The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-04-09
School Election Reflections.
% the Editor Of The Gate City:

the results of the election in the
school bond election just held, l am
of the opinion that the result of the
election should be very gratifying to
those who have been striving for an
increased growth and improved con-
ditions in Keokuk. However, on &C
count Of the closeness of the vote
there is condition which suggests
careful reflection.
In the first place. SO far as I am
informed, every person who is ident-
| flied in an official or executive capac-
| ity with the various organizations of
the city who are striving for an in
creased growth and improved condi-
tons locally, gave their unstinted
support to the proposed school bond
issue On the other hand, those who
were most strenuous in opposition to
the measure were not occupying any
official or executive position in any
| of the various organizations in the
city which have for their purpose OF
Organization the upbuilding of the
city.
Keokuk, during the many years that
l have observed and known her his
tory, has almost always done that
which was best for civic Improvement.
but, as in this case, the margin in
favor of the proposition at issue has
often been very close.
| AS in the election just closed, the
issues have been so frequently mud
died by all sorts of arguments, both
relevant and irrelevant, fair and UNI
fair, that the result of the election
| has hung in an uneven balance until
| the ballots have all been counted. In
almost every election issues and argu-
ments are thrown into the election
that do not commend themselves to
reasonable and fair-minded men,
and thereby many who are un1nforin-
ed are prejudiced as to the real is
sues
| For instance. the other day when a
m erchant engaged in business on
Main street was approached with ref
erence to the school bond election, he
stated that he was opposed to it for
the reason that the school board had
no business lacking on to the propo-
sition the sewer question. He thought
| the bond ISSUE proposed by the city
council for the purpose Of securing
sewer and grading funds had been
tackled on to the school bond question.
! If voters are not going TO inform
themselves on the real issues, they
would do we'll to consider the men
who are proposing the issue, and
those who are opposing it, and follow
some sort OF leadership, rather than
be swayed by every absurd, prejudiced
iargument that can be born in some
imaginative mind.
] Some of those who were in favor
Iof the proposed school bond issue
sought votes on the ground that the
| Catholic vote would be against it.
This argument was not fair, for |
personally know of number of Cath
olics who gave the school bond issue
their jealous support. Some Catho-
lies may have voted against it, but l
lam also quite sure many voted for 1t.
| At Columbia, Missouri, in every i'm
tportant school election the leaders
iamong the Catholics are the most
Jealous supporters of the proposed
measure seeking to improve the pub
Ilic schools of that city. The Catholics
there have to maintain their paroch-
ial schools, and it is true that the
payment of taxes in support OF the
public schools, and then private sub
scriptions for the support Of paroch-
+ al schools is in many instances a
burden.
At Louisiana, Missouri, the Catho-
lies maintain their own schools and
also are always aggressive partisans
il favor Of any movement that i'm
proves the local public school sys-
tenn. They have just torn down
large three story, brick building that
was far superior In stability, safety
and every manner of construction to
any OF the four old school buildings
| in Keokuk, and replaced it with a
modern, up to date school building.
and the Catholics gave that measure
their endorsement and support.
It is commendable to find the Cath
| olics supporting public school meas
ure, and the leaders among the Cath
olics in most places with which l am
closely acquainted, believe that the
safety of our institutions depends
upon an educated citizenship. They
do not and cannot expect those who
are not identified with the Catholic
church to support and attend the
parochial schools, and yet some sort
lof education is necessary, and that
must be the educational system pro-
vided by the laws OF the state.
| The earnest cooperation of the
Catholics in support OF public school
system should be desired and should
not be antagoniZed by urging such
arguments as would indicate the OPP
position of all the Catholics TO any
measure seeking to improve the pub
lie school system.
! Another important argument that
had much to do with the election
lust closed was the factional feeling