The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-02-05
COUNTY MEETING WAS VERY
LARGELY ATTENDED TUESDAY
By Representative Citizens From Ev-
cry Section and Interest Was Great

a Countrywide public mass meeting
to be held at the Court House in Oak
land on Tuesday, February 3rd, rep
recentative and interested citizens
from every nook and corner of Garrett
county gathered. The committee who
called the meeting was composed of
the following named gentlemen: Mr..
G. A. Fraley, cashier of the Garrett
National Bank; Mr.. R. E. Sliger, pres
ident of the Board of Education and
also cashier of the First National
Bank; Mr.. Fred. A. Thayer, attorney;
Mr.. William R. Offutt, States Attor-
ney; Mr.. D. NJ. Dixon, merchant, and
Mr.. Gilmor S. Hamill, attorney
The meeting was called in order
that public boards and public officials
might be advised by those whom they
serve as to what attitude they should
assume towards such public questions
as higher salaries for public school
teachers, new school buildings and
public roads. The most vital questions
to be discussed were as set forth in
the call for the meeting:
l. Should necessary funds for high
er salaries for public school teachers,
new school buildings and public roads
be raised from direct county levy, with
the result that the county tax rate be
exceedingly higher than now prevails D.?
9 Or, should necessary funds for
new public school buildings and pub
lie roads be secured from the sale of
county bonds? If so, what type Of
bond bill law should be proposed to
the present General Assembly? And
should such a proposed bond bill law
! include provisions for raising funds
for both new buildings and public
roads?
9. Or, finally, should the county de-
eide upon firm policy of retrench-
ment, not advocating nor authorizing
at this time any form of improved
public utilities such as new school
buildings and public roads, it being
/ generally conceded that more money
must be raised for higher salaries of
/ public school teachers if our schools
are to continue at all?
Quite early in the morning the
Court House became crowded by men
and women vitality interested in the
question to be discussed. Standing
room in the large court chamber was
at a premium, with the three CALLER
les also comfortably filled, when Mr..
Gilmor S. Hamill, as a member of the
committee who were responsible for
the gathering, called the meeting to
order and named Mr. H. NJ. Speicher,
of Accident, chairman of the meeting
by a motion. Mr.. A. S. Teats was
then made secretary of the meeting,
which completed the organization.
Mr. Fred A. Thayer very tersely
and concisely explained the purpose of
the meeting, as has already been men,
toned above, and moved that speakers
be confined to ten minutes, which was
carried. Mr. Hamill then said that
he wanted to refute the statement that
had been sent broadcast that the two
banks of Oakland had entered into
discussion of the wisdom of issuing
bonds with a view of their personal
interests.
Mr.. John Shartzer, member of the
House of Delegates, made an address
which quickened discussion concern
ing recently published newspaper ar
ticles and the statements he made
with respect to The Republican were
instantly refuted. Mr.. James Friend
asked for harmony and presented his
plea for the children, stating that no
money should be expended for roads
and asked that all bury their personal
differences, and with malice toward
none and charity for all' come to the
aid not only of the schools in incorpo-
rated towns but the rural schools as
well. Mr.. W. R. Offutt, States Attor-
ney, moved that the school authorities
be given twenty minutes to explain
the financial needs of the schools, fol-
lowing the adoption of which motion,
Mr.. Frank E. Rathbun, superinten-
dent of schools, explained conditions.
First, he went on to explain the
teacher shortage in Garrett county.
The decrease in the number of avail
able teachers is not county affair,
nor yet state affair. 1t is a national
problem. All teachers that could pos
sibly be obtained have been obtained.
He asked that if anyone knew of any
teacher available the Board of Educa-
ton would be glad to correspond with
the teacher and would give her imme-
date employment. He further stated
that the number of schools closed at
this time is about thirty, several of
which had been open during the school
year 1919-1920, but are now closed be-
cause of teachers marrying and vari-
Gus other reasons. Emphasis was
placed upon the fact that with few ex-
ceptions many of the schools opened