The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-18
MISS oBER.s QUALIFICATIONS.
Ex-ReEent Fay Calls Attention TO
Her Excellent Endorsements.

To the Editor: Last evening con-
scented 10 be interviewed by your re-
porter. only after he had given me his
promise 20 publish the interview In fuA.
This you Old not do; you omitted tnat
which was the most essential raTt-tne
statement in reference 10 the auahnca-
ticns and employment Of Miss ODER as
professor Of French ard Spanish in the
University Of Washington Considering
the great and uncaued-for injury which
you have thus done Miss ober. / trust
that you VIII now. as an honorable rnsn,
print that part OF the interview which
was omitted. and so give the real facts
OF the case, ard. at least. 90 her justice
The part Of the interview 70 which
refer was In substance as follows;
Before Miss ODER was employed by the
board OF regents. submitted her most
excellent testimonials 10 President Ed
wards who read them carefully, pro-
nounced them In every way satisfactory.
and stated that he thought that she was
just the person for the place And after
she had taught month in the university.
President Edwards himself stated that
she was one az the ahlest and most ef-
ficient teacher IN the university.
At the time Miss Ober's name for the
position was before the committee on In
structions. her testimonials were care
Both the Spanish and French languages
she has used as medium OF teaching in
the government normal schools OF the Ar
rentine republic Spanish and French be-
ing the languages Of that country. into
those schools American teachers, who
were selected with great care as to their
ability and qualifications. have been I'M
ported by the government for the direc-
ton OF the different departments. For
~ AafH 1,o1 fw-rv ms
ton In these schools at salary Of $3.50
per annum, and left only because OF her
desire TO return 70 her family. She has
with her recommendations OF the high
est degree from those in authority In the
department of education Of the Argentine
republic.
Inasmuch as the newspapers have been
endeavoring to prove that my onense
consisted largely in forcing an incom-
petent teacher upon the university In the
person OF Miss Ober, / hope that this
statement viii be published in full. as
have given ii, In order that you may not
subject yourself to the charge of wan
tonly injuring an innocent person. and
she herself demands this act OF justice
and reparation from YOU
JOHN P. FAY.
Mr.. Fay misunderstands the motives for
omission OF his statement of Miss Ober's
qualifications as teacher. The Post-In-
telligencer has at no time said she was
incompetent II has never raised that
point and has avoided discussing II. 1t
is willing to accept Mr.. Fay's very warm
Endorsement of her abilities. But the
Post-Intelligence does object-and ii
thinks 1t is supported by public sentiment
and sound policy--to the method and rea-
sons of her appointment. That is the
question, and the whole question, as TO
her. 1t thinks Regent Fay's successful
solicitation that his sister-in-law be en-
ployed an act Of great improperly. 1t
is precisely this kind of thing that has
weakened and demoralized the university,
and that justifes his removal and the re-
moval of others as regents.