Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 132, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 June 1911 — SUPERINTENDENT CONTEST WAS SOON DECIDED. [ARTICLE]

SUPERINTENDENT CONTEST WAS SOON DECIDED.

Ernest Lamson, Present Head of Couqr ty Schools, Elected on Third- Ballot Over Four Other Candidates. The contest for the office of superintendent of the schools of Jasper county which has been going on for some weeks, came to a close this Monday forenoon, when, within a few minutes after the board of trustees had assembled they cast a deciding vote in favor of Ernest Lamson, the present incumbent, thereby electing him to the office for another four years. Only three ballots were required to decide the race and Lamson only, lacked one vote on the first ballot./ All of the candidates but Morgan Sterrett received at least one vote. The three ballots resulted as follows: Lamson 6, Hamilton 4, Dean 1, Dickerson 1. The second ballot. Lamson 5, Hamilton 6, Dean 1, Arnold 1, Dickerson 1. The third and deciding ballot. Lamson 7, Hamilton 4, Dean 1, Arnold 1. All the candidates sat in the shade of the trees on the court house lawn with their optics glued on the window where the board was in session. As soon as the result was announced the candidates rose to their feet and Mr. Lamson was soon out with a box of cigars. The four democratic trustees, Right, of Union; Selmer, of Gillam; Wortley, of Jordan; and Lane; of Newton, votel for Lamson from the start and doubtless would have hung out for him indefinitely, as they are said to have been influenced by the democratic machine thgt claims Lamson to be a democrat. He also received the votes on the deciding ballot of May, of Carpenter; Shirer, of Kankakee; and Snipp, of Keener. Parkison, of Marion, cast his vote each time for Ross Dean, and Trustee Folger, of Barkley, supported Homer Arnold. Louis Hamilton had the support of Parks, of Milroy; Parker, of Hanging Grove; Kareh of Walker; and Keene, of Wheatfleld. With nothing but the friendliest feeling toward Mr. Lamson, who has made a very good superintendent of the schools, The Republican is convinced that the republicans have permitted themselves to be politically outgeneraled by the democrat*. They united on Lamson believing him to be a democrat and the democratic leaders in the county are enjoying the victory because it was pulled off where they were outvoted 9 to 4. Anyone of the other candidates was of unquestioned republicanism and there was no reasonable excuse for any republican casting his vote where there was any chance that it was not for one of their own political faith. The office is a political one by virtue of

the means of election and party harmony in Jasper county was given a serious jolt when the republican trustees failed to get together and elect one of the estimable and highly qualified candidates whose party affiliations are positive.