The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1914-04-09
ECHOES FROM THE RECENT
SCHOOL ELECTION.

At the Silvaua school election the
vote was so overwhelmingly against
the Socialist candidate FOR director
that the newly elected director was
at loss to know why he had received
sucn a decisive majority. In previous
years the total vote ranged from nine
10 fifteen or thereabouts. This year
the vote was 81, of which Mr., Ham
mer, the on-Soc,alist. received 70.
An air Of mystery peryaded the at
mosphere. Did this large vote mean
an underlined fear that the eleven So
cialsts in the district might have
elected another Socialist to the school
board, or did It mean that Comrades
Mr.. and Mrs. Nj. Salter, who are two
of the three teachers in the school,
were to be let OUT
Never in the history of the Silvana
school, not even when the renowned
Socialist prosecutor. Mrs. Lizzie Jones
was it's principal, did the school run
SO tremendously as this year. The
pupils seem to be electrified with an
enthusiasm for school work and an
unsuitable appetite for knowledge of
the executing, throbbing, modren, sci
entific world and its marvellous pro-
gress in which they must soon become
vital factors. An ideal sentiment of
sympathy, love and respect exists be-
tween teachers and pupils.
Socialist Teachers Not Wanted.
The dark lantern, secret caucus bri-
gade said the Salters must go.
The pupils circulated petition
among themselves to be presented to
the board asking that the Salters be
retained. Every one expressed a
willingness to sign it, but some said
they did not dare. Several pupils
openly defied their parents and signed
the petition.
Some of the more outspoken parents
pointed out the severe loss the district
would suffer were the Salters not to be
returned. In order to ascertain the
will of the majority on this matter
Mr. Hammerly called a meeting of the
parents to discuss and present reasons
why Mr.. Salter should not be retained
as principal.
All but two of the parents in most
emphatic terms expressed themselves
in favor of Mr.. Salter's retention.
One said that the spells system
ought to be applied to the school, or
in other words, as the Socialists lost
out in the election the Socialist teach
ers should go. He had no fault to
find with them as teachers nor could
he get any word of complaint from his
children. The most serious charges
we're that Mr. Salter had said there
was no God; that the flag was a dirty
rag; that George Washington was
aided in his campaigns by his adver-
sary, Lord Howe, and that the sol
diers at Calumet and Colorado are but
lOOlo VI LHS Al1nC OWhClo' AloO
general objection that too much
stress was placed on the news of the
day, especially that relating to strikes.
Many of the parents failed to come to
the meeting. Mr.. Hammerly said he
took that as evidence that they were
opposed to Mr.. Salter In order to
dispel any doubt on the matter a pc
tition has been circulated among the
parents asking the board to re-employ
it's present teachers another year.
This petition has received a majority
of the parents signatures The OPP
position said on the floor OF the meet
ing that all the year they had COM
plants regarding the teaching of Mr..