The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-11-27
THE SCHOOL ELECTION.

II is A MATTER of comparatively
/ little importance in the approach
ing school election whether candi-
date was named by the non-partisar
conventions or by the American par
". but it is important that the men
elected should be progressive. clean
deeply interested in the city and It's
schools, and broad enough TO ignore
partisan or religious lines in every
thing affecting the public school sys-
TEN.
Fortunately most Of the nominees are
above reproach in every way and the
choice narrows down to a question of
personal qualifications for Office. In
the First precinct, for instance, Pro-
lessor Cummings holds over and c. ;.
Martin is the non-partisan nominee
while A. ]. Corum is the American
party's candidate. AS between the two
nominees, The Herald has no hesitancy
in preferring Mr.. CorUm because he
is the better man in every way for
this particular position. Mr.. Martin
is understood to be a good business
man and a reputable citizen, but his
antecedents and training do not jus
tify the belief that he is the equal Of
Mr.. Cerum in the experience and per-
sonal fitness for membership on the
most important public body in the
municipality.
Mr. Giauque OF the Second who is
a candidate to succeed himself. has
been narrow. prejudiced and eectarian
in his views of school administration.
Judged by his record, he is totally I'M
able 10 take the broad view Of public
school policy which should character
lie the whole board if salt Lake is
not 10 retrograde in its educational
system. on the other hand. Mr. Red
man. who is pitted against Giauque,
could be depended upon to advocate
any progressive policy that would main
tain and advance the very high stand
ard already established by the city's
schools.
In the Third precinct, Mr.. Moyle has
not always shown the breadth and lib
crafty that ought TO mark a man in
his position, but he is fairly entitled to
credit for his devotion to his duties
and is probably better qualified for
mem bership in the school board than
Mr.. Hagman, his opponent.
The Fourth precinct presents the
most difficult problem of the election.
Mr.. Thomas. who vas appointed tenn
pOrsrily TO fill the vacancy caused by
the retirement of Mr.. Young, is a can
didate for the long term, while Mr.
Edwards. the other non-partisan can
didate. is lawyer and is said to be
capable OF filling the position accep-
tabiy. Mr.. Thomas is one of the best
OF the younger generation Of Mormons
honorable, industrious and liberal
Against these two candidates are +. O.
Howard and W Mont Ferry, both ex-
ceptionaly we'll qualified for the
boards work, both representing large
commercial and financial interests, both
progressive and fair-minded and both
pledged to the upbuilding of the school
system along modern lines. Both are
nominees of the American party. but
we do not believe that they will either
OF them discriminate for or against
any individual because of his polite:
OF religion, where a question Of schoo
mana cement is concerned. If thu
choice here narrows down to ques-
ton Of the interests represented and
the individuality of the candidates, Mr.
Howard aud Mr.. Ferry are the bes
material. not only in the Fourth pre-
cinct. but in the whole city's list Of
nominees
While the school question is up. Il
is only just to record dissent from Tho
people who declare the salt Lake schoo
system has gone 10 the demnition bow
vows. Doubtless there is room for i'm
provemeHt, and in some cases the pres
ent school board has unquestionably
made serious bIunders. The movement
which resulted in the loss of Mr.. Coop
er and the substitution Of Mr.. Chris
Jensen as superintendent was one o
these blunders; the election Of a clerl
10 the board solely because ne was tn,
brOther-in-law of a member Of tn
board was another blunder tainted Will
nepotism; and it was the worse be
cause it was accomplished by tn,
election of an old employee agains
whom no charge was made as an ex
cuse for the change.
With these blunders. or worse. Tn
Herald has no sympathy. but it doe
not believe the whole school system
has been ruined. nor chat It will b
ruined unless political and religious dis
tinctione are injected into the manage
mont OF the educational system OF tn
city more distinctly than has been tn
case heretofore And If these distinc
lions arc made there viii be an IN
rising Of citizens that VIII result #
"A revolution, not only i'm the schoc
system bat in the whole city govern
ment.