The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-08-17
Sun1raH School Fight
is Nearing Fever Heat
TOWN MEET MONDAY
STEPS 1T NOW WILL TAKE AGAINST SCHOOL
TEEs-RoTH SIDES EMPLOY ATTORNEYS 1T
TO FINIsH-coUNcIL WILLING "RECALLED"

The fight between the board of trus-
! tees of the Sumrall school and the
Sumrall town councilmen promises to
reach fever heat next Monday when
| the latter will hold a special session
and will decide on what course it shall
pursue in the future, now that definite
and specific charges have been made
against the trustees, and submitted to
the citizens of the township for their
consideration.
The fight is of long standing, and
every man, woman and child in Sum-
raj is taking an interest in it. Both
sides have employed counsel. ]. 7.
! Garroway, city attorney, and Sullivan
e. Conner, of Hattiesburg, represent
the council, while E. L. Bond, editor
of the Sumrall Progress, and himself
lawyer of standing is looking after
the affairs Of the trustees.
The attitude of the mayor and
councilmen is given in the following
circular which has been printed and
distributed broadcast throughout Sum-
rail-:
To the People of SumralI:
Believing that many, who may not
thoroughly understand the matter,
might be interested in a statement of
our position in regard to the local
school question, we beg to submit the
following:
We recognize and cOncede the right
of the School Trustees to conduct the
affairs of the school as provided by
law, without outside dictation or inter
| ference. But we claim the right to
call them to account for any act of
theirs that is not in accord with the
law and the faithful performance of
their duties.
We had information which we con-
sidered reliable, to the effect that
there was considerable dissension and
dispute as to the manner in which the
school was being conducted and the
character of work being done. Several
of the teachers severely criticised and
denounced the Superintendent of the
school, These things seemed to have
! escaped the notice of the Trustees.
Believing that the best results could
not be obtained under such circum-
stances and feeling that the commune
ty was entitled to the best school OBJ
tainable for the money expended, we
addressed a letter to the Trustees in
which we propOunded questions de,
signed to cause them to go into the
matter. find out the facts and take
steps to correct the trouble. Some OF
the replies received from the Trustees
we considered evasive and misleading
They declared everything to be lovely
and some of them expressed keen dis
satisfaction when we voted to take
the matter under Amusement.
We next secured and submitted to
the Trustees evidence showing con
clusively that some of the things we
had been informed about were true
The Trustees then held a meeting and
declared the places of four of the
teachers vacant for having criticised
the Superintendent of the school We
understand that some of them were
given the privilege of becoming rein
stated by appearing before the Trus
tees and making satisfactory explana
4 ton of their statements. But bein?
II discharged first and then asked to ex
\ plain. we think showed very plainly
h that their statements were regarded
\ bv the Trustees as being untrue with
out being proven so. The teacher
\ naturally resented this sort of treat
i ment with the result that some o
Il them severed their connection witt
\ the school and others are preparing t
4 sue the town for their salaries. Blu
4 we suppose the Trustees consider tn
II Superintendent indicated.
II In replying to our list of questions
III the Trustees gave statement show
III ing a balance to the credit of tn
HI school fund whereas the treasurer
HI report showed deficit. They gave
III verbal explanation that there wa
HI money coming in shortly that woul
III create a surplus. The Treasurer n
III port still shows shortage 1t wa
HI necessary to shorten the length OF tn
III past session on account of lack {
III funds, but they are continuing to pa
III the superintendent salary during "
III cation, thereby creating still create
ui MIA, claim, that thpv Iii