The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-02-17
LEONARD FlAYEO BY.
BURTON IN HOT
! DEBATE
SCHOOL BOARD, UNDER Il FOR.
MER's LEADERSHIP, is STENCIL
IN NosTRILs OF COMMUNITY,
SAYS SECOND WARD INSPECTOR

What started out as debate be-
tween School Inspector Simpson Z,
Leonard and School Inspector c. NJ
Burton. leaders, respectively. OF the
Martindale and anti-Martindale fac
tons in the school board, developed
into an inquisition. Tuesday night
with Inspector Leonard on the rack
and Coroner Bennett, a former in
spector and still an active champion
of the ants" doing the quizzing.
There Is no telling how 1t would have
ended had IL not been for the inter
vention OF the Rev. A. IL. Cameron,
pastor OF Emmanuel Presbyterian
church, Porter-st. and the Boulevard,
which was the scene OF this discus
sion.
Inspector Goldberg. bitter foe OF the
administrationists. at whom Inspector
Leonard had aimed some bitter shafts
during his talk. bad just advanced 20
TASK some questions" when the min
lister rose TO suggest an adjournment
A member OF the mems club or the
church, under whose auspices the de
bate was held, suggested that II was
orly fair to give Goldberg a chance
The question was put TO vote ana
the ayes and nays seemed to be about
equally divided. But President A. l..
Stewart decided in favor or the nays
in view OF the late hour and the fact
that Mr.. Goldberg had addressed the
club on previous occasion.
In view OF the fact that the meeting
was in Mr. Leonard's own ward ana
that his friends and adherents were
out i'm force TO lend moral support. the
reception accorded Mr.. Burton was
hattering. His frankness seemed TO
make a hit and his remarks were ire
ouently interrupted with applause. He
did not mince words In dealing with
his opponents: he called spade
cpade and talked right out from the
shoulder.
"SchooI Board STENCIL"
You know and I know that tho
board of education Is stencil in the
nostrils OF the community, is the way
lie threw down the gauntlet. Every
newspaper and every individual who
has investigated conditions declares
il hot-bed OF rottenness. DO we de-
serve such a reputation? Sometimes
we act as though we did
First | want to say that the gen.
tleman who sits here on the platform
tonight" indicating Mr.. Leonard, is
the leader of the school board. In the
British parliament he would be called
the whip, for when he cracks the
whip the rest follow, like so many
cogs with their tails between their
legs. II there's anything wrong In the
school board, he's TO blame. And II
there's anything right it's because It's
right in itself or has been made right
by himself and others.
There has been an effort on the
part OF dominant members Of the boart
TO build up a political machine. the
purpose of which is to perpetuata
Superintendent Martindale and Super
visor Stewart in office. It's been a
great success and Mr.. Leonard is at
the head OF it."
Expense Piles UP.
Mr.. Burton then went on TO show,
from figures in his possession, that
the cost OF maintaining the schools
had increased 2l5 per cent In 10
years. while the city has increased In
in the same period. only
so per cent. and the school attendance
but 20 per cent.
And he's to blame" he reiterated,
again indicating Leonard.
Burton showed that the night
schools, with fewer pupils than they
had 10 years ago. had increased in
cost OF maintenance from $500 to
S36425. II now costs the city FOR
school maintenance $50.74 per pupil,
as against $28 and some odd cents in
1898, an increase Of ~ per cent.
Part OF this increase, Burton dc
clared. was accounted for by an ur-
warranted increase in the cost OF
schools, and while he acknowledged
an increase in the cost of labor AMI
materials this increase did not begin
to explain the difference, in his
opinion.
1t is costing us today $6S. 200 for
$3S, 900 building" he continued. I'VE
asked $250.000 to put an addition on
the Central high school. And what
did we get for 1t? Accommodations
for Just 800 more pupils. and Principal
Mckenzie says 1t is full already. Full
of what? Play rooms, bath rooms.
DOOlS IdIt wv
lieve In cleanliness, but we send our
children to school TO get an educa-
ton and not to take baths.
This year the board has asked for
approximately $4,000 900.
II could get along nicely with $4,000.
600. but it never will as long as the
occupation OF the machine Is
10 keep Martindale and Stewart In of
fee. When Stewart was elected he
told us he knew nothing about build
ings. We know IL now. He has no
more business TO be supervisor than
have"
Both Mr. Stewart and Superinten-
dent Martindale we're in the audience,
as were several OF the staunch Mar
tindale adherents. including Presi-
dent George and Inspectors Shivers
and Hutton Inspector Johnson and
Corporation Counsel Atkinson, attor-
ney for the board, were also interest.
ed spectators.
Leonard's Speech Canned.
Inspector Leonard was well primed
for the occasion. Part of his speech
was extemporaneous and part
GAINED" and the canned" portion
clearly revealed the fine Italian hand
Of Superintendent Martindale. In his
opening remarks he spoke OF the
grave responsibility resting on a
school inspector. for the health and