People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1894 — Goodland. [ARTICLE]

Goodland.

Goodland, Ind., June 25, ’94. Dear Pilot:—Doubtless you have seen the articles published from time to time, during the last three weeks in which the town trustees and school board of the town of Goodland had been assailed by an organization at this place called the W. C. T. U.’s and slso by the Remington Press. In order to set aright a wronged town board and a school board, both bodies that are now and have been composed of as good men as the town affords, 1 will give you and your many readers a brief statement of this matter as I and many others see it. About one week prior to the first Monday in the present month some half dozen, “we are the people” kind of women took it in their heads that they had done about all the devilment they could in their old line ol business and that the time was ripe for one of their number to get on the school board in place of Mr. Bringham, the outgoing member, and so they circulated a petition a few days before the school board met, praying that a women be placed on the school board. When the board met on June 4th, these same women that don’t appear to have anything to do but attend to othei people’s business, presented the petition in person accompanied by the Dusky Queen of tin Orient. After due consideration by the-board they decided not to appoint a woman on the school board, but not to appoint'Mr. Wm. Bringham, but to appoint l brother, Elmer Bringham. Two votes being cast for Mr. Bring ham and one for Mrs. C. A. Perkins. This one vote going where it did was as’ if you had presented Miss Ellen Foster, ol Kansas, to them for they did no intend Mrs. Perkins should have the honors, if any there were because they had put up light ning rods on each of their heads, and also on the head of anothei

in the second ward, in case tin shock did not affect either of them it would strike the ottfei rod. They had neglected to put up a rod on the head of the one that received the vote. We don’t believe they neglected but intentionally left the rod down nob intending the lightning should strike that spot in the 3rd ward. But had put up an extra long rod in another place. Why these women that appear to put in most of their time on the streets looking after some thing that is none of their business should make Win. Bringham their particular target is more than w r e can understand. Mr. B. has made us a good treasurer and a progressive school trustee, and one that has built up our school to its present standing. It is true the school a year or two ago amounted to nothing. But school boards are like individuals, they sometimes get fooled on the ability of a teacher. Since Mr. B. has been treasurer, three years past, ani man could examine his books and see just what was paid for this teacher, or that teacher, for this thing, or that thing. When could a thing of this kind be done before Mr. B. was put on the school board? One member held the office for about twelve years and another was secretary, while the people never knew what they paid for a tin cup or a foot of lumber during that administration. The truth of the matter is these women expected to have one of their click appointed so that they would be handy to draw a few dollars from now and then, to attend some convention or slump it into the Democratic campaign fund. They have used one of the ladies in the second ward for some time as a cat’s paw to pull

the hot chestnuts from the burnt embers, ami she don't appear to have her mother wit about her plough to see it. While they, with one accord, seemed to say, we milst have this saint appoint! d if she did not pocket all our proceeds we made at the Morpcco fair. We must have her appointed so that we may be able to get back a part of what we worked so hard for. The truth of the matter is business will be continued at the old stand i>y the new member, Elmer Bringham, and every dollar of the people's money for school purposes will be accounted for in the future as in the past, regardless of the old grannys in Goodland that appear to have the business interest of the men more at heart than they do their own household affairs, as the looks of their children will testify. As to the Remington Press putting in their gib we will simply say the proprietor of that paper has not got a dollar’s worth of property invested in our town and it if none of his business what goes with our money. If he will only devote a little more time to Remington issues and let our affairs alone he will confer an everlasting favor on this community. Spectator.