Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-03-07

MaTshalltowr must elect three men,
bers of the school board instead OF
one, according TO the Iowa law. which
says that a city of the first class mus,
have seven members on it's school,
board instead OF five as is the case
! with second class cities.
: This fact became known at O'Clock
/ Monday evening. when Frank G. Pierce
filed in the office of Secretary W. VI.
/ Clark. Of the school board. the petition
! Of Mrs. F. A. Moscrip and Miss Mary
; aosteler as candidates for member
ship on the board. There was then on
: HE only the name Of G. W. Lawrence,
candidate for re- election. Later in the
evening petitions were filed for Merritt:
Greene. Jr.. and r. II. Mcdowell.
The time for filing closed Monday
and the election is on Monday.
March 10.
Mr.. Pierce discovered the fact that
a city OF the first class must have
seven members on its school board
when the question was asked him as
editor of Midland municipalities a few
GAYS aS0 from another Iowa city. He
looked up the law. and found the fact
TO exist He thought that the boa I'd
should have two women members. and
in company with c. II. E. Boardman
drew up petitions for Mrs. Moscrip
and Miss Hostetler without consult
ing them. Neither was informed Of
their candidates. until after the petit
lions were filed Both consented to
run when asked ny the Times Repub-
Nc2n today whether or not they would
be candidates.
What About Notice.
With this change in the membership
II the school board arising by reason
Of Marshalltown becoming a city Of the
TTst class, the question naturally arose
as 10 what might be the effect of an
election held when the official notice Of
election stated that there was but one
member 10 elect
Secretary Clark was asked about this
point. hut could not answer as the
point had not been looked up. He was
of the opinion that Marshalltown was
not a city Of the first class when the
notice vas given its first publication
on Feb. "a. The legal notice an
nounc!ng ,Marshalltown a city Of the
Feb. %
Class Effective Feb. 10.
But Marshalltown has been city Of
the first class since Feb. IS. according
TO Assistant Attorney General C. A.
Robbins who gave the Times Republi-
can an opinion today at the request Of
the newspa per.
According TO Mr.. Robbins the school
q.
reason OF the publication calling for
the election Of only one member. when
N realty three are to be elected
Mr. Robbins says that MarshaIitown
became a city Of the first class on Feb.
Is. the date when the executive council
made its declaration. and not on the
date "f publication. So Marshalltown
"as N fact a city OF the first class
" h@A the notice OF the school election
"as published on the 18th.
However, Mr.. Robbins says. the
courts have held many times that an
error n the publication nnt!ca e aa
election does not invalidate the cleo
zion: also that II has been held tina,
At election would be valid if publica-
ton were forgotten and not made at
all. Marshallrown must elect three
members Of its school board instead
Of one. Mr.. Robbins says, as It is now
a c.ty Of the first class.
Should Publish Amendment.
But to be On the safe side" MI
Robbins said. the school board should
publish a once an amendatory notice
TO the effect that three members are
TO De elected instead of one. This may
or may not affect the legality of the
election. but would do no harm"
Why Women Members?
In bringing out the two women can
didatss for school director the pro-
motors Of their candidates. announce
that they believe women should be
given more power in political affairs
and especially those lines of endeavor
in which they are particularly inter-
ested, such as the schools; that the
candidates nominated each have had
years % experience in school matters
and each is better qualified to act as
school director than any man who
takes only a passing interest in school
questions and have had no actual ex-
pe-!ence in teaching or school. man
agemenr
We firmly believe IN the office
seeking the candidate and did not con-
suit either Of the candidates." the
statement says. land they knew moth
ing Of our acts until the nomination
pa pers were fled. Each candidate is
we'll known ard the only thing consid-
cred in the selection was their quail
fratioc tc- the position. We ..s-e &c
grievance against the present board,
or any candidate, but now that Mar
sflaitown is city Of the first class,
and the school board must have seven
members instead Of Ave az previously,
we believe the time is favorable to
give thoses who are most interested in
the schools. tina: Is the women. repre-
sentation on the board -,,
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