The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-03-24
SCHOOL MATTERS.

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retired from the Board Of Education
and his place has been filed by Hon
/ w. w. Cutler.
Mr. Cutler is a college graduate and
a patron of the public schools and will
make an exceptionally good and ac-
tive trustee, but he certainly can
not approve of the methods employed
to secure his election; neither can the
other trustees, with one exception, OF
the people generally who believe that
all things should be done decently
and in order.
For many years, under special law
the Board selected it's own members
from q Board Of Commissioners and
that method provoked some unfavor-
able criticism, although it was vastly
better than the present mismange-
ment under the general law. When
the change came the people expected
to choose by direct vote the men who
were to have charge of the schools
where their children were being in
structed, but they found that the key
to the situation was held by one man,
and he member of the Board of Edu-
cation, who by some power best known
to himself controls from one to two
hundred men, who having perfect
right to vote, never exercise that right
except when called out on special oc-
caSions.
This year move was made to elect
college graduate who is especially
interested in the education of young
men, and that there might not be any
friction DR.. Peck was consulted, and
he said that he was not a candidate
for reelection. Then it was learned
that Mr.. Cutler had been asked to
take DR.. Peck's place and when he
was spoken to he said that although
in past pears he had declined the office
he had at this time consented to take
it, but he did not want it and would
willingly stand aside.
To insure perfect harmony the in
dividual above referred to was inter
viewed and he said "No'-he had
asked Judge Cutler to run and even if
he had consented to withdraw it must
not be so, and that practically settled
it, and he was told so, for it was well
known than ",he had the votes.
But to make assurance doubly sure
he conducted campaign of misrepre-
sentation such as no decent, respecta-
BILE man would stoop to, and then
called out his preserve forces"; the
result was only one ticket in the field
and a great victory, about 1855 to O.
+" The voice of the people" was heard.
The first year under the new law there
was a contest and 2S9 votes were cast.
The second year with no contest the
vote was so. The third year the in
dividual himself was candidate and
to show his popularity polled for him
self 242 votes. The fourth year, no
60 votes. This year fearing
he brought the vote up to
1856 with two scattering.
Next year his term will expire and
although he says he does not want the
Office he will order up his extras" to
"yindicate" himself.
The writer did not have anything to
do with the selecting of either candi-
date, or say word to anyone in re-
gard to voting for or against either of
them, and is only stating facts to
show that voters have no rights that
this man feels bound to respect.
The time of the election, which may
be held at any hour, has unfortunate
ly been at two o'clock when COM
muters are away and mechanics are at
work, many of them out of town, but
the minute men, can be called from
their work and their time goes on just
the same.
Two weeks ago Mr.. Bevier, State
Inspector of High Schools, wrote let
ter to the President of the Board urg-
ing the erection of a new High School
building that would compare favora-
bly, with those of progressive towns in
the State, and it is understood that
the superintendent and several mem
bers of the school Board and many en-
terprising citizens Of Morristown favor
it, but even before the letter reached
the Board this self appointed mouth
piece said, "It can't be done. 1t
would be voted down ten to one," and
he knows, for he holds the proxies.
That there may be no doubt as to
the author of this article / will sign
my name and say that the columns of
THE CHRONICLE are open to Harrie
freeman or any one else who wishes
to reply. G. e. SURDAM.
THE overwhelming defeat of the
Crosby local option bill in the Assem-
bly, on Tuesday, by vote of "A to Is,
does not necessarily mean that no
more will be heard of the agitation
for differentlmethod than now exists
in New Jersey Of curbing the liquor
mi a II. - \ :