The San Francisco call., 1908-03-23
BERKELEY SCHOOL
BOARD STIRS.ROW
Members Resent influence Used
to Make Biedenbach
Superintendent
Waterman Threatens to Recall
Resignation if Successor Cam
not Be Chosen Peaceably

BERKELEY. March 22.-School Su-
perintendent S. D. Waterman may re-
call his resignation. His proposed re-
tirement has caused a scramble which
threatens an upheaval in the school de-
partment, and in politics, and he said
today that he would hold the place If
quiet was not restored at once.
When Waterman offered his resigna-
tion two men Immediately were offered
to succeed him-Frank c. Bunkers OF
Los Angeles and c. L. Biedenbach. prin-
cipal of Mckinley school, and, al
though five members of the board of
education support Bunker, friends OF
Biedenbach are striving to win him the
place. The fight has become so keen
that Waterman felt impelled today to
announce that he would not step down
if his successor could not be chosen
peaceably.
William II. Waste, Judge of the supe-
rior court of Alameda county; Mayor
Francis Ferrier; C. B. Ocheltree, presi-
dent of the chamber of commerce;
Friend w. Richardson. local news
paper proprietor, and Postmaster Clar-
ence S. Merrill are the men behind Bic
denbach in his fight for the superin-
tendentys position.
SCHOOL BOARD INCENsED
These men have used every means
and influence to change the stand of the
board of education. which, by secret
caucus. elected Bunker for the place.
President E. p. Lewis, Professor t. r.
Crawford. DR.. Loring. Roy c. Young
and DIR. Farrar have been asked to
change their votes in favor of the
Berkeley man.
Lewis was waited upon last night by
a delegation who urged the selection of
Biedenbach. The attitude of the friends
of the school principal is deprecated by
Lewis. who declared today that there
should be no politics in educational
work and that he intended to stand for
principle in spite of the pressure
brought to bear upon him and other
members of the board in favor of Bic
denbach.
In defending the action of members
of the board in meeting in secret caucus
for the selection of Bunker, Lewis said
today:
Myself and other members of the board of
education did not deem it right to select sue
cessor 70 Mr.. Waterman at an open meeting
and thus give the politicians a chance TO step
ia aud influence the board in favor Of any man.
Educational matters have nothing in common
with politics. and the members OF the board
believed that the only wRy 10 keep pull and
Iavof out OF the seicctfon WAS U! ndhluk rccttt
inquiries regarding the qualifications of several
men for the position of superintendent OF the
Berkeley schools
II we had announced our purpose and tried
to make selection with the public ing
our intentions there would have been such
pressure brought to bear upon the board by poll
ticians that Berkeley may not have had the
best man for the position.
Even now, with five members of the board
ractically agreed the selection of Bunker,
everything possible is being done in favor of
Biedenbach for the position 1t is not good
principle, and l don't believe in 1t and shall
certainly vote against any man who seeks a
position on the strength of influence. Regard
less of everything else we want the best man
in the country superintendent of Berkeley s