South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-03-20
Keller Issues Statement to
Committee He Entertained
Last Week Declining
to Interfere.
DECLARES PUBLIC DOES
NOT WANT REMOVAL
Says Many Signers Misunder-
stood Intention of Petition
and Declare Purpose Was
MiSrepSenteG.

FaiSf NfSSSii@SAs
Mayor Fred w. Keller's answer TO
the committee OF 81 citizens asking
for the removal OF +. y. Rupel and
William Glenn from the school
board was received today. Mr. Kel-
ler's answer was mo"
The mayor said in his answer that
since talking with some Of the 81
signers of the petition for the re-
moval OF the board members. that
he had found that they had changed
their mind and that the facts in the
case had been misrepresented. on
the other hand. the mayor said. the
petitions requesting the retention Of
the members Of the school board
had signatures. and he is of the be-
lief that the majority Of the people
OF South Bend were I'm favor of hav-
ing the members retained.
The MAYOR went on to say TO W.
O. Davies. chairman OF the commit
tee. which last Monday conferred
with the mayor. that he had not at
tempted to dictate any of the poll
cies of the school board and that he
did not propose 10 interfere with the
things they were now doing
Mayor Kellers letter follows in
fun:
March goth. 1916.
Mr.. W. q. Davies Chairman
South Bend, Ind
Dear sir
In regard 10 the petition ask
ing for a conference TO discuss
the welfare OF our schools ana
signed by - citizens. will say
that MANY Of these citizens have
since stated that they were op-
posed 10 the removal Of a ma
tority OF the board from office.
Many of those signing the peti-
ton have stated that il the OBJ
ject OF the petition vas a re-
mOval of "a majority of the
board that its contents were
misrepresented 20 them. OF the
81 signing the petition. only
about 20 were present. at the
conference In addition 10 the
20 signers 20 the petition. there
were possibly 80 others present
who were OF the same opinion
Besides these men. I only know
OF few others who are i'm favo-
of rennovine the two members OF
the board
The counter petitions object
ing to removing q majority o.
the board were signed by nearly
80 citizens. II was stated that
the names were secured in few
hours time. The meaning OF
The counter petition was clear
IN stated and il would seen;
that it's object could not be mis-
understot q. II we also stated
BY those speaking in behalf OF
the counter petition that the
had conferred with a large num-
Der OF people and found that
only very small percentage OF
our citizens favored removing
the board.
None II the speakers ques-
toned the honesty OF amy mem
Der Of the board and there was
no argument presented which.
would warrant their removal
Stree a majority OF the patrons
OF the schools are opposed To re-
moving any member OF tho
board. n would seem OBVIOUSLY
proper that they should Doe re-
tanned
Since assuming the office OF
mayor ] have not interfered
With the acts 'f the school
board IN engaging employees iu
any way This would seem to
Ice the proper policy II the board
was now removed on account Of
failure to renew e contract with
the SUPERINTENDENT then when
ever the board did not reeugage
any employ e Of the school city.
the same diihcultv would re-
occur and the responsibility OF
the board would then be shifted
10 the mayor The result would
be an endless muddle.
There has been considerable
silly talk shout politics i'm the
present controversy on the part
OF those " no advocate inter-
ference. There has been no
poHtics whatever I'm the present
controversy except that injected
nN certain ANFA- mus mum va atlAN
as is obvious 20 those who do
their own thinking.
I would know Of no surer way
TO involve the schools in politics
than for the mayor 10 adopt the
policy Of interference. / would
therefore decline 10 vary from
my policy OF Eoninterference.
Yours truiy
CSigned) FRED ". KELLER.