The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-11-01
COMMUNICATED

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The columns of the Mirror are
open at all times for the consdera
ton, by individuals. of public ques
tons. The following open letter wa'
presented by J. w. Jacoby for pub
lication and Is herewith presented
The Mirror. be II understood, takes
no responsibility for the statements
contained. H
Hon. w G.. Harding.
Editor of Star,
Hearing late Saturday evening
that you had opened the columns oi
the Star for the public discussion OF
the school subject, l hasten to avail
myself of the opportunity TO present
some facts for public consideration
You say that to assert that
superintendent Frank has shown
favors in nominating teachers, belit-
ties the school question: Mr.. Frank
admitted to me in my office before
the matter of his reelection came M
for consideration last year, that he
had been appointing inexperienced
applicants to positions as teachers
because board members who were
lntlT TtldtlNtS anu
him to do so. He admitted that such
appointments were wrong and not
for the best interests of the schools.
you make much of n book agent
who solicited your opposition to Mr..
Frank several years ago. The public
would be interested in knowing his
rame. Was he not one of your per-
sonal and political friends? Speak
his name so that thepublic may fairly
Judge his motives and his connec-
tions
"You say you know the book
agents have been camping in Marion
lotely.' From whom do you get this
information? Is it not fact they
have called on Mr.. Frank himself?
Is it not also true that the agent for
one of the largest book companions
held a lengthy friendly conference
with Mr.. Frank within the last two
weeks, and has not this same agent
for several years been soliciting
changes in our text books? Your
can answer these
questions IL you have not already tho
from him.
you say that the Hill-Spaulding-
Jacoby faction drove Professor Beck
ett from our schools. As you know
Mr.. Frank recommended Mr.. Beck
EFT for Principal of our High School
He twice failed to pass the regular
city examinations conducted by
Messrs II. C. Bowen. John II. clark
and myself and upon appeal TO the
State School Commissioners we were
sustained throughout. He was then
rc-employed b ythe board as COM
teacher at n salary of $500
per year. In January. 1908, an agent
of the Gregg Publishing Company
exhibited in open board meeting an
original letter which had been writ
ten to the Gregg people by Mr.. Beck
.tt n few years before, while the
Fclectic system of shorthand was in
,se in our schools, in which the fol-
lowing words were used: What
would II be worth to you to nave the
1regg system adopted instead OF the
,c;ectic?" II you, Mr.. Harding, wiz
this letter which you VIII
ind in the star OF January 18th, 1908.
bc opposition TO Mr.. Frank VIII
accept the responsibility
or Reckett's leaving Marion, provid-
"a further that Mr.. Frank Is to i,s'
yIme the responsibility for appoint
ng him as Principal OF our Hlsh
scnooI. In your effort to JUSTIFY MI
2eckett and censure those VINO are OPP
,osed 10 his further retention IN our
,chools YOU say that professor
Beckett went at once to larger
,ity (Mansfeld) on a larger saiary
rhis same statement was made last
Iune in board meeting by MT DICK
rson. In reply / wish simply TO
ay that such statement Is abso-
utely false. AS stated, Mr.. Beckett
.eceIyed $1,000 the last year he was
n Marion. / can produce anaaV-
Is of Marion citizens TO whom MT
3eckett told that he was going 10
Mansfield on salary of $1,000 per
ear. and have on file a letter from
ar. Heller, superintendent, OF the
Mansfield schools, dated June lbth' |
9O9. in which he says "The maxi
num salary in our High school IS
100 ner month. We pay our COM
nercial man $1,000 year
..you say that Mr.. Frank mas
ohieved results in spite of opposi-
ION contend that we have In the
aat two years achieved results III
nite of Mr.. Frank. And since you
ave brought the matter up and I'M
my motives In schooi al
airs, 1 feel that ! may be paraoheu
n speaking OF some results accom-
,lished during the last two years iof
which Mr.. Frank is IN no way "-
ponsible. oo
,e had no superintendent, through
Nv personal efforts new Hisn
chool course was adopted that mas
ecured for our graduates admission
, every first class college OF the
fiddle and Northwestern states. And
hus the condition Of your Hlsh
chool, which your paper q few