The Wrangell sentinel. (Wrangell, Alaska) 1909-current, 1928-03-01
LETTER FROM MRS. JOHNSON


When Mr.. p. C. Mccormack in his
communication to the Sentinel last
week attempted to give The true
fact" in connection with the pay
ment Of certain bills by the P.-T.A..
his memory played him tricks in
few particulars, and the insinuations
cast upon the special committee Of
that organization cannot go IN
answered.
Just prior to the bond election last
spring. a publicity committee was
asked for at the P.-T.A. It was
stated frankly that a committee was
needed to work for the proposed
playground and IN connection with
the coming bond election. The mo
ton to have such a committee ap-
pointed carried without a dissenting
vote, and Mr.. Mccormack was pres
ent at that meeting. The committee
was neither "a supposed publicity
committee nor a ''so-calleda one.
Its mission as a publicity committee
was to acquafnt the voters insofar
as it lay within its powers with the
needs of a new school. cost of bond
ing, building plans. and the progress
of the new school refund bill, and to
that end, 1t had a cut made of the
proposed building, sent out circulars
to voters. cabled for certain needed
facts in the campaign, ascertained
the sentiments of voters in regard TO
the bond issue lJuneau did the same
prior to their bond eleetion). rented
a hall for a public meeting, secured
taxi service to get voters to the polls,
and secured some legal advice alter
the election. The P.-T.A. stands for
progress in school affairs and the
committee did nothing contrary to
the aims and ideals Of that organi-
cation. Had It remained passive in
the face of opposition, or had it
failed to do everything possible to
help get a decent school building,
it would not have been truly repre-
sentative of the P.-T,A.
The expense might have been
taken care of by public subscription
but the general "Iet-downa following
the election, not uncommon after a
period of intense activity, delayed
this and when the Executive Board
met early in the summer, it was de-
eided that the money could be raised
otherwise and paid by the organiza-
ton. The bill was withheld until
funds were available.
At the December meeting, which
had an average attendance the bill
for legal advice was ordered paid, or
partially paid from funds on hand.
The president did not question the
bill as stated by Mr.. Mccormack but
asked question concerning its
Whereabouts and was told that it
had come to the writer personally
and she had not brought it to the
meeting. (Someone had to be person.
ally responsible for it until paid.)
The attendance at the January
meeting was very small owing to
counter attractions and when Mr..
Mccormack voiced his objection in
no uncertain tones to the payment
of the legal bill following the read
ing of the December minutes and
stated that he intended to have the
matter discussed at some future
meeting when a more representative
gathering was on hand, only one
member of the publicity committee
was present and it was she and not
Mr.. Mccormack who made a motion
that it be discussed at the February
meeting and an effort be made to get
as many members out as possible
Mr.. Mccormack seconded the motion.
At the February meeting the en-
tire list of expenditures incurred by
the committee was read. Including
the bill for legal advice ordered paid
at the December meeting, the various
items totaled $125.95, $25 of which
had been paid since December, leav-
ing balance of $100.95. An ex--
PLANTATION of each item was made so
that those present would understand
fully the matter under consideration.
A motion was made and seconded
that the report be accepted and the
bill paid as soon as funds were avail
able and it was at this point that
Mr.. Mccormack raised the objections
which he enumerated in his COM
munication of last week. It is not
clear to what Mr.. Mccormack refers
when he says sit was mainly civic