The Rowdiest School Election in Finley History
A local election for school directors descended into a scene of chaotic oratorical debate, resulting in one bruised nose and the election of a new board.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The Finley annual conference for the selection of school directors for the ensuing year was held at the Finley school house Saturday afternoon. The meeting was not only of high educational value but it afforded an abundance of joy to the whole community. F. E. Masters started it by writing the names of three candidates on the board. J. R. Ayers made a few additions, and somebody objected, saying they should be nominated from the floor. Things went smoothly until it appeared that both Skinner and Hitchcock had been nominated for all three directorships, and for principal and janitor as well. J. R. Ayers jumped to his feet and spoke, followed by H. E. Cooper, Jack Ryerson, and Bill Tewalt, until a dozen men were on the floor, waving their arms and shouting. When the voting was finally concluded, Hitchcock, H. L. H. Fines, and Parkinson were elected to the three, two, and one-year terms respectively. Skinner came out of the meeting with a skinned nose—a result that was perhaps to be expected for a candidate.
“Things went smoothly till it appeared that both Skinner and Hitchcock had been nominated for all three directorships, and for principal and janitor as well.”
School board meetings remain some of the most emotionally charged arenas in local government. While Finley's 1917 squabble over candidates for janitor and principal might seem quaint, it mirrors modern debates where school governance becomes a focal point for community identity and simmering tensions.
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