Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-11-02
THE STATE
SUPERINTENDENT

For a number of years prior to the
first state convention Of "the Nom
partisan League" we selected the SUI
perintendent of public instruction in a
quiet. dignified way; the Office having
been taken out Of politics by constitu-
tional amendment. Nominations
were then made by direct ballot Of
voters in the primary. This method
insured the purest democracy in the
selection Of the superintendent .of
Public Instruction n we were sat-
isfied and gratified. The above-named
convention, composed of f%orty-nine
men, or automatons, operated by
Townley. named a full state ticket, in.
-cluding the Office Of Superintendent Of
Public Instruction, with N. G. Mac
donald as the nominee. This action
put this Office back into politics and
the same agency has through 1.-THE
North Dakota Leader" injected all the
acrimony and mud common to cheap
politics. .
A lengthy article appearing IN d re-
cent issue>of tThe Loader" under
the caption-"Bor Women Only
made a strong plea for, the reelection
Of Mr.. Macdonald. Appeals t the
women to support Mr.. Macdonald
have appeared frequently in 1.-The
header" Now in this connection the
writer would call attention to the fact
that the endorsement Of a candidate
is-the big thing. No alternative is
left after the convention has an
nounced Here is the ticket" The
point is this-in the initial, vital part
Of the selection, the women were
ignored. This was done not only in
the first Nonpartisan convention but
in the second also. The opposition's
defense in also endorsing a candidate
for Superintendent Of Public 1nstruc-
ton finds justification on the same
ground as the Allies use Of gas
against gas. The~blame rests with
those who departed from the method
of determining candidates for this Of
flee by popular selection.
A recent editorial in 1.-THE Leader
speaks Of Miss Nelson as a menace to
our rural schools. Now, Mr.. Editor of
THE Leader" I don't know you and
I am of the opinion that few, Of our
citizens do. You are no doubt one
Of the Townley ha%ngers-on here dur
ing tha picking season. We who have
lived here twenty thirty years shall
not take stock in your s~landerous at
Ltacks on Miss Nelson but shall re-
sent such properly at. the polls. Those
of us who are personally acquainted
with Miss Nelson and Mr.. Macdonald
WILL nave llttie Q1I1culty IN making
our choice. Those who are not &C
Quainted with them viii do we'll. to
place emphasis on the fact that Miss
Nelson has been. elected county SUI
pendntendent Of her home county six
times and retires by her own volition;
while Mr.. Macdonald held the office
of county superintendent one term
and was voted out. Moral: Lookout
for those who ~depreciate quickly at
close. range.
In connection with 1.-THE Old Cans
Is after Macdonald" frequently men,
toned in .tThe North Dakota Lead.
err" tt is we'll to remember that Miss
Neilson-received within 1000 votes OF
those received by Macdonald out OF
q total Of 126,000sa at the primary cleo
ton. According to this ''1he- Old
Gang" must be largely composed OF
farmers.
Having observed Mr.SMacdonald in
action during a period Of eight to ten
years at state educational meetinge
and elsewhere, I am forced to esteem
him the. one. politician in education in
North Dakota-an estimate which
am cure will be considered 90 ac-
curate by the teachers and educators
Of the state az to receive their hearty
Amen" &
Respectfully.
John Gang.