Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-09-02
TURN THE LIGHT On.

Occasionally in a democracy ii is
well to turn the keen searchlight of
publicity on the doings OF public SER
wants who have at their disposal the
funds of a community, We published
on this page yesterday a eommunica-
ton from one who signed himself "a.
b. Justice" and asked pertinent aues-
tions regarding the method used by
the Board of Public Education in this
city in placing fire insurance on the
school buildings. We believe that
the board will have no hesita-
ton in answering the correspond
ent's questions in full. No honest
board objects to the >.nost searching
Inquiries on the part of the taxpay-
ers. 1t is only the dishonest body
which fears to have the light turned
on.
The letter in question told OF hear
ing at the last board meeting a dis
eussion between Mr.. Stradley and
Minor c. Smith, an insurance agent.
Said the letter. IN part:
The other thing that most inter-
ested me was the discussion had be-
tween Minor c. Smith, an insurance
agent, and MIR. StradIey. who IL would
seem. had charge of placing the in
surunoe on the school properties. As
understood IL. Mr.. Smith was pres
ent to protest against being eliminated
from writing a portion OF the insur-
ance. He stated to the board that he
had resided here for many years and
for a number o< years past had car
ried some of the school insurance.
The phase of the discussion that in
terested me most was involved in a
direct question from Mr.. Smith--his
question to Mr.. Stradiey was why a
certain agent who expected to be the
next governor of Delaware had re-
ceived a large grant u think some
s2oo.o 900 or more) of the insurance
last year. though only representing
one company, while Mr.. Smith with a
number OF companies, only got some
10000. To this question Mr.. Strad-
ley made no answer, but took up some
other phase of the matter. Mr.. Smith
asked Mr.. Stradley exactly the same
question twice over, with the same
evasion from Mr.. stradlcy. Mr.. Smith
finally asked Mr.. Stradley why this
politician was given the same large
sum of the insurance for this year,
while he (AIr. SMITH was getting
none whatever. Mr.. Stradley never
answered the question, but immedi-
ately drifted to some other phase of
the question"
We think this is one of the most
interesting letters regarding the
Board of Public Education that has
been written in some time.
II Mr.. Souder or Mr.. Stradley de-
sires, we shall be very glad TO give
either or both space on this page to
answer this communication, proyid-
ing that our customary regulations
are complied with, which We're abided
by in the above case. We are almost
certain that some misaxe must have
been made. Surely no injustice has
been done by the board to any citi-
zen and taxpayer of Wilmington
We know that Mr.. Souder wishes to
give everyone concerned a square
deal. And from his past activities,
we know that Mr.. Stradley is a gen.
teman who has always stood for the
highest actions on the part of public
servants. AS a member of the old
Board Of Public Education Mr.. Suad-
ley rendered signal service on more
than one occasion when certain Yer-
sons had planned to commit acts
which were not TO the best interests
of the city. It is not forgot that he
was mainly responsible for preventing
that. musical instrument deal being
put through some months ago. which
would have worked a grave hardship
on the community.
"A. B. Justice" who evidently is
closely connected with Mr.. Smith, in
sinuaJes that the latter did not share
in the placing OF the insurance poll
cies as he should In order to settle
this matter in the public mind, would
II not be well II the BOARD made pub
lie the list of Insurance. policies which