The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1915-12-10
MORE SCHOOL TALK
BY Mr.. CHRISTIAN

Editor Pioneer:-It was a foregone
conclusion that Mr. Logan would en-
deavor to shield his unseemly actions
In regard to school affairs under the
guise of the good and welfare of the
schools. Of course it is realized that
no good purpose is served by replying
to person who deliberately perverts
the truth to help himself out of a diff
cult situation, as will presently show.
He devotes much space to make it ap-
pear that my criticisms were the out
come of personal spleen. In this con-
nection he writes: The real irrita-
tion seems to lie in the fact that, a.
gainst the protest of Mr.. Christian,
who appeared more than willing to
sacrifice the welfare and wishes of
large majority of the persons affected
by this route in order to have his own
children transported over a shorter
route" l must brand that statement
as a tissue of falsehoods. Never once
did | to Mr.. Logan or to any member
of the board, make, such a request.
All l asked of them was to consider
the wishes of the majority of the per-
sons interested in this route and was
perfectly satisfied to abide by the re-
suit.
l have first hand authority for the
following facts. At meeting of the
school board Mr.. Logan and another
member were appointed committee,
with power to act, to investigate this
route, they were specially instructed
to run this wagon to whichever school
the majority of persons interested in
this route wanted. In the meantime
a certain resident of Leon interested
in the new Equity building got busy.
The result was that this committee,
ignoring the instructions Of the board,
and forgetting their responsibilities
to the children, without consulting
the wishes of the people on the route,
hastily decided in favor of the Leon
route. Again. "Were the routing of
the wagon reversed at this time re-
sulting in it's being sent to the Elliot
school over route much longer than
the Leon route" There is no occa-
sion to labor this point | can state
che two routes and l challenge Mr..
Logan to dispute these figures. From
it's starting point as at present run
to Leon the route is; a mile north l
mile west, 2 miles north, mile east,
2 miles south, miles east, a total
of 81 miles.
If the routes were reversed and the
wagon take on the same children at
the same place it would be 2A miles
north, / mile west, miles south, a
mile west a total of 67a miles. There
is difference of IL miles in favor
of Elliot. Yet Mr.. Logan says the
Elliot route is much longer. Either
he is ignorant of the routes or he
knowingly perverts the truth.
It would be extremely foolish to
follow the gentleman through his long
laborious statement of attempted ex-
plantations and distortions of the
truth. If he had been more explicit
probably he would not have been lost
in his own labyrinth. In one part of
his meanderings he AYERS that certain
children are 2 miles from Elliot and
2 miles from Leon, this is incorrect.
In another part, probably to suit his
purpose, he says they are 2A miles
from Leon and 2 miles from Elliot,
this is correct. 1t is hard to believe |
that the gentleman who aspires to fill |
the position of Supt. of school district
No. % should be caught discussing
questions in this piecemeal fashion.
In my last letter l believe l made
it clear that had an open mind on
consolidation. Rather my opposition
was to the methods employed by the
present management in putting the
scheme into effect.
My contention was that the small
school, Notwithstanding it's disadvan-
tages, was preferable to the present
haphazard wagon service. There
cannot be much doubt that under cap
able, disinterested management con-
solidation could be made an unquali-
fed s1ccass
Mr.. Logan seemingly boasts Of the
fact that last year the average cost
per wagon per month was $48. Rath-
er he ought to be ashamed to make it
public. This is the end of consolida-
tion in which the present manage
n:ent has made one of it's greatest
olunders. The transportation of the
-