The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-01-24
THE SCHOOL CHARTER.
Citizens Meeting on Friday Opposed
To Bill-Spirited Discus
sion on the Question.

A meeting of the citizens Of the
town of Newberry was held on Fri
day afternoon, in the opera house,
for the purpose of considering the
bill to amend the charter Of the New
berry graded schools which had pass
ed its third reading in the house.
About seventy-hve citizens were
present. The meeting was organic
ed by the election of DR.. E. c. Jones
as chairman and w. B. Seabrook
secretary, and its object was
stated at length BY Mr.. Alan John
stone. Mr. Johnstone stated that he
was present at the meeting IN dou-
bic capacity, that of chairman OF the
board of trustees of the schools, and
as private citizen. What he might
say in regard to the proposed amend
ment was as citizen and not as a
member of the said board. He hoped
that the meeting would act freely
and untrammeled by any regard for
the position or personnel Of the pres
ent board. Mr.. Johnstone explained
the organization of the present trus-
teeship, and held that because of the
original manner in which part of
the school property yves decided to the
permanent board, that it would be
breaking faith with the dead to make
the proposed changes in, the charter.
If any persons on the present board
were not doing their duty in manner
satisfactory to the public, they could
resign, but he believed, as private
citizen, that it would be wrong to
make the sweeping change proposed
by the bill under discussion.
Mr.. w. H. Wallace stating that he
was positive the bill in its main fea-
ture would be put through no matter
what the citizens meeting did, offered
resolution that:
"Our senator and representatives
be requested to so amend the graded
school bill as to provide that each of
the FIVE wards shall elect one trus-
tee; that the provision authorizing
the board of trustees to remove one
of their body by two-thirds vote to
be stricken out, and that said bill
shall provide for the election of trus-
tees on the day of the annual school
meeting."
Discussion of this resolution fol-
lowed. -
Nh. T. J. McCrary thought there
was no good reason for making the
change. He said the schools had
been managed in successful and sat-
isfactory manner and where condi-
tions were already proper and salts
factory he thought the best thing 10
do was to stand pat"
Gr. Geo. B. Cromer stated that he
and Col. Geo. S. Mower had seen
Senator Cole L. Blease in Columbia.
That Senator Blease had requested
that statement for him be made at
the citizens meeting, to the effect
that the issue had been discussed,
though not as an open issue, during
the recent primary campaign, and
that there was then a widespread and
strong feeling against that feature of
the charter which makes the member
ship OF seven of the board permanent
and for life. That as to the minor points
some changes might be made in the
bill, but that in its main features the
delegation was not willing to yield
anything. That he. Senator Blease,
and also the representatives, believed
there was a strong sentil"ent in ia
vor of the change.
Mr.. Alan .Iohnstone argued that if
the people desired to change the
perSonel of the present board. he or
any member thereof was ready to
draw out at any time The personel
of part of the board, he said, could
be changed by the people at any Of
the annual meetings. The other sew
en- were also subject to the will of the