense OF
Justice can hesitate between the two A
ticket that has 10 De- supported boy ms-
cradle falsenoods such as those the
Tribune daily offers. cannot be worthy
Of support. II q ticket cannot win on
its merits, II deserves defeat.
We have no other interest To this
election We hope TO see the schools
preserved from partisan strife ana po.
litical corruption An good citizens
entertain the same hope Let them an
unite IN defense of their children, and
Tor the preservation Of peace ana
good win in our midst.