The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-06

ton comes to him unsolicited. Mr..
Stout was elected by the votes of L.
NJ. PenweH, P. w. Griggs and James
Mullin. Mrs C. J. Evans, the retiring
Jones were in favor of Supt. J. w.
Gowan, of Winfield, and imm ediately
after the election rendered their resig
nations. w. E. Atchison was the only
member of the board not present
In the reorganization of the board.
Mr.. Penwell was elected president, TT.
Mullin, vice president, and NJ. C. Hol-
man, clerk. The designations of the
two former members of the board
have not been acted upon but accord
ing to Mr.. Penwell, unless withdrawn
before the next meeting of the board
they will be accepted
1t is alleged by Mrs. Evans and Mr..
Jones that sharp practice was exer-
cised in the selection since Mr.. Stout
had never been considered in open
session of the board. Mr.. Wilson'S
resignation was accepted July s. At
called meeting of the board. Mrs
Evans was authorized to bring in
recommendations for the vacancy
Superintendents Raymond Kent of
Lawrence, J. w. Gowan Of Winfield,
c. S. Risden of Independence and w.
S. Huesner of Salina were among those
considered.
Jones Resigned in June.
that his resignation was caused by the
selection of Mr.. Stout, Mr.. Jones said:
MY resignation has been in the preSi-
dents hands about sixty days, but at
Mrs. Evans's suggestion was not to be
presented to the board until after the
new superintendent was elected. l
voted for Mr.. Gowan because I consid-
cred him to be the man best qualified
for the place. did not know that Mr.
Stout was to be considered seriously
altho his name was mentioned to me
in advance by one member OF tf-~
board"
1t is said that the resignation of
Mrs. Evans was entirely unexpected
and was the direct result of the out
! come of the election. Mrs. Evans mas
been connected with the school board
| for a number of years and had about
| one year more to serve. Mr.. Jones
was reelected at the spring election
: in 1917 and had about two years more
to serve.
! Fill Places with Business Men.
Mr.. PenweIl states that the resigna-
tions are expected to be accepted but
that no arrangements haveas yet been
made to fill the places of the two re-
signing members. When tbs next
meeting is held these places will be
filled. probably with two Topeka 1usi-
ness men, altho no particular two men
! have as yet been discussed.
| According to Mr. PenweI, Mrs.
Evans asked the board for permission
for the committee on teachers 20 Sc
| lect a candidate, which would have
been equivalent to hiring the candi-
| date. She was instructed to compile
/ a list of candidates but when the list
was presented she presented Mr..
Gowan, he stated.
| Politics. Says Mrs. Evans.
When asked about the school board
situation today. Mrs Evans said: THE
choice settled upon by the board was
| indeed a surprise to me. 1 had heard
rumors of the possible election of Mr..
Stout, but had always answered those
rumors by saying that he was not be-
] ing considered at all by the board. II
seems that he was being considered by
the vice-principal. who had done some
| effective work IN his behalf. The
/ business of looking up recommends
/ lions for the various candidates who
had been mentioned was given into my
hands. One member of the board as
| sured me that he would not think OF
voting for anyone I had not recon-
mended, since I had been Investigate
ing, but when it came to the ballot
he voted with the two who had de-
cided upon Mr.. Stout, explaining after
ward that it seemed to him he ought
to vote with the majority. and il two
of the men were voting for Stout he
would be with the majority. figurina
that Mr.. Atchison, who is out of town
would probably be that side"
Yes" Mrs. Evans continued. "Mr
Stout is all right as principal of the
| high school. He does satisfactory
work, but ne Is not trained nor pre-