Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-06-25
A Statement from
Prof. Stevenson.

i requested VT. 0uChndu 10 cali d
meeting Of Madison Commissioners,
principal and grammar teacher, stating
at the same time that I did not wish
secret session" Ny intention was to
lay before persons interested, all the
facts relating to the Madison school
difficulty. The request was finally
granted and the meeting called for
June Il. l requested a few persons i'll
terested in the school 10 re present.
The presence of the gentlemen called
forth objections, on the ground that
they. the Commissioners, had none Of
their friends present. The meeting, so
far as its purpose was concerned, was
declared to be at an end. Incidentally
a charge was made by Mr. Maxwell,
that the principal had written certain
article and published the same in the
Evening News. A single denial of the
charge not being sufficient, it was met
and denied a second time in vigorous
terms. such as the occasion demanded.
After some consultation the Commits
sioners submitted the proposal that
another meeting be called, at which
six of their friends and six of my
friends should be present. I stated that
I would take ne proposal under con-
sideration. The next day l gave no.
tice that I would accept their proposal,
but that the gentlemen selected should
be Island citizens, inasmuch as the in
terests involved were local. The fact
that influences were at work to prevent
fair investigation remains TO be
shown.
A few days afterwards I received the
following notice, which I quote accur-
ately-bad grammar and all:
Wheeling. w. Va, June II, 1897
Prof. A. NJ Stevenson.
Dear Sir:-Your communication TO
the Commissioners was received and
contents fully noted. After such dis
graceful display of temper on your part
we do not feel justified in asking the
ladies to expose themselves to it again.
The Board of Education are the proper
constituted authority to settle all mat
ter. Respectfully
THE COMMISSIONERS"
was not surprised to receive the
notice of a breakdown" am not
surprised at anything these gentlemen
do or say.
Since I cannot have a hearing before
the Commissioners. ask the privilege
of making public few facts of inter-
est to friends.
In your issue of June u, find that
Mr.. A. 0. Maxwell made the following
statements:
!. Prof. Stevenson has not been hD-
eral with information which prin-
cipal should give his Commissioners"
Last November, had an interview
with Mr.. Maxwell in the course OF
which he severely and unjustly criti-
cised one Of my teachers. l made the
following statement to him:
IF you are prejudiced, I shall make
revelation TO youthat will cause you to
change your views in this matter" He
replied: 4 am free to confess that 1
am prejudiced."
I replied, Then you are not the man
With whom I wish TO talk"
III have been too reticent, the cause
is apparent.
3 Upon the evening of the meeting
Of the Board of Education in July,
1896 Mr.. Stevenson called upon me
and begged me not to use what he had
said 10 me in reference to her (Mlss
Wiley). at the Board meeting,
/ did say. Il trust you Will not DO
an act of injustice to me by stating
that I reported adversely to Miss
Wiley. From anything l ever said you
can not be justified in making this
statement.
g "The Superintendent called meet
ing of principals in September to in
strucr them for the work of the year.
The principal of Madison was so occu-
MED in the cultivation of fruit on his
island Nd the river, that he could not
give the school his time" etc.
The meeting referred to occurred on
September 18th. I was not there. l
was in NV school. I received a report
of the meeting a day or two afterwards.
With me- that was a very busy week IN
rcbool. Arranging classes, admitting
new pupils. and conducting special eX-
aminations left no time for other
duties. I leave the public to judge OF
the truthfulness of the honorable (0
gent1eman's statement. No one can
truthfully say that ever neglected my
school duties for personal interests.
In reference to the formation oil an
other A grade, it is stated; Prot
Stevenson never got quite ready The
truth is the formation of this grade was
favorite scheme Of our own.,For two
wears or more. principal and teachers
labored to this end, just as they are
Iaboring for the formation of another Is
grade The purpose of all is to free