The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-03
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Kansas Educators Are Opposing
Mr.. Dayhoff.
State Superintendent Not Salts
factory to Teachers.
THEY LAUGH AT HIM.
Association Refused to Pass
Commendatory Resolutions.
Also Regarded as Special Friend
of the Book Trust.

saS at work against the reelection of L.
L. Dayhoff as state superintendent of
public instruction, and it is an influence
that is entirely independent of politics.
1t is the influence of the educators and
public school teachers.
1t is doubtful if a man ever occupied
the position Mr.. Dayhoff does who was
so little regarded by the school teachers
as is Dayhoff. He is regarded as so in
competent that the state teachers as
sociation last winter refused to pass
the usual resolution endorsing his work.
The committee on resolutions refused
to let it even come before the associa-
tion.
For many years it has been the GUS
tom of the state association to pass a
resolution of this kind. The state
superintendent is the head of the edu-
cationa1 system of Kansas and is gen
orally supposed to be a man of high in
tegrity and ability as an educator. Mr..
Dayhoff falls so far short of the popular
standard for this office that the major
ity of the school teachers and educators
of the state hold him in derision. For
that reason he was not endorsed by the
teachers last winter.
Following such a man as Frank Mel
son in office Mr.. Dayhoff was really at
Nelson is a man of force, of ideas, and
of the highest integrity. His admins
tration as the head of the public school
by his work in improving the efficiency
of the country school-the one that
needs it more than any other. Superin-
tendent Nelson gave a tremendous i'm
petuS to the matter of rural school con-
Solidation in the interest of better
schools for lower taxes. When Day
hoff became superintendent nothing
more was heard of the ideas for school
foot, although it ought not to have been
difficult for him to keep up the good
work Nelson started.
Nelson's administration will go down
in the school history of Kansas as char
acterized for its efforts to improve the
rural schools. Dayhoff's administration
will go down in history as characterized
for its general incompetence and the
efforts of the superintendent to use his
office for his personal gain.
About the time he went into office
Dayhoff started a school publication at
Hutchinson which he designed to take
the place of John MacDonald's Western
School Journal. Much of his time has
been spent in building up that publica-
ton and getting school teachers to sub
scribe for it. During the first nine
months of this year he made twenty
eight trips to Hutchinson at the ex-
pense of the state, taking the money
out of the travelling fund given him by
the legislature for the purpose of visit
ing the schools of the different coun-
ties of the state.
His discharge of Miss Nellie Tutcher
a year ago, after she had been stenog-
raDher in the office during Superin-
tendent Nelson's administration, lost
Mr.. Dayhoff many friends in the state
house who knew the circumstances.
Miss Tutcher was recognized as a very
efficient stenographer and was thor
nTIx of q
SuperintendentS office, but she evil
IDENTIFY did not agree with some of Mr..
DayhoffS peculiar ideas. At the time
her brother was murdered Miss Tutch-
er was away from the Office for a few
days at the time of his funeral. When
she went back to work she was in
formed that her services were no
longer needed, and that a school
hoffs home. had been appointed in her
place. Dayhoff was roundly de-
nounced in the state house for this
action Miss Tutcher was given en-
ployment by c. H. Luling in the in
surance department and when the
Worlds fair commission got ready for
work she became its stenographer.
These things and Dayhoff's connec-
ton with the Comanche county bond
deal and other bond transactions
which do not look exactly creditable,
are aside from his ability as an edu-
Gator. but they show the manner in
Wnlcn MI. DaynO1I mas Deen running
his office. His conduct as educator
and the head of the public school sys-
tenn is another matter, and that is
what has turned the teachers of the
state against him. He is generally
recognized as being extremely favor
able to the American Book company,
the book trust, in awarding contracts
for books in the public schools. An
other matter in which he collided
with the county superintendents of the
state occurred at the meeting of the
State Teachers association last winter.
1t was over the course of study to be
used in the public schools. Dayhoff
had arranged with firm at Fremont,
Neb., for the adoption of a course of
study published by that firm, but it'll
many particulars, and the county su-
perintendents baked on it. The result
was that a committee was appointed
to revise it and get up a new course.
The result of these things is that
many of the school teachers of the
state are working against the re-elec
ton of Dayhoff, independent of poll
tics, simply because of his inefficiency ,
in educational work and his petty |
gratis in connection with his office.
Emporia, Kas., Nov. S.-Judge Dale, |
Democratic nominee for governor, |
spoke here Tuesday at the only DEM
ocratic rally held in Lyon county this |
He said that if he were
governor he would bring action |
against the state treasurer inside of
twenty-four hours, and if the attor- |
ney general, Mr.. Coleman, would not |
prosecute Kelly, he would employ a |
lawyer who would. DIR. Lawrence the |
from the Fourth district admitted that |
Mr.. Roosevelt would carry Kansas |
easily. Lawrence and Mr.. Dolan, can |
didate for state treasurer. spoke last |