The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1909-09-21
City Politics And The Civ School

To the Voters of Paris.
AS citizen who is deeply interested
in the Public Schools of the city and
who believes that the Board of Educa-
ton is and should always be an inde-
pendent body, free from the dIctation
of the Mayor and Council, | appeal to
everyDemocrat who goes to the polls
next Thursday not to forget the fact,
when he comes to vote for Mayor and
Council, that it was Mr.. O'Brien and
the Council running with him who some
two years ago undertook to coerce the
Board of Education in its election of
Superintendent of the Schools, and who
even went to the unwarranted length
of passing resolution of Council de-
handing that the Board OF Education
dismiss the Superintendent who is recog-
nized by the general public as the most
efficient officer the school has ever
had; and who, when the Board resus-
ed to accede to their demands determin-
ed to elect new Board.
The public has not forgot
ten the storm of Indignation aroused by
this effort to dominate the School Board
nor how their candidates, excellent
gentlemen though they were, were
smothered under the ballots of the peo-
pie, the majority of the old Board being
greater than the total vote Of their op-
ponents.
Remember also that after the people
had voted that S45, 600. 90 worth of bonds
be sold to erect the new school build
| ing, it was Mr.. 0 Brien and his Coun-
Gil who refused to turn this money over
to the Board of Education who
alone had the right to control and ex-
pend it, and that suit had to be
brought and several hundred dollars of
the peoples money paid in litigation
to compel them to turn over this money.
| The withholding of this fund
was simply continuance of the old
war which for several years the Mayor
and his council have been waging
against the Board of Education, and
which must go on until the people
elect new Mayor and Council, or
failing to do that until the School Board
submits to the domination of the pres
ent Mayor and Council. That is a Sc
rious situation Cor the school which all
of US know is the most valuable asset
the city possesses. Remember that the
| Board of Education is a separate and
independent body elected by the people,
just as the Mayor and Council, and re.
| sponsible to nobody but the people.
When you have a Mayor and Council
who are determined to make the Board
of Education mere adjunct to the
| Mayors Office, taking orders from and
carrying out the will of that office, if
you expect your school where your
children are educated and which you
maintain with your money to be of
any value whatever, you will hasten
to elect Mayor and Council who will
not try to dictate to or control the
School Board but who will work in
sympathy with them and try to build
the school up to the highest level of eff
cheney.
If Mr.. Hinton and the new Council
are elected, every one of whom stood
CALAMITY by the School Board against
the efforts of Mr.. O'Brien to control
lit. most liberal and sympathetic
policy towards the peoples schools
may confidently be expected. If Mr..
O'Brien and his Council are reflect
ed what can be predicted for the
schools except a continuance of the
frictionA and antagonisms which have
done so much to injure the schools in
the last two years? If you are q
friend of the Public Schools ponder
this before you cast your ballot.
PATRON OF CITY SCHOOL.