Dedication Of The W. S. Perry School

DEDICATION OF THE W. S. PERRY SCHOOL.

The dedication of the new W. S. Perry school last week Wednesday constitutes a mile stone in the onward march of public school affairs in Ann Arbor. It is the only entirely new building erected by the school district during twenty years. But it is a fine one and up to date in all respects. And what is also most satisfactory, it has been secured by the district with in the appropriation. Much credit is due the board of education especially the committee on buildings and ground, for the painstaking care given to the task. It is not too much to say that no more careful attention would have been given the matter had the building been the private property of the members of the committee. Much credit is also due the Koch Bros. for their work under all the trying circumstances of the past season. The wet weather and labor troubles made it a bad season for contractors, but the building is finally ready for occupancy and the large number of patrons present at the dedication yesterday seemed greatly pleased with it. 

The building is most  properly named and is a monument to a faithful teacher and superintendent who spent many of the best years of his life in the public school work of this city. Could Supt. Perry, who for so many years directed the destinies of the Ann Arbor public schools, have heard the tributes paid him yesterday he would have been thoroughly convinced, we doubt not, how blessed it is to live in the hearts of those who are glad to acknowledge the great good to their lives received from him as instructor and guide. Undoubtedly this influence will be even more lasting than the fine building which bears the name of the honored superintendent.

The words of commendation spoken for the faithful teachers also when have done so much to develop the boys and girls of this city into good men and women must have given them renewed strength for their great work. President Angell told how he delighted to honor the woman teacher who could take a room of forty or more little children and so interest them as to keep their attention upon their world so many hours during the day. He declared he always felt like lifting his hat to such. 

After the exercises terminated the visitors and patrons were shown through the building from cellar to garret. Many were the expressions of surprise and satisfaction over the completeness of everything pertaining to the needs of the schools. In all of its appointments the building is one that the city may point to with pride. 

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There are indications, and not very deep under ground either, that a scheme is on foot, being engineered by Senator Alger and William Alden Smith, to make the Grand Rapids congressman senator in 1904 in place of Julius Caesar Burrows. And we may say right here that there are many who will wish them success. No one will mourn, if they succeed, except Julius Caesar. His retirement from the senate will be no loss to any one but himself. He has always been a "me too," carried in the pocket of some larger man. It would be difficult to send a poorer stick to the senate, if a strenuous effort were made to do that particular thing. He has served long enough in congress to have become something of a leader, but he is anything but that. And if he has ever been able to attach his name to anything for the public good that was of any particular consequence, it has long since been forgotten. Let him be retired. The state would get along just as well with William Alden's umbrella in his place.

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The coal question seems to be the most prominent one throughout the country just now. Everywhere it is being discussed and ways and means are being looked for to enable the people to get out of the clutches of the coal trust and the coal dealers. Every few days coal is boosted from fifty cents to a dollar a ton by the local dealers in different parts of the country. These dealers declare they are forced to do this by the coal operators or wholesalers and the wholesalers declare that the retailers are the men to blame for the robbery. But while this war of words is going on the consumer is in the position of the guest who was placed down before a dish of crowd. They must pay the price, no matter if it goes up every day, or freeze. There seems to be a disposition in various sections to inject municipalities into the field as coal dealers. There are millions of our people who would welcome such a move.