The herald., 1895-06-23
.,tARCH STATES HIS POSITION
He Raises an Issue With the
A. P. A.
REPLIES TO MANY ATTACKS
He Scores Several Members of the Edu.
cation Board
He Explains the Situation In School Circles
and Uses Some Vigorous Language
In His Defense
REPLIES TO MANY ATTACKS

sor Search late superintendent of schools,
explains itself. 1t opens controversy
of which The Herald will be ready to
print both sides
70 the Citizens of Los Angeles up to
the present time l have made no per-
sonal defense against the dastardly attack
that has tabled me in the back. l have
reasons:
/. There is no use in fighting thing
which will not show Its real face.
2. have bee. disposed to place my en-
tire interests upon the honor of the COM
munity.
8. The real enemy is temporarily so
powerful that have endeavored in every
way to save others from personal disas-
ter, which would surely follow their
cham pionship of my cause.
silence, thankful, at least, that others
were to be spared an attack of oalumny
and vengeance centered on me alone.
In no sense has this contest been on
the surface or representing anything edu-
cational. There have been no difficulties
in the schools excepting such as have
arisen from outside and sinister deiaDge-
ment. The fight has been fundamentally
A. P. A. One day, short time preced-
ing the Fiesta, there cam 9 to my office {.
committee from that order consisting of
Messrs. Overton, Fairbanks and Grubb,
to ask that use my influence to secure
the placing of an A. P. A. float in the
citizens parade. l consented to give
them a hearing the next morning at 10
O'clock but when that time came hun
dred A. 2. A. men appeared with them
at the office. With others of the school
committee / heard their request ana de-
clined to permit my influence to be used
in such dangerous discrimination. | was
charged with the responsibility of their
failue. Then and there arose one Fair
banks and stated, There are thousands
Of men in this city who mean to say that
the man who places himself in the way
OF the accomplishment OF their purpose
Can do SO only with danger to himself.
L was also informed that not only here,
but in every city where | should seek to
reappear l. would be confronted by Or
ganiZsd advance opposition.
The next issue OF the TOcsin-A pril
1st-in a long editorial, contained this
statement: '"There are not 1000 A. P.
AS. and as many more sympathizers in
this city to PASS this act OF treason by
without rebuke," and closed with the
incendiary declaration: Rome has
spoken; it is our turn now!"
Under such circumstances is it any
wonder that many good people have been
led to false estimates of the superintend-
ent's intentions? The superintendent
has been denied the privilege of state
ers was discontinued; a so-calleu investi-
CATION has been conducted to which he
has never been admitted and no question
has been asked concerning his plans. The
appointing power has hurried from build
ing to building to gain the favor of
teachers by all kinds of palaver and prom
ises. Many teachers have recognized the
situation, and have unprofessionally
taken sides with those in position to re-
ward. The great body of the teachers
have been loyal and true. but grieyed
and silent. have avoid eo utterance, which
certainly could do no good. In more
than one case where an indignant teach
er has spoken her true sentiments that
teacher has been quietly warned she had
better keep still. The same warning has
reached at least two citizens who have
dared to utter protest in mass meetings.
Under such crcum stances, is it strange
that many things have not gone right in
the schools? The purpose,of city board
of education is certainly to help the su-
perintendent in the execution OF his pol
icy. Think oi a member of the board,
pointing to place deranged by such con.
ditions and saying. "behold the work of
entire country in order to gather few
unfavorable expressions for the express
purpose of curtaling his influence. l
venture the assertion. there is not a can
did citizen in the community who would
not unreservedly endorse the superin-
tendent's policy, could such be known.
What chain of false evidence has been
Of the public.
First-It is said the state law requires
graduation of the pupils that we may
draw public money. Has anybody heard
the superintendent say a word against
true graduation? 1t is possible that any
person can see inaexlble individual op-
portunity and easy change in working
place anything incompatible with the
spirit and the letter OF the law? There
has never been time during the year
when every necessary report as to classi-
fcation of pupils could not have been
made to the county and state.
Second-It is said there have been no
promotions. This is false in every par
ticular. There have been more pro-
motions than ever before, but in most
cases under the same teacher. who knew
the pupil best.
1 wish it to be distinctly understood,
am an American. and as such do net
recognize the right of any man to pre-.
tensions of patriotism higher than my
own. l am also Protestant, whose posi-
tion has never before been questioned;
thing more and that is involved IN the
oath which for years 1 have taught the
children at our country altar: ~ pledge
allegiance TO my flag: one nation, lnde-
visible. with liberty and justice to all. "
had no objection to a model school
house at the head of the school children's
parade. Nothing, as a thing of ITSELF
could be more beautiful; but the "little
red school houSe'ls an A. A. EN- BILE m
to which that society has an exclusive
proprietary tight. 1t was constructed en-
tirely by A.P. "A. money, and brought for
ward entirely by A.P.A. men. At the
time of the controversy 1 definitely dc.
fined my position in the statement that
could permit nothing in the school parade
which did not represent an entire people.
l should have been false to my trusst had
taken any other stand. l knew just
what this would cost me, and foresaw
the inevitable result. If 1 had been
moneyed man / would have willingly
given ten thousand dollars could ! have
done so. to save my professional reputa-
tion the blow that would strike me under
the guise OF something else.
Since that time there has been omin-
Gus silence upon the part OF the real enc
mics, the A. PA. contest has disappear
ed from the SURFACE but hundred things
seen from my position have familiarized
me with the insidious attack that has
sought to accomplish it's purpose by a
process of undermining and enlargement.
Like John Terrier in A Study in Scarlet,
have recognized the slow but sure clos
ing in of the coils of the great monster
that each day counted one more toward
definite end.
Since that time everything has gradu-
ally taken color form the unseen under
current. The intentions of the superin-
tendent have been misrepresentel; his
hands have heen tied so he could not cor