Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-03-27

W IA RoSc enSn adu feS6ti the
meeting, taking up the bill ana
tat ng his objections TO It's varioas
provisions. He them referred To
The action of the Board OF Educa
ton in closing the public schools.
and declared that the action O. The
board was believed to be Tor Do
other purpose than 20 force TIA
people ilto supporting the indeaen-
dent District Bill He was inter.
rupted by Prof Ford. who Asa:ad
that under the law the schools
could not be continued without sun
jecting she m mbers of the boa. i
TO fine and Imprisonment. Mr.. RIOS
then read from the general school
law which provides.
The Board OF Education OF any
District or Independent Districs
may at their first meeting held on
the fisst Monday in July extend
the term of TX a,onths school here
in provided for. OR TiEY SHALL.
upon the ped'i,1 OF iii, iaN pay
ers OF sheir JIstri ..bnit the
que tion of having more than six
months schools 10 tie Vote o.
their district at general elecsion
or special election TO be held
| from such district at .uch time as
said petition may designate
III the majority OF the votes cast
at any such election shall be In
favor OF more than six months
school. or If the Board OF Educa-
lion shall determine, without sueh
e'ection, TO have more than six
months school they shall provide
for such additional months ~
school FOR their district. for the en-.
suing two years"
Mr.. Ross then a ked Mr.. Ford
whether the board entered such an
order. II was stated by Mr.. Ford
that The board entered an order ae
the proper time providing for a
aine months school in :he city. but
not in the country. Prof. Ford
was then asked by Mr. Ross WIN
they didn't teach nine months in
the city? He replied that the order
was not legal M. Ro s then satl
that If the board had entered an
illegal order that the blame for
osing The schools should be upon
them and not upon the Poop who
refuse to support the Independent.
School District Bill. Even thouSn
The order might be irregular It
would be ample protection to the
School Board against any crimins
or civil liability whatever.
Ms. Ross then proposed the same
re olut.on which was adopted by
the Chamber Of Commerce the niont
before disappearing the bill. which
was duly seconded and unanimods'y
carried with the exception of the
vote OF Prof Ford
Mr. G. w. Akers shen addres soe
the meeting saying that the public
schools was a matter OF vital in ,5r-
lance and thas some steps sh )ai1
be taken by the meeting lookin., u
the reopening OF the schools OF
Bluefie'd on Monday next
Mr. Ross then prepare sna ~
lowing resolution which was IMAM
mously adopted by the me- ing.
we the citizens Of B,uefeId. in
body assembled. hereby reSpscsfr IS
roquet the board OF educa iop CT
Beaver Pond district 20 open the
schools of Bluefield to all se,oo'
children of Buefield on Monday
March 20. 1909. and we hereby
pedge ourselves both collsctively
and individually 10 use al honora-
bic means 20 prevent any prosecq
ton IL such continuance should moi
be regular"
Prof Ford's friends were greatly
urprised at his conduct. He lost
the friends he had at the meefi *
by his conduct asst night Many
were saying that he should reign.
while others declared thai they
would not patronize the schools 50
long as he was superintendent n
peaking Of Professor Ford's con
duct the Telegraph said.
The Daily re egraph regrets ex
oeedingly shat Prof Ford used such
illadvised and severe language ~
his reference TO The Chamber 0f
Commerce. We realize that the
new school bills chances for success
were le sened, and in our humble
opinion the board OF education
should call on the election and
save further expense
A move was started on the pat
OF some pub ic spirited citizens this
'morning looking to the reopening Of
the schools on Monday. The mat
+ ter has caused great excifemen.