The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-06-06
Mr.. BOWMAN DEFENDS
ACT Of SCHOOL BOARD
True Democrat:

Newspaper controversy is out of my
line but the criticisms of the Schoo
Board in your last issue abound in sc
many errors and reflections as to de
mand reply by me.
In nut shell and condensed, the
facts are these:
The executive committee, recogniz
ing the Importance of selecting new
superintendent of schools in place Of
the one retiring, to receive applica
tons of teachers and make other nee
essary arrangements for the next year
held several meetings to consider pro
posals for that situation, finally decid
ing (that is, 3 of the 4 members) thai
the experience of Mr.. Clump of Baton
Rouge was unexceptional and that he
was, in their judgment, the best man
to recommend to the Board. A special
meeting for an early date was called;
eight members, majority, were pres
ent. AS the meeting was an executive
one Mr.. Bliss, who was also present
was so notified, but informed that the
Board would be pleased to hear any
thing he had to say. He made a short
address, announcing himself a candi
date for the position of superintendent
and, after giving his reasons why he
thought he should be selected, with
drew. Proceeding to the business OF
the meeting, Mr.. Argue placed Mr.
IClump OF Baton Rouge in nomination
DR.. Brooks seconding. Mr.. w. B. Smith
nominated Mr.. Bliss, seconded by Mr.
Percy. Without any personalities OF
reflections on either side, the merits
or dement's of the two candidates were
considered as might have been in the
selection of constable or president
OF the United States, During the dis.
cussion, the Secretary, when about to
take part, was informed that this was
a matter which concerned only the
Board and in which he was not inter
ested. After all had been said in the
interest of each as desired, when the
roll was called of the eight members
present four voted for Mr.. Clump and
four for Mr.. Bliss-a tie. Mr.. Argue
then moved that the election of super.
intendent be postponed until the next
regular meeting of the Board on July
End. This was seconded and adopted
without dissent. Whereupon, Mr.. W.
B. Smith arose and proposed that Mr.
Clump be elected superintendent and
Mr.. Bliss principal of the high school
(Which office had not been before con-
sidered). This met general approval
and was voted unanimously. Mr..
Argues motion to postpone was re-
scinded. And this is the story of the
bull in the china shop, which seems to
have created sensation.
/ now wish to add that for the last
forty years have continuously held
the position of presiding officer in
some body, some FEARS in two or three:
that | never voted twice on any occa.
sion and so far as | can recall was
never so demented as to imagine that
| was so entitled to vote. | wish also
to say that for the past thirty-eight
years | have had the honor of being
the presiding officer of the West Felic-
lana Board of School Directors; that
during this period there has never
been any dissension among it's mem
bers; that united, honest and con-
sclentious effort has been made to pro-
mote the best interests of the schools
as they saw them, and that such con-
dition would doubtless continue in the
future as in the past if free from
interference.
JAS. P. BOWMAN,
President Board of School Directors.