Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1913-07-25
VOTERS ARGUE
CONSOLIDATION
Mass Meeting nj Keats Hall Last
Wednesday Night Accomplished
But Little Good
OPPOSITION SOMEWHAT BITTER
Prof. Saltwater Urged Higher Edu-
cational Advantages

| Over two hundred residents of
Boomers Ferry and vicinity at
tended the meeting held at Kent's
hall Wednesday night which was
called by the board of county com
missioners for the purpose of OBJ
tanning the sentiment of the tax
payers of Independent School Dis
trict No. 4 and School District No.
Ia in regard to the consolidation
of the two districts.
Despite the fact that plausible
reasoning was not forthcoming it
was apparent that large number
OF the residents of District IA were
strenuously opposed to the consol-
idation and the radicals were vic
torious in their efforts to prevent
tree and open discussion of the
merits and dement's of the Issue
Tor which the meeting was called.
G. w. Spoerry was chairman of
the meeting and after some delay
opened the argument by defending
his stand for consolidation and
refutiug the misrepresentation
which he claimed had been made
OF certain of his statements.
Spoerry was frequently interrupted
by those of the audience who de-
sired information on certain points.
As he was closing his argument an
attempt was made to end all dis
cussion and call for rising vote
on the question. The board of
county commissioners did rot de-
sire this action and wanted to give
everyone a chance to clear all
doubts in their mind before taking
final action. M. M. Fry asked
for the floor and told of his part in
circulating the remonstrance
against consolidation and called
down the county commissioners for
having called the mass meeting
lnsinuating that some influence
had been brought to bear upon the
board to have it favor consolida-
ton. This was vehemently denied
by all three of the members of the
board who told that their reason
for asking for the mass meeting
was on account of the fact that
many who had signed the first
petition had also signed the re-
and that there had
been charges and counter-charpes
OF misrepresentation and the board
felt that it should investigate the
matter locally before coming to a
decision on so important an under
taking.
The growing animosity of the
factions of the meeting was ap-
peased somewhat by the talk given
by Prof. Saltwater, president of
the Cheney State Normal School
Of Washington. Mr.. Cheney
made no illusions to the matter
under discussion but the trend OF
MS remarks was a petition for
better educational advantages for
he rising generation.
After Prof. Showwater address
he only real progress of the even
ng was obtained when those who
lad attended the meeting for the
purpose of determining the right
ind the wrong of various argu-
nents and assertions were given a
,hance to be heard.
County Superintendent Ramsey
that school wagons
would be maintained in the con-
olidated district for the benefit OF
hildren in outlaying districts and
hat the state law provided that
or every teacher employed in the
ugh school of the consolidated
district an appropriation of $500
hould be made before a division
t county school funds was made.
Jnder this provision the Boomers
Ferry consolidated school would
G entitled to some 81, 100.
b