The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1919-02-22
SCHOOL BOARD RETAINS
SUPERINTENDENT H0KE
to Stand by Constituents Monthly Reports
Presented and Routine Business Transacted.

public schools for another year at
salary of $1,000 year.
This stunt was pulled off at the
last meeting of the board of educa-
ton, held Friday evening, February
Z. The scalp of the champion of
Columbia university was saved by
directors Schaibly and Foster. Dr.
rector LeDuc turned his coat a year
ago.
Once again the dear old doctor
saved his bacon, not on his merits
but because a director went back on
his constituents and his election
promises.
Incidentally, broken promises, dis
regarded obligations and blasted
regulations are credited to the
Machiavellism of director McGiffert,
an apostate lawyer who received the
credit for seducing director LeDuc
with Mephistopholean Establishments
a year ago.
Supt. Eoke's reelection was OPP
posed by directors Amundson and
Firoved. Only few days before, as
told in another column, directors
Schaibly, Foster and even LeDuc adj
mitted that the deah little doctah
was unfit for the place. It was quite
well agreed that he must go. 1t
was expected that at least four direc-
tors would vote against him, which
insured his defeat for reelection,
director Davis no longer buying gro
ceries in Duluth, having gone to
dear, delightful Pasadena for the
winter. 1t was considered quite pos
sible that five out of eight directors
would vote for a change, although
the wobbling, spineless records Of
one member and the erratic tenden-
cies of another member made 1t
unsafe to depend on five. Pressure
and inducements, however, won over
those who were elected by the COM
moners, directly on the issue that
Supt. Hoke must go.
Director Crassweller, chairman Of
the committee on schools, opened
the battle by reporting in favor Of
hiring Hoke for another year and
moving the adoption Of the rec
ommendation. The motion was
promptly supported.
Director Firoved took the mega
tive by expressing the opinion that
it was time to make change.
"There's a lack of harmony" de-
clared the Little Father Of the Nun
ger Club. There is an undercur-
rent of dissatisfaction. After two
wears, conditions are worse than
ever. The schools do not seem to
be getting anywhere. The needs OF
the children of our schools should
come first. Something should be
done to eliminate existing condi-
tons.
II understood that Supt. Hoke
was going into war work." cont1n-
ued director Firoved. II expected
that to bring about the desired
change in conditions" The little
commoner had look of wonder and
surprise on his face that the high
proved importation from Ole Vir-
ginny had not kept his word.
Director Crassweller said that the
recommendation to retain Supt.
ests of the schools" He maintained
that there is a superior corps of
teachers and that the superintendent
is doing excellent work. Co-opera-
ton between the superintendent, SUI
pervisors, principals, teachers and
patrons is excellent, Mr.. Crassweller
maintained.
''They must talk differently to you
than to me-" calculated director
Firoved.
President McGfffert added his
little mite by saying that Supt. Hoke
came to the schools under some
handicaps but declared that the
schools are far in advance of three
years ago. 1t was his legal opinion.
so to speak, that Hoke has done
wonderful work.
Director o. A. Amundson, as
sturdy and as loyal commoner as
ever kept an election promise or
kept faith with his constituents,
brayely stood by his principles and
the people by opposing Hoke's re-
tention in the schools.
81 think it was unfortunate that
Supt. Hoke was brought here in the
first place." declared Mr.. Amund-
son. "He was raised and educated
in a different environment and under
different conditions than those that
obtain here. I do not believe that
he is to blame for many Of the
existing conditions but he is not the
right man for the place. I believe
that the best interests of the schools
require the selection of success
sor." ..
There was a deep silence when
director Amundson sat down. The
autocrats had majority fixed up
and they we'll knew it. They had
neither inclination nor desire to
waste words or to let words put
them on record.
''I'd like to hear from the other
members of the board" said Mr..
Amundson. The other members did
not care to talk. A call for a vote
sent the road roller, over directors
Amundson and Firoved, with Eos
ter, LeDuc and Schaibly on the
bandwagon, as follows:
Aye-Colman, Foster, LeDuc,
Crassweller. McGiffert and Schaibly.
No-Ap Ion TIrpvo1