The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1907-05-31

News last week goes into a
column of explanation and
apology for the county superin-
tendent. Every newspaper in
the county except this one own.
ed by MI. Bentley was aliye to
the fact, and had commenced to
warn the people of a scheme that
had been planned to secure for
Boss Bentley the control of the
county board of education, with
the consequent results of such
control. The article denies any
attempt at graft and says that
the only changes recommended
by Supt. Kerr will be that of
grammars and physiologies.
This is pretty good too, for it is
hardly likely that with the day.
light thrown on the scheme, the
plotters dare attempt to work
through what was really intend.
ed. These things need darkness
for their development, and the
airing which the press of the
county has given the subject has
put quietus upon it and put a
good big scare into the camp of
the intended manipulators. If
there had been no wrong intend
ed why SO much secrecy about
the times and places of the cleo.
ton of members? Why should
these elections be called at diff
ferent times and the superinten
dent take such a personal inter-
est in the selection of the mem
bers of the board? Why was
one of these meetings called at a
point outside of the county
where it was difficult for a ma.
jority to attend. where those
from the eastern part of the dis.
trlc1 would have to reach it by
taking a train at three o'clock in
the morning and return on the
midnight train? Why, we ask,
was not notice Of these elections
given in the newspapers of the
county as had been formerly
done, and why at this election,
which the superintendent person.
ally supervised, was one of Mr..
Bentley's land lieutenants. a
former partner or agent in his
land business selected as a mem.
Der of the board?
We understand that the county
superintendent has asserted
that he has followed precedent
of former superintendent Ramer
in some of these things. To
show the utter falsity of this and
to bring into clear contrast Sup.
erintendent Kerr's methods we
print below the notice published
In the papers of the county at the
last election of the county board:
NOTICE OF ELECTION
!. In accordance with section 1, chapter 10 of the
1901 school law, notice 4 hereby given that an
election will be held in the three commissioner
districts, for the purpose Of electing : member in
zach district on the comfy board Of education
Tuesday, NAY ID 1t 2:tU p m. In the fret dis
tr1ct consisting Of Aelrose. Alban and Big Stone
townships, the election will be held a. the ONCE
OF the county superintendent in Milbank. In
the third district conetsting Of Grant Center,
Twin Brooks, Mazeppa, Lura, Blooming Valley.
Pennington, Osce0la and KilbOrn, the election
will be held in Twin Brooke. in the school house.
In the second dietElct consisting OF Vernon,
Madison, Stockholm, Troy, Georgia and Adams,
the election will be held In Georgia school No. /
ne Or LabOlt.
This election i. for the purpose Of getting the
vote of the school officers only in electing some
pereon in the district to represent the district on
the county board Of education, In each place
the election will be held at 200 p. m, on May Is.
School of1cers should plan to be there on time
and act. The cities of Milbank and Big Stone
are in the fret district Some one other thar
the commissioner of the dietrict should be elect
ed % the commissioner is already on the board.
NJ. NJ. RAMER,
Co. Sup't. of Schools.
When it is remembered that
the county board of education
has the selection of q series Of
xt-books for the next five
years, that the book houses are
naturally very anxious to get
these contracts, and that their
agents like to zeal with a boss
who can hand them out, the pc.
culiar things in the election of q
hoard TO which we have called
attention TO above are signlf.