La Junta tribune., 1908-11-28

about this case. The members OF
the school board. or some OF them
at least. appear to have had very
exalted idea about this high school
committee--that II was something
away up, almost out of sight-up. up
in the empyreal. where the ambi-
tious. and pure in heart delight to
dwell, and that a seat there was
somewhat similar 10 seat among
the lmmortelles or niche in the
Temple of Fame. And the board be-
ors equally and sighting nobody.
spent some time trying to devise
some ways or means by which five
persons could occupy three seats.
After racking their brains over this
\ puzzle for some time they finally
gave IL up. II could not be done.
1t was against the fixed sciences
two bodies cannot occupy the same
space at the same time. Then they
I thought OF another plan, viz: to or
ganize the high school committee with
. five members. and they invited the
county superintendent TO join them,
but she declined. After various and
sundry attempts 10 persuade and ca
jole Mrs. Money to place herself in
contempt of the state superintendent,
and failing In this, they coolly aud
deliberately decided TO go into con-
tempt themselves They did not ex-
actly decide to impeach the state SUI
periutcndent and oust heI from office
but they did decide to ignore her and
/ her opinion altogether and organize
the high school committee as they
thought best. Hence they organized
the committee with five memt ers,
distributing the honors equally and
impartially as aforesaid, and all Were
happy.
| Soon. however. their boat struck a
snag and there Was confusion aboard,
Mrs Money refused TO sign the war
rants issued by the board. claiming
/ that the high school committee WAS
/, not legally organized. This made
the board heaps Of trouble. They
4 finally decided to bring suit In the
district court to compel her to sign
! the warrants. In due course OF time
! the case was thrown out Of court on
technicality. They next entered
| into an agreement with Marion Il.
McCauIey, who held one Of their
warrants. that II he would bring suit
to compel Mrs. Money to sign his
warrant. they would pay his at
torney's fee. mandamus suit was
brought and Mrs. Money was ordered
to sign the warrant. the Judge. how
ever. stating at the same time that
he would have done just as Mrs. Mon
ey did had he been in her place.
thus approving of her course in the
matter.
The case was then appealed to the
supreme court which simply affirmed
the decision in the lower court. but
stated in addition that the high
school committee might be composed
of three or five members. Let II
be remembered that In this case nei-
ther the district court nor the SUI
preme court decided the point at is
sue between Mrs. Money and the
school board. viz: whether the high
school committee should be composed
of three or five members, thus leav-
ing the decision of the state super
intendent intact and binding which
is the only law on the subject and
which will continue to be the law
until set aside by the court. and that
has not been done yet.
The gentleman referred to above
as being very near the board, also
informed me that this school rum
pus had practically ruined the schools
of La Junta for nearly two years
and that SO far as the children's
getting any real benefit from them.
they might almost as well have been
closed" Those are his words. l
hope he is mistaken and that his
opinion is exaggerated. II he is
not, then u ID eSo coneheaAS
upon their management.
Before this trouble began the
schools OF Ia Junta had reputation
all over the state for their high
character and efficiency. Schools.
more than any other one thing. give
character and reputation TO a city.
The difference OF opinion that has
caused all this trouble Is in Itself a
small matter and yet the parties to
1t have succeeded in working up a
tempest in teapot" 1t might
be excusable in a small village or