Arizona republican., 1899-08-01
THE M'NAUGHToN FIGHT.
An Investigation Expected to Be Made
Yesterday.

The following special telegram to the
San Francisco Chronicle from San
Jose, Cal, will not be without interest
to Arizonians:
1.-THE final investigation of the
charges against Professor James Nc
Naughton, the newly elected principal
of the state normal school, which will
take place before the normal school
trustees next Monday. is exciting
much interest here and a large num-
Der of citizens will attend the meeting,
which will be an open one. Professor
McNaughton Will make a determined
stand and has secured the services of
Joseph R. Patton, a prominent actor
ney, to defend him before the trustees.
1T has been said that the charges
against Professor McNaughton are old,
as they relate to his conduct while he
was acting as superintendent OF
schools, at Council Bluffs, Ia, nine
years ago. The alumni investigating
comnietee has received a number OF
DELAYED letters from prominent teach
ance at the National association meet
ing at Los Angeles. These letters, 1t
is claimed, will prove to the trustees
that Professor McNaUghton was also
not in good standing at Tempe. Among
these letters is the following from w.
B. Creager, superintendent OF the
Phoenix union high school:
"Los Angeles. July Is, 1899.
John G. Jury-Dear Sir: Your
letter of the 9th instant asking me
questions concerning DR.. James Nc
McNaughton. who has been elected 10
the principalship cf your normal
school reached me today. In reply to
your first question, What is your opln-
ion of Dr. McNaughton.' / have to say
that | believe him to be a bad man.
He is, in my opinion. very untruthful
and vicious.
""To your second question, Was his
of the normal school
al Tempe; A. T., harmonious?' 1t
was not. l think his teachers and pu-
pills were. in feeling and mind, almost
constantly IN a state of rebellion.
"'To your third question, Are the
methods and standard of DR.. McNaugh.
ton advanced and officially high? /
reply that they are not.
Very respectfully,
CIV. b. CREAGER.'
"W. S. Varnum, principal of the
Alma schools near Tempe, A T.,
writes as follows:
LOS Angeles, July 10, 1899.
Sc Eli Wright, Normal Alumni Com
nittee. San Jose. Cal.-Dear Sir: Your
favor of the Sth instant was forwarded
to me here. 1 have no personal |
grievance against DR.. McNaughton'
but in the interests of the young men
and women whose lives may be Grip /
o1ed through association with him as
/ teacher am impelled to give my |
opinion briefly in answer TO your |
questions.
g First. 1 think he Is an antiquated, |
suspicious. garrulous old man. AS far !
IS / am Informed his administration |
If the Tempe normal school was lar
rom harmonious. In my opinion his |
standards and methods are not ad-
yanced and ethically high. During
he last three years 1 have made 1t !
Joint to visit the normal every spring
or two days to a week. With the ex-
,eption of the training school the
classroom work was unworthy coun-
ry grammar school. No child In
whom l am interested can come under
Or. McNaughton's influence if 1 can
lelp up.
'''Yours truly,
CIV. S. VARNUN'
u. w. Stelzriede, captain of the
Arizona normal foot ball team, in
etter to the alumni committee. ar
aigns Professor McNaughton severely.
lie says:
Tempe, A. T, July IS, 1899.
"'He was bad disciplinarian.
When the other teachers would send
tudents to him for correction, he
would take advantage of the fact to
tempt to make himself popular with
he students and would tell them the
eachers were young and inexperi-
need. so they must bear with them.
lie was very partial in his treatment
f the students, conditioning those
Tho opposed him, who were the best
tudents in the school, by graduating