Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-11-05
URGE Miss LODGE FOR
COUNTY School HEAD.
Federation of Women'sC lubs
Issues Statement in
Her Behalf
ARGUE SHE is NOT
BARRED BY THE LAW

The State Federation Of Womens
Clubs. through Mrs. Ray Heydrlck
Powell. president. and Mrs. A. r. Wat
son, corresponding secretary, has Issued
a statement advocating the appoint
ment Of Miss Mabel Lodge as county
superintendent OF free schools for Kent
county, TO nm the vacancy caused by
the death Of j. r. Carroll. The state
ment says:
Miss Mabel Lodge has made appll-
cation for the Office OF superintendent
or School, Of Kent county. The oppo-
stion 20 her, which has developed IN
certain quarters. has raised clear cut
issue-aro training. experience and spe-
olal fitness to be ignored because their
possessor is woman?
"The provision OF the constitution
which has been cited against Miss
Lodge Section ~ Of Article III IL
that no person shall be elected or ap-
uoiuted TO an Office within a county,
who shall not have the right 10 vote
for a Representative in the General
Assembly, etc. The vital question Is
whether the Office Of superintendent OF
schools Of Kent county Is an office
within a county within the meaning
OF tho constitution.
THE oflees OF superintendent OF
schools for the several counties are
slate and not county offices. They are
a part Of the system Of public school
education, which Is a State system and
not a county one. The fact that they
are styled county superintendent and
given jurisdiction over the schools OF
the particular county does not affect
the situation For example. take the
county agricultural agent. He Is call
ed a county agent and he has special
Jurisdiction over agriculture in a par
ticulsr county. Nevertheless he Is
Federal official. Another example IL
in a member OF our Legislature. He
comes from a particular representative
district. is elected by the voters OF
that district. and is called the repre-
sentative Of that district. Neverthe-
less, he Is a state officer.
"The superintendent Of schools are
paid from the state treasury. The!
are assistants Of the State Board o.
Education and OF the state Commits
sioner Of Education Their duties arr
80 assist IN the administration OF th'
public school system Of the state.
There is very strong decision from hl
courts OF a sister Slate supporting thi
position.
The distinction between the super
intendents OF schools and real count,
officials Will be seen when we take tn
case Of an admitted county oflce sucl
rs the register OF wills Or the recorde
OF deeds. These two officials receiv
their salaries from the County Treas
iiry; make their reports TO the Count
Ievy Court; have no part in any stat
system. There Is no doubt what
ever that a woman is eligible TO ever
school office I'm Delaware. whether
teacher, a member Of the local Board {
Education or a superintendent.
our courts would not give the nal
row and technical construction whic
has been raised against Miss Lodge.
Miss Lodge was born and has live
I'm Delaware. until she went to colleg
size knows Delaware people and cond
lions. She is familiar with rural schOo
and rural conditions both in this stat
and the Middle West. She has naturi
ability TO an unusual degree. She
broad-minded, conscientious, and enc
getic. Her appointment would mean q
Unreasonable gain TO The public schoo
not only In Kent county but throughol
the entire state. Every man and WI
man who has an interest in the Del
ware public schools should do ever
thing possible 20 secure Miss Lodge
anpointment. There is nothing tn
would give such an impetus to publ
school education In Delaware. Her a
pointment may be secured only by q
active support Of those who are gen
nelly interested in our schools"