Celebrating history: Incumbents re-elected, newspaper upset

By Emily Mayer

School board elections were held this week 100 years ago in Havre. Much to the consternation of J.K. Bramble, the two school board members were re-elected by wide margins. The following was published in The Havre Plaindealer:

OLD BOARD MEMBERS ARE AGAIN CHOSEN

Decisive Majorities Given in School Election Last Saturday.

Decisive majorities were given then two members of the board of trustees who came up for re-election last Saturday, notwithstanding the fight that it was sought to make against them. The full vote recorded in the election was as follows:

Brundage 378, Hedge 404, Blair 103, Wilson 178.

Of course, Bramble had to put in his two cents worth. He was fond of putting in short barbs in what we would call the Editorial section today. Here is what he had to say:

According to Mr. Wilson’s vote there are 187 school patrons that want efficiency in the public school, while there are about 400 that prefer the bunny-hug and basket-ball to orthography, trigonometry and rhetoric. The tangos have it. Majority rules. On with the turkey trot.

The Democrat did not get on the job in time. But we believe in majority rule and if they want the tango and turkey trot let them have it. However we believe we did a great good in tightening up the lid anyway. Things seem a little different just now.

Who was it said that combine could not be broken? f they had given us a clean school election they would have saved their mayor, for Joe Hurley is one of the finest men we ever met.

We would mildly suggest that the school board give Carruth a fifty dollar raise. He can easily earn it the way he works on election day driving the auto.

A city election was also held around the same time. T.W. McKenzie won the mayor’s seat by only 13 votes, running against Joseph Hurley, who served as superintendent of the Great Northern shops. McKenzie ran on the Independent ticket, but the Citizens party won the City Council and local offices of city treasurer and police magistrate, both of which were elected positions at the time. There was one Socialist candidate and four on the People Economic ticket. E. C. Carruth had campaigned strongly for the candidates of his choosing and apparently conducted an effective get-out-the-vote drive — literally, much to the chagrin of Bramble.

Mr. Bramble, remember, was a lawyer and I have found a majority of lawyers typically don’t admit when they are wrong, even when they are, so his comments printed in his newspaper regarding both the school board election and municipal races come as no surprise.

In happier news, the District Federation of Women’s Clubs was meeting in Havre in May, and the local chapter was busy making arrangements for a gathering visitors would not forget. Havre’s social matrons were going all out to show off our community, as well as how their efforts improved Havre. Large articles were printed in the papers, except the Democrat — not a surprise, either. A condensed article, however, was printed in the Plaindealer’s Society section:

Women’s Club Notes

The annual meetings of the women’s club, with election of officers and delegates, was held at Carnegie library last Saturday afternoon.

A large attendance of club members, with all officers present transacted a good deal of important business.

Reports of the different officers were read and approved. The treasurer’s and secretary’s books showed funds of $257.29 during the year: disbursements amounting to $209.70, leaving a balance of $47.50 in the treasury. The disbursements included a payment of $100, the balance due on the piano. State and Federation dues; Chelsea War Fund; donation towards the education of a school girl; a small amount for charity; and the installing of a gas plate in the club rooms. The pledge of $20 to the scholarship fund will be due May 1st.

The roster of the club now shows 58 members, 46 active and 12 associate.