Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-11-11
About the School Board of Education.


on, especially in Lancaster concerning
the Boards action in qualifying, At
first 7 thought best to disregard it
and maintain a dignifed silence: OF
late, however it has been consider
ably advertised in the county papers.
SO much so, that many of my friends
nave come to me and asked me about
1t, telling me that they were sure |
had good reason for doing what | did.
Otherwise they said they knew l
would not have done so: those friends
were real friends; they did not stand
around the street corners and in the
blacksmith shops where men congre-
gate TO talk, and condemning us for
what we without knowing the under
living reason for our action, and to
those friends have given this answer:
AT the Tax Payers Protective League
Convention l entered into the proceed
Sng with as much enthusiasm as any
one, believing it was a step in the
right direction. / heartily approved
of the resolutions framed by that
convention. These resolutions were
framed after due elaboration; among
them was one condemnIng the law
creating a County Board of Education
and asking for its repeal that was an
eminently right and proper procedure.
Laws are made by the Legislature and
Hnmade by the same body and that is
the only just and proper mode of
procedure. A convention hall is not
the place to set aside the states laws
and he who advocates it is advocating
disregard of law and order. Amid
the prevailing enthusiasm. resolution
was introduced to name FIVE men who
would refuse to qualify; was one of
them. UDthinkingly | entered into
the tacit understanding and never for
moment thought but what it would
be all right After considering the
matter in a deliberative manner
saw that it was foolish proposition,
1Oolishiy and unthinkingly entered in
to; it was case of the blind leading the
blind, and the scriptural interpreta-
aiOn of that is, ''they shall both fall
dntO the ditch We met at the
Court House in Lancaster on May 5th
and after considerable discussion,
decided to abide by the understanding
prevailing at the convention. l went
home from the meeting feeling had
done what was expected of me and
supposed that was the end of it.
Some time in September received
. letter from one of the members of
che board, enclosing considerable
correspondence that member had had
with the state superintendent office.
/ then began to see that possibly
we had laid ourselves liable for some
thing. ! did not know what. l
answered that letter, stating that
did not want to qualify if by any
means it would be avoided. l also
stated that had often thought our
action in May might cause us trouble.
I made the suggestion that MIR. A.
v. Wells, who was president of the
board, call meeting of all the
members to discuss what ought to be
done. The meeting was called, and
all the members were present; at that
time we called up the state superin-
tendent's office, got Mr.. Harper on
che wire, who informed US that he
had just obtained an opinion from
the Attorney General to the effect
shat any citizen in Grant county
could at any time start mandamus
proceedings against US, and [ believe
Il was also intimated that we would
nave mighty poor defense to offer.
We all thought the opinion was com
petent authority and so decided to
qualify, knowing that it would place
as IN an unfavorable light before
many who will not stop to reason.
After this explanation to my friends,
have put this to them. ''Now just
for moment put yourself in my place
and then l ask you in all kindIiness,
what would you have done?" After
qualifying | as secretary Of the board
made out the report to the State
Superintendent. 1t was accepted and
as result, $500 were sent from the
State Treasurer to Treasurer of the
County, Mr.. Livingston, and the
board will perhaps not spend co ex-
coed 5000 of that sum. So you see,
financially, the county is the gamer.
] also want to state, that the other
20 counties in the state had their
boards in working order since we
qualified In September, and it was
amply advertised at that time. [
cannot see any other reason for the
recent activity than that of injuring
Ghe chances of Hon. A. v. Wells
election to the assembly. an Office he
never sought, but is admir- ably quail