Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-04-19
FOR COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT.
Open Letter to The Voters of Audu-
bon County.

Open Letter to The Voters of Audu-
bon County.
In another column of this paper |
have announced my candidacy for
the Office of County Superintendent.
1t would be impossible for me To make
"A campaign over the county even if
the people expected it of me. Being
employed as Principal of the High
School, | feel that my time belongs To
the school district and that | have no
right TO neglect my school work to
further my private interests. Neither
would you expect me to follow the
custom of distributing cigars. / do
not believe any citizen who considers
the welfare Of his children, who con-
siders their moral and intellectual
Improvement will be influenced by a
cigar. However that may be | wish
TO be considered upon my merit only.
Sixteen years ago | was solicited to
be q candidate for this Office. | re-
fused largely on grounds of friend
snip. Since then at different times
have been solicited to become a can
didate and refused for the same rea-
sOn-that of friendship. The old say
ing has often been quoted to me,
What person gets in this world he
has to hustle for" Indeed ! know
what it is to hustle, but l. believe !
can make this statement unchallenged:
have never crowded another to make
room for myself. But the time has
now come when feel that | can CON
ScientiOusly step before the people to
urge my candidacy.
AS TO my qualifications for this
Office, you the voters should investi-
gate that for yourselves. However |
submit the following: / have taught
in the country schools, the Extra
schools and for years here in the Au-
dubon schools. My present position
is that OF Principal Of the High School
ii position that involves large re-
spOnsibilities, larger in many ways
than that of the Office of County Sup
erintendent-a position that requires
qualifications of a higher order
than has ever been demanded for
the office Of Comfy uperintendent.
Teaching is my profession and not
stepping stone To something else
that is better pay. In business life
the time element enhances efficiency,
and enters largely into the question
Of promotion. Then why should not
teacher who has given her life To
school work be given favorable
hearing in her claims for preference
granting of course that her years of
experience have added to her qualih
cations.
presume my record as q teacher
in some respects is unparalleled in this
county. | was initiated into the pro-
fessiOn in the Lone Willow School in
Douglas Township. The. building
was shanty with paper roof that
neceSSitated agile lodging in times of
rain storms. | considered it quite
promotion when | got school that
boosted chalk box and Il water
bucket
During the years have taught in
this county ! have been associated
with from u thousand to twelve humid
red boys and girls. Many of these
"bOys and Girls are teachers now and
they have always given to me a loyalty
which | truly appreciate. Should
be successful in securing this Office,
feel there would be a bond Of sympathy
between these teachers and myself,
which is one of the most essential
elements in successful school super
vision. Let all bear in mind that the
mission Of the County Superintendent
is not that Of critic, but he is to be
helper, Il guide, a safe counselor to
the teachers under his supervision.
Now that the County Superintend-
ent has little to do with certifica-
ton of teachers his duties are con
siderably altered. His usefulness de-
ponds more than ever upon his ability
to supervise, upon his intimate knowl-
edge of the conditions of the schools
and adequate experience in dealing
with these conditions. Unless the
Superintendent has this ability he
will be mere fgurehead, the Office
will be useless, and you are simply
making him present of his salary.
The people of Audubon county spend
over $50, 600 per year for their schools.
TO the voter | would say: ponder
these figures, then ask yourself this
question, lis it not q matter of great
Importance to me and to my children
whom | place at the head of these
schOOlsY' Because one is good
fellow" or personal friend is that
sufficient reason for giving him your
vote? Have you right to vote away
the peoples money in that way? An
eminent statesman has said, "The
election over this country Of the right
men and women to the Offices of school
directors, superintendents aud in
structors in our public schools is of
more Importance than that of Presi-
dent of the United States. Whatever
we wish to put into our national life
we must first put into ours schools"
Conceding' at least the latter part of
this statement there is but one course
for an honest, unselfsh man to take.
Investigate the qualifications of each
candidate, then cast an honest and un-
biased vote. Let each candidate stand
or fall on his Tor her) qualifications.
Were you my dearest friend You have
no right To give me aid in securing
this Office unless in your honest npin-
ion | am the one most eminently fitted
for IL. And what is true OF me is true
of the other candidates.
This letter is my campaign. hope
it will not be necessary To. speak again
through the columns OF this paper,
but should it he necessary, | certainly
shall do so.