The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1919-06-28

When Kremer j. Hoke, superintend-
ent of Duluth's public schools, picked
Detroit as soft place in which to fall,
he made a fruitless selection.
Greatly to his sorrow, Supt. Hoke
will not superintend Detroit g public
schools next year: The school board
in Henry Ford s town is much more
particular and discriminating than the
one in A. M. Marshall's town.
Quite a number of weeks ago, Supt.
Hoke threw his pink silk pajamas into
a bag, drew $40 in expense money from
the office and announced that he was
going away to hunt new teachers.
Madam Davis protege did not re-
turn when expected and there were
whispers that he had gone to spend a
vacation with his family, no longer
resident in Duluth. Another faint ru-
NOR indicated that Kremer j. had be-
come weary Of everything in Duluth,
even his fat little salary Of $4,000 q
year, therefore he was seeking a new
field of weakly endeavor.
Then came quiet but persistent
rumor to the effect that Supt. Chad
sey, of Detroit, had been elected super
intendent of the Chicago schools and
that Duluth's alleged educator had de-
cided to seek Supt. Chadsey's. place in
Detroit.
Finally, Supt. Hoke, like the tabled
cat, came back to the complacent City
of Virtue. He gave no evidences of
having secured string of teachers to
take the place Of the fifty who have
resigned since school closed. He also
remained mute as to his travels while
away.
One bright summer evening last
week, the Rip-saw wired its CORE
spondent in Detroit, asking if Kremer
j. Hoke was an aspirant for the De-
troit superintendency and what sup
port he received from the board Of
education.
The next day special dispatch
came from the Detroit representative
of the Rip-saw as follows:
"Kremer j. Hoke has not been seri-
ously considered for superintendent Of
Detroit schools. He was mentioned for
the superintendency but was not con-
sidered qualified.
That is what the board of education
in Detroit, Mich, thinks Of Kremer
J. Hoke. Even his degree from Colum-
bia university and Madam Davis
backing failed to land him in the
highly-paid position in Henry Ford s
home town.
It behooves Supt .Hoke to find a
soft spot in which to fall. He never
was welcome in Duluth and never has
filled the shoes of his predecessor. He
has been an issue in school. affairs in
the two last school elections and will
be the one big issue in the election
which will be held Saturday, July 10.
For two successive elections, the
autocrats took the Hokian side of the
issue and the commoners took the
other side. Each time, the commoners
won a majority of the members elected
but, each time, one of their men played
traitor, thereby enabling the autocrats
to prevail and Supt. Hoke to hold the
best job he ever had in his easy going
career.
There never will be harmony and
satisfaction in Duluth's public schools
until the city hires a superintendent
bigger than the one Kremer J.. Hoke
succeeded, instead of one coming just
about up to his knees.
The issue is foremost again this year.
1t will be hotly and keenly fought. If
the commoners win again, as they must
and will, .Supt. Hoke will be on thin
ice, over exceedingly deep water.
Should his gang prevail this year,
through use of treachery, methods of
ward politicians, improper influences
and free use of money, as was done
more or less last year, the issue still
will exist, sharp and alive, to be
fought over next year and until the
commoners fully and finally win.
Two years ago, the commoners car
ried the election, hands down. When
the test came, director LeDuc, who
had accepted nomination by the COM
moners, broke all pledges and all his
expression of principles by going over
to the autocrats, bag and baggage.
Director Foster also played into the
hands of his enemies by not voting
at all, thereby insuring Hoke's safety.
But that's another story. Terrible
pressure was brought against LeDuc
and he lacked strength to Withstand it..
Last year, the commoners elected
Rev. j. G. Schaibly. His candidacy
was strenuously opposed by the auto
Gratis but his hackers elected him cas-