Republican farmer., 1918-07-05
BEDDING

year there is a virtual certainty that the school committee will cancel the engagement as a clause in the con tract permits them to do upon giving 30 days notice The reason for such probable action are utterances on her part not consistent with patriotism. approaching 1t should disqualify the possessor from acting as a public school instructor, the committee dele gated J. B. Sanford, one of their num- Der, to interview Mrs. Hickok for the purpose of learning her sentiments on the subject at issue! Her state ments plainly showed that although not supporter of the German cause she had become a victim to one form of Pro-German propaganda. She said that she did not approve of the war, that the Administration had been wrong in declaring war and that the war was being waged on behalf of big business interests for money making purposes. MT. Sanford ask ed if, in case her 19 year old son were ! drafted would she permit him to fight. At this inquiry Mrs. Hickok, who has recently shown evidences of heart weakness, tainted and the interview | terminated. It had been conducted | by. Mir. Sanford in the most gentle and consfderate manner.
 When he made his report to the committee they were of one mind as to Mrs. Hickoks unfitness to con- 1 tinue to teaching although definite action in the case is yet to be taken by them.
 Because of personal esteem and appreciation of her good work in the | Center school and also because of what they consider extenuating cir cumstances her attitude moved them to sympathy and regret rather than 1 indignation. They desired to keep the matter quiet, but as organist of the Methodist church in Bethel, Mrs. l Hickok was also on the defensive in | that town and the natural result of the double agitation has been much 1 publicity. The incident which fo- l cused attention upon her in Bethel
 was her refusal to play "The Star 1 Spangled Banner" at a church ser
 vice. After Rev. MT. Shackelton | the gave Oul IuS SClSClIO4l
 the choir waited expectantly for the
 opening notes on the organ, but nc
 sound came from the instrument and | to gIances of appeal Mrs Hickok shook her head. She had previous | ly declared that she would not play
 the National anthem. After the ser vice the minister sought an explana- ton from her, but obtained nothing l satisfactory. Afterwards a commit
 tee of the church considered the af-
 fair and acquitted the organist of will full contumacy. The general feeling
 against her was so strongly evidenced
 by the church people, however, that
 she has resigned her position.
 Her war views cannot be accounted
 for on racial grounds as she is native
 born and of English descent. Theil
 handspring Is doubtless a fear tha
 her son may have to undergo the
 perils of active military service, :
 fear intensined to morbidity by condi
 tions of ill-health. As member O
 the local school committee expressed
 1t, Tt seems to be case of exagger
 ated mother love and as such invites
 compassion, although this should not
 lessen the condemnation due her un
 patriotic sentiments
 The total of pledges obtained last
 week in the Savings Stamps drive was
 $11, ,505. .85, not a, star record as com Ipared with some of the others to the
 towns war credit but regarded on the
 whole as fairly satisfactory. Besides
 this sum there is applicable to Red Iding's quota nearly $4,0O0 represented
 by stamp purchases, previous to the
 drive. By districts last weeks sub
 scriptoins were as follows: George town, $3,02155; West Bedding, S3.213.- AS; Ridge, s3,2O4.85; Center, s2,065. .97 In the Ridge section 290 of the 300 or jthe list gave pledges and most of the
 other ten were away when the can vassers called. The indications are that by the end of the year the towr will have come very close to meeting it's quota.
 The bill of $1414 presented by Fire Warden McGlynn of Ridgef1eld fol services rendered by himself and z / force of IS men and three Boy Scout:
 in helping to overcome a brush ant
 woods fire in West Bedding a few
 weeks ago has been practically O
 K'd by W. o. Filley, the State drt
 warden to whom the NaE$!m was re
 ferred for advice. In a letter to Firs
 SeIectman Sanford the State wardel finds that MT. McGlynn acted prop
 erly in responding to the alarm whicl
 came to him from Branchville. H did so in the belief that Ridgefelt property was in danger and remaine' | on the job until the fire was unde
 Iconrol because meanwhile he had no
 lcpme in contact with any Reddini warden although as matter of fac lChjef Warden Warner of this tow 3 was also fighting the flames in an l other part of the burning territory }, In analysing the bill MT. Filley ap l proves the charge of a$2O for auto true ,' hire and that of $1O for brooms al though he deprecates the use c s brooms as fire extSnguishers on ac count of costHness. The Bedding SC D lectmen will pay the bill and obtai T reimbursement from the State fo one-half the amount.
 The Diamond Hill school house ha . been sold by the town to Harry ,I II.ounsbury for $100, the transactio
 being effected by the selectmen 0 of the school committee. The build ing has not been used for the pas 5 eight or ten years and is much out ( '. repair It is the last of the schot Il buildings retained by the town sine
 consolidation went into effect, tn T. others having been disposed of 500 T. after they fell into disuse with tn y caange of system. These were tn school houses in Pleasant Valley, tn e Center, hometown and Sanfordtown. T. The call which Edward M. Bradle