The Penn's Grove record., 1913-11-28
School Site and Appropriation Defeated
A Big Turnout To Vote Down The
Sack Site

0aGA olkS
There was a large attendance at the
school election IN Monday evening tc
vote ON the resolution presented by the
Board of Education to rescind the action
of the voters July 10Th when a large
majority OF those who voted then were
in favor OF purchasing six acres of w. A,
Sack and raising by bond issue 500, 500 tc
pay for the land and erect a school
house thereon. The vote to rescind was
255 and the vote not to rescind was lO1.
There were about a hundred women pres
emit and as many voted against the larger
school site as voted for it.
w. F. Yeager was chairman of the
meeting, Richard Rowe secretary, R. F,
Willis, Judge, Morgan Wood and Thos.
p. Morgan, tellers.
The large vote against the Sack site
was a surprise to some who have given
little consideration to school problems
and will be to those at a distance until
they are informed of the many condi-
tions and reasons which enter into a
proposition to be voted upon.
There are citizens who have a prefer
ences for different sites; others who are
opposed to q high school building also to
giving a high school education and some
bitterly opposed to bonding the Borough
for educational or any other purpose.
Last April 23d when the proposition to
raise $50, 600 by bonding was voted upon
and defeated So to 80 those opposed to
the small site voted against the PROPOSE
ton as well as those opposed to a high
school, those opposed to bonding and
those who favored putting off erecting a
high school as long as possible.
On July 10th, the proposition to
build oil the Cunningham lot, Holman
lot and Sack site each containing the
same bonding proposition, to bond for
$780, 500, and left the only issue a prefer
ence as to the three sites. All other con-
ditions being equal, the Sack site received
Ill, Holman lot 80, Cunningham lot 49,
With all other conditions the same it is
question whether it will not win again.
In August two additional rooms were
erected to the Baptist building on State
Street and they provide the needed room
for all school children, but do not com
ply with the state law. Some think they
will provide all the necessary room fol
years, consequently they do not see the
necessity of proceeding with the bonding
proposition and at once erecting an ex
pensive building which the Board of Ed
ucation would be obligated to do if the
result OF the election on July Is stood.
The vote last Monday night was to re-
scind the election of july 10Th, which
proposition also contained the raising Of
$39, 500 by selling bonds. By resembling
leaves the Board of Education without
authority to issue bonds to erect any
building, even on the Cunningham lot,
and longer delays the new school house
because it will require another, and
probable several elections before fna.
settlement. There is much luggelry on
the question to bring about delay, and
put off the building as long as possible.
There was no strenuous effort made to
get out all the voters favorable to the
Sack site. Those to be most financially
benefited did not come out to vote no
urge others to do So, as was done at the
July election.
On the other hand %strenuonse efforts
were made by personally csnvass.ug the
town and running automobiles to get thu
voters out. The votes to rescind includ
ed all opposed to the Sack site, all fav
orable to other sites; those opposed to {
high school building; those opposed tt
any education above the grammar grade
IA years Of age; those opposed to pur
chasinga large tract for a play ground OF
school house in future years; those op
posed to bonding for any purpose; those
vino dread higher taxes. Besides those
who never lived in Penns Grove are I'm
aware of the antipathy of one part of the
town against the other.
Some on both sides did not think thu
ticket was composed in a way for a fail
understanding by the voters. 1t read:
"Resolved that the action of the lega
voters taken at the special school election
meeting held July Is, be and is hereby
rescinded.
ITO vote against the resolution canoe
the same with ink or pencil.
ITO vote tor the resolution leave it al
printed.
When a member OF the Board of Edu
cation has to consult a lawyer and COUNTY
Superintendent to learn how to vote
what may be expected of citizens whit
never saw nor read the propositions voted
on July Is and were brought to tin
school house in the dark and given
ticket, and no explanation.
There was nothing on the ticket t.
shoW what the proposition was of Jul,
10Th. 10 vote AGAINST the former prop
osition which many did not know ant
had never seen, one had to vote FOR tn,
resolution, just pass in the ticket given
While the others had to cross their ticket
1t Wal an unfair ticket and not in &C
cordance with the present mode of votinI
by both sides having to mark their ficke
as was done in the last general election
on the e jury law.
1t is evident that the election was no
conducted to give the Sack site a suuar
deal. 1t was held as much to defeat tn
bond issue and delay the erection of
building and thus throw back on til
people the responsibility of delay.
The Board of Education are iuggler
between the people and the State Boar,
of Education.
After citizens became better acquainte
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