Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-02-11
LOCAL COMMENT

30
The selection of A. e. Wilbur to fill
the vacancy on the school board caus-
ed by the resignation of A. A. Moore
should prove eminently satisfactory to
every citizen of the school district. Mr..
Wilbur is not parsimonous in his
views yet he has a conservative bust
ness judgment trained by successful
business experience to know the value
of dollar. He is widely known in this
community, and everywhere respected
for his integrity, and few men could
have been found in the town who would
be active in looking after the duties
of a public office He has sent three
children to the Marshalltown schools
and now has a fourth one in attend
ance. He made an admirable member
of the school board at one time, and
should be able to excel even that rec
ord again.
In denying an exhibit of school work
this year Mr.. Turner has given real
sons that will commend themselves to
many yet be rejected by others. AS
a general proposition exhibits of
SCHOOI WOIh SHOULD ne lHduc. Iuc III.
terest of the child is thereby slim
ulated and the interest Of the parent
in school work is often aroused where
it could be aroused in no other way.
Mr.. Cranes argument to this extent is
sound and it is true that he has arous-
ed unusual public interest in the work
of his schools. But if Mr.. Turner and
a majority of the board are convinced
that the manual training is receiving
too much attention. so much as to be
at the expense of other school studies
it is their duty to check it. This is
what they were put on the board for.
The proper distribution of school work,
the ideal division of the child's time
and the perfect balancing of a school
course has been the study of educators
for years. 1t is possible that Mr..
Crane, in his enthusiasm for manual
training and the work plan, has erred
in giving an ver-balanced school
course. Some of his teachers think
that he has, some Of the school pa
irons think SO, and evidently Mr.. Tur-
ner and most of the board think so,
yet they do not intend to condemn
either the work plan or manual train
ing in toto. The board has probably
not stopped to think that an exhibit
in manual training will draw a crowd
where one in arithmetic or writing
would be poorly attended, but it's ac-
ton must be taken as criticism of too
much attention being paid to these
modern branches to the dAriment or
neglect Of the common branches OF a
school education. If he takes a broad
view Of it the superintendent will give
this criticism the consideration it de-
serves in his deliberations. 1t is his
duty primarily to balance the school
course while the board reserves the
right to veto or approve.
Despite, the intensity Of feeling ex-
hibited by many regarding the effort to
abolish the Sixth ward it seems to re-
main the determination Of the council
majority to abolish it if they can find
the necessary votes. Granting that the
ward was not needed when established
and is not needed now, it still remains
a fact that this is an inopportune time
to do away. with it. The argument that
prohibition minority has an unfair
advantage in the full representation of
two councilmen will not hold water
from the fact that an almost equally
small pro-saloon minority has two
lcouncilmen from the Fifth ward, which
makes the situation "stand off" so far
as any advantage on this issue is con>
cerned. To abolish the ward now
would establish a very bad precedent
and should not be attempted. At some
other time when people are less agi-
tated over municipal politics. and the
disturbers are taking a vacation, the
consent of the Sixth ward citizens
themselves could easily be secured to
it's adjustment, but in that event JUS
tice to the anti-saloon sentiment, ac-
cording to Mr.. Webster's argument,
too.
Our local Lawson has appeared and
all that seems to be "frenzied" just
now is the police force, which has pur-
chased a patrol wagon. We could
probably get along without patrol
wagon just as we used to depend on
Jim Glenn to haul our hose cart behind
his dray, but many call upon the po-
lice is hurry up call, and a patrol
wagon operated from the fire station
often makes arrests possible whera
law \'eakers might otherwise escape.
At any rate in this case the police have
INDUCED in their extravaganza" at
their own expense. They raised $500,
bought the wagon and one extra horse,
which they donated to the city. The
city already had one horse which had
been used to haul the ladder truck at
the central fire station before it's mate
became injured. This team which had
been maintained before is now used on
the patrol wagon and is still available
for service at all fires hence the po-
lice force claims the city is ahead just
one 5000 horse and a bran new patrol
wagon. Emergency ladders are always
carried on the hose trucks and the
standing orders are for the driver of
the second team to go Immediately
after the ladder truck whenever a fire
call comes from the business district,
which can do with a delay of only five
minutes. This is the city halls reply
to the local Lawson.