The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-04-07
MASS MEETINGS
ON CENTRAL HIGH
SCHOOL QUESTION
Both Sides Of The Problem
We're Frequently And Warmly
Discussed In Public Be-
fore The Elections
THURSDAY EVENINGS DEBATE
L. J. Nash Touched Keynote OF Matter
BY Showing That Consolidation
Would Bring The Desired
Object No Nearer

For several days prior to tho election
the champions of the movement for the
consolidation of the school districts of
the city were very active and ever since
Thursday evening nightly meetings were
held. Thursday evenings meeting, how
ever, was the largest and the most inter
esting. Not only did the debate on that
evening wax warmest, but for the first
time fairly clear idea Of the merits of
the case was obtained.
The advocates Of consolidation under
whose auspices the meeting had been
arranged had prepared for quite n
dramatic opening. AT the stated time
the curtain arose disclosing in the center
of the table, Fred Schuette, the presi
ding officer, and on either side OF him
large charts OF figures hung on wire.
Mr.. Schuette opened the meeting
with few remarks and then called
upon Albert H. Schmidt to speak first
for the affirmative. Just at this point
little squabbe regarding the time
allowance was raised but WAS finally
settled on the basis of ID minutes for
each speaker with minutes for ques
! tions.
Mr.. Schmidt's address was devoted
to the general advantages OF n Central
High School and to the exposition OF
the figures on the charts. These tended
to show that Manitowoc spends more
per capita for education than any other
city in the state Mr. Schmidt, ~ AT
the meeting, the Saturday before on the
North Side, overran his time allowance
and the chairman was obliged to tell
him so three times before he stopped.
After Mr. Schmidt had spoken DR.
Chas Gleason, who has had an ex
tensive experience ~ teacher and princi
pal and also ~ travelling agent for Il
school book concern, was called upon fol
the negative He drew attention tC
the fact that Mantowoc graduates a
larger percentage ofpupils in proportion
to her freshman classes than any other
city in the state He said that State
Superintendents Harvey and Carey
when informed by Alb ert Goodman, a
former we'll known principal of this city,
OF the conditions existing here, advised
that no change be made, saying that it
WAS better to let we'll enough alone.
He also made the statement that only
| l3 cities in the state have city superin
tendents that really supervise.
City Attorney Ed. Schmitz was next
called upon, lis address was princi
pally diatrbe on the ineiliciency of
the grades in Manitowoc schools He
made the remark that Manitowoc's sys
| TEN OF schools was rotten to the core
| When he had finished Mrs. Tollefson Of
| the North Side arose to challenge sorio
of his statements, particularly the re
mark about the rottenness of the sys-
tenn The city attorneys manner of
answering her was scarcely n credit to
his manhood or to his cause
L. j. Nash was the next speaker and
his address was by far the ablest of the
evening He began by deprecating
what little acrimony had arisen and
stated that the remark that Manitowoc i
school system was rotten to the core y
hurt deeply a number Of good people.
He said that University officials had
told him that Manitowoc was sending
more students to the University than
any other city outside of Madison.
The main point Of his speech, how
ever, and the one that touched the key
note of the entire question was the fact,
which he brought ont clearly, that the
consolidation of the school districts
would be II very awkward procedure
and would in no way bring the city
nearer to u central high school. He
said that the legislature had provided
that in consolidating districts one dis.
trict must be seecte d M tho parent dis.
trict, retaining its regular board. and
the other districts simply added to it.
This in the case Of Manitowoc would
leave the entire school system under
the government of one district from the
time the consolidation should be made,
April l5. to the time OF the annual
school meeting in July.
Judge Cratic and e. &. Sedgwick
questioned the speaker rs to some OF
MS legal points, and quite dispute
arose over some arguments Albert Fl
Schmidt asked il the consolidation
method was not the first step toward II
central high school To this Mr.. Nash
replied in the negative, stating that
here were other methods by which q
central high school might be obtained
but that this one would simply NEAR
confusion. He did not wish to be con
sidered as opposing central high
school but only HI opposing this metho,
OF getting one.
John Schmidtman, who spoke next
produced some charts showing what