Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-05-03
ABOUT TaE SCHOOL ELECTION.

/
Editor Journal:--Since you gave
place to an article from the High
4, School organ, l hope you may be sufii-
ciently impartial to give a few words
on the other side. The article in ques.
tion is defense of Supt. Traver' s
move to name the next school director,
and IL seems to me that that gentleman
is going farther than ever out Of his
way to claim not only all the honors
for the establishment of a high school
in Salem, but that he has actually been
responsible for the welfare and prog
ress Of the board. He does not seem
content to dictate the policies Of the
school work, but wants to run the
board, the politics, finances and every
thing in connection with our district.
The friends of the high school were in
measure responsible for getting him
here, because they believed he would
be helpful in building up our schools,
but really they didn't expect him to
take the whole matter out Of the hands
Of the voters of the district.
After his first year, Mr.. Traver al.
ready found himself at outs with some
members Of the board, and has ever
since maintained himself by methods
unworthy of one who Processes to be
an educator and a promoter of morals
and character. He has made his boast
that he has held his job the past two
years by simply forcing two members
of the board to vote for him lest he
should get his friends ON the board to
vote against the relatives of those
members (who under the law require
unanimous vote Of the board.) Both
Dr.. Byrd and Director Fletcher have
been held up by this class of threats,
charged with voting for Traver to
keep their sister and daughter on the
teaching force. This same man has
worked every imaginable scheme to
vote himself, and among others has
demanded the right TO name teachers,
"in the interest of the best educa-
tional work" He was in measure
trusted with this power, and started q
summer school and refused to recon-
mend any teachers who were not pupils !
or prospective students of his said
summer school. Last year he was re-
elected with the understanding that he
should teach several classes, and in
reality accepted the position upon that
theory, but after he was installed
he informed members Of the board
that the school law didn't compel him
TO teach, but simply to "superintend. "
Later in the game he worked a threat
of higher wages from some other stand
point to get his salary raised This
came after the election and when the
Salem board found itself in tho dilem.
ma of having turned down other APP
plicants Thus they must needs raise
the salary or undergo the humiliation
of asking their second choice to now
please accept the place which had been
refused by this fine manipulation. Is
his present play of an election at a
high salary in Pendleton repetition
of this process9 Is the agitation on
the part of few Of his pets in the
schools to protect him and save him
to the Salem schools also part of his
fine art?
This man worked everything osten'
sibly for the schools, but underneath
every move it is plain to be seen that
he is simply boosting himself. He got
up several fine picture exhibits with
the assistance of the teachers and the !
whole town, and raked in large sums
of g. Al 4 4