The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-07-14
"a. GrI 4 e:F.7. : ~ y :. n r..
:icts :" voted II separately

districts ; voted \: separately % q ii il
favor Of consolidating into one district
to be known as Independent School Dis
trict No: !. Thereafter board of six
directors were elected and they promptly
qualified and entered upon the duties Of
their offices. Still later another election
was held, at which the people voted to
issue $4,000 bonds for the erection of a
new school building. The people also
selected site, instructed the board to
purchase the same and to proceed
with the construction of school build
ing as soon as money for that purpose
became available. The site has been
purchased; the bonds have been issued
and are being negotiated. =
Now comes this attempt. by those
whose motives it is not worth the while
to consider to knock into a cooked hat"
all these painstaking efforts for the in
aaguration of an improved school sys-
tenn,
This is a matter IN which too much
interest cannot be shown, in respect to
which one cannot be pernicionsly active
on the side of right; therefore, this pa
per offers no apology for freely and
frankly considering this latest ugly
phase OF the question.
Viewing the whole situation as it Is
today there arises many an important
question, satisfactory answers to which
must be given for Justification of this
attempt to bludgeon to death with
technicallties movement that was CIV
on life and support by motives of public
veal.
Are these legal defects, if any exist in
the organization Of the district, of such
consequence as to excuse this show of
contempt for the will of the majority?
Are we SO soon to forget how seriously
the people attended to this important
question? How they showed their in
terest as it was never shown or any
other public question? How at various
times and in ways unmistakable every
step thus far taken in forwarding this
mentorious public enterprise has been
given popular endorsement?
Being unable thus to forget. we must
look still further for some excuse for
the threat that now hangs as a pail over
the community.
Must 1T be SAID that with all the de-
liberation with which they acted the
people knew not what they were dong?
Has public sentiment so changed that
the people are now ready to undo that
which they so eagerly sought to do?
If such change has come over the
spirit of the peoples dreams, why is it?
Have conditions changed? Has the
need of a better school system suddenly
disappeared?
Or have the people concluded that a
serious mistake was made in the selec-
tion of a board?
Can these obstructionists point to one
solitary circumstance or to one act us
evidence that the board cannot be de-
pended upon to do the peoples will?
That this board is not to be governed in
the conduct of the affairs of the district
by fixed purpose to serve we'll and
faithfully the best interests of the
whole?
These and other equally valid ques.
tions must be answered affrmatively to
justify this attempt to stife the peoples
will-to excuse an act which, If accom-
plished, will be a blow to the educa-
tional and material interests of the
community from which it will not easily
recover.
1t is possible that legal technicalltit S
have placed the people, in this instance,
at tue mercy of those unholy influences
of self interests, of passion and of greed
that would wantonly ruin where they
cannot rule; but do these obstruction
lists, these enemies of progress. imagine
that they can escape the injury they
would thus infict upon the community
and that they can lull into sweet forget.
fulness great public disappointment?