The Detroit times., 1917-02-26
WOULD RUN
SCH0OLSAS
A BUSINESS
Frank Hooker Alfred
Seeks Board Place
AS Duty
PERE MARQUETTE
HEAD HAS IDEAS
Trained Men Should
Look After Educa-
tional Affairs, He Says

date for the small school board. II
enjoying the novel experience o.
being candidate for public once
for the nrst time In his life. He
never held a political ofire. never
would and never will do any pub
lie service for salary He does not
regard the membership on the
school board as political ONCE
otherwise he would not permit his
name 20 De considered nor would
he think ~ accepting such a posi-
tion II i. carried with Il a salary
This epitomlEes the attitude OF a
busy and successful business man
toward the attitude 4 citizen should
take.
Mr. Alfred IL not campaigning for
election Because OF his personal
success in life and OF his known
enthusiasm for all that Is good FOR
a community. he was urged by many
leagues and civic organizations 10
stand For a place on the small
school board
To begin with. Mr. Alfreds can
diGacy Is unique in that he has no
platform that is. in the ordinary
acceptance Of the term He has no
prediction promises. propaganda.
theories or threats 20 rise up and
confouad him after election on
ne .oihe- hard. II No becomes a
meu' her % the board q viii b. with
The idea ~ meeting every question
with an open MIND and a determine
tion 10 take the stand on that ques-
'ion that good citizenship and good
business ability would suggest as
bes, FOR the school system and the
community
Mr. Alfred thinks seven member
board should proceed much like the
board OF directors ~ bank or 3
railroad He would have n gather
al the table. hear every side of
every question. get all the informa.
,ion possible and then be In a pos T.
tion 70 vote intelligently. as OF
posed 90 the present system of
boosting for some political friend.
be he contractor. job seeker or
what not. That sort % administra-
tiou OF school Affairs by a small
board OF intelligent persons. Mr. Al.
fred thinks. will be much 20 the
beneat OF the city not alone be
cause OF ifs aavfng ~ time and
money. but because OF It's greater
Having been connected with a
grea: railroad In Detroit for tho
last Is years. during which time ne
has risen from a subordinate post
tion 20 the highest place IN the ad
n!nlsiration % the Pere Marquette
that OF general manager. Mr. Alfred
has demonstrated his ability -
yond question He has lived In ~
troit all % the twentieth century
thus far. and frequently has been
asked 20 accep, political once. pu,
has invariably declined. until now
he sees an opportunity FOR trained
business men 20 be OF real service
20 their c',g
He would organize a school sys-
TEN "a great big business indus
try is organized. with every unit
OF tie undertaking in competent
hands. He would have the super
In. enden' responsible for the en-.
Z ley#Ant % all teachers without
Interference OF the board. II poor
teaching staf is obtained that is
the fault OF the superintendent and
the board should get good super.
iRtendent and should not try 70
remedy such an evil by hiring the
teachers In this way the various
duties should be taken care OF by
the heads % departments and the
board should instruct tho heads. II
work did not 60 smoothly in any
department. IL would be the duty
- the board 10 get competent
head. but not 20 assume the detailed
work Of the department that prop
erly belonged 10 trained expert.
Mr Alfred is Democrat. bu, In
dependent