The San Francisco call., 1899-08-19
NORMAL ALUMNI
SENDS AN APPEAL
TO GOVERNOR GAGE
Dis satisfied With. the White
washing Given McNauehton
by the Trustees.

SlXth-1nat many reputable citizens OF
Council Bluffs still contend that the said
charges are true ana that the position
assumed by them is in direct and ire
conciIable conflict with the position as
Sumed by Professor Men aughtOn.
SeVenth-That this controversy concern
Ing the character and competency OF Pro
lessor McNaughton cannot ran put De
detrimental TO the welfare of the Normal
school of San Jose should Professor NC
Naughton remain in charge.
Eighth-That Professor McNaughton
should have advised the Board OF Trus-
tees of the fact that these charges were
I at least outstanding against him for the
reason that Ii is evident that charges OF
! such nature are not 10 be llShuy treat
| ed or contemptuously waved aside when
| the selection Of the principal or state
! Normal School is being made.
Ninth-That the reason Tor the dismissal
| OF Professor McNaughtOn from the super
! intenienCy OF schools at Council Bluffs
/ rested in the fact that the charges here
! inbefOre set forth were made against him.
1t is hardly necessary to enumerate the
/ charges made by the citizens Of Council
Bluhs against Professor McNaughton II
Is sufficient for the purpose OF this appeal
TO merely mention that the records of the
school board at Council Bluffs-a certified
copy OF which we have and which will
be forwarded to you ii you request the
same-Speak not only of incOmpetency as
| teacher and dereliction of duty; not
only OF practices constituting violation of
the avs CT the state Of Iowa. but of wha I
would be far more serious and unendur-
able in a Normal School principal-gross
! immortality as a man. In the language
OF one Of San Jose's best known and most
SUBSTANTIAL citizens. contained in a letter
recently sent TO Council Bluffs firm
Wlch was soliciting testimonials in be-
half Of Professor McNaughton from every
INA aglnable source: If Professor Nc
Naughton did not realize that such
chargeS were serious he is an ignOramuS
and Il ne did realize their seriousness and
tailed 10 demand an investigation but on
the contrary retreated from them, he is
a moral coward. either of which would
uiSquaHTy him from being a principal of
Normal School"
We have acted and are continuing to
act on the assumption that a man who
would be driven from q city or compelled
to resign high position through false aC-
cusatons Is too utterly small to occupy
the position OF principal OF a normal
school with either credit to himself or 10
the school.
There is another and far different phase
OF me controversy concerning Professor
MCNaughtOn to which We now desire to
direct your attention. We have said re-
specting the Council Bluffs matter that
the mere existence Of the charges against
Professor McNaughton, and their earnest
and solemn reiteration in letters and il
afhdaNits 10 the present day, affords suf-
ttclent reason TO demand his release. Yet
from Tempe, Arlz., d clear and unmiS-
taxable note Of warning is sounded. The
Arizona career Of Professor McNaughton.
we contend, proves COncluSiVely TO any
one not prejudged in his favor that the
trustees have made a great mistake in
placing him at the head of the Normal
School.
On one side of the controversy letters
and afhdaVitS were introduced before the
board containing specific statements of
witnesses as TO questions under review.
On the other hand, testimonials of good
character from ministers and others were
presented in Professor McNaughton's be-
half. Testimonials in general Eouchng
for the good character and scholarship OF
d person must give way in value and i'm
N n n
ncations and character when met by Spe-
cific definite statements of definite trans
actions and events, and based upon in
diyldual knowledge. For instance when
on one hand a minister of The gospel and
few citizens of Tempe, Ariz.. write in a
general way. that Professor McNaughton
Is an nonoraple' scholarly ana Chrlstian
as a teacher, and on the other
/ hand letters from his former pu-
/ pills and associate teachers and a
/ number of citizens enumerate SPECIFIC in
! stances showing that open rebellion eX-
isted in the Normal School at Tempe dur
/ Naughton intercepted letters that were
/ directed TO J. W. Steltzriede, one OF the
/ pupils Of the school,; that one J. w
! before graduation without apparent or
/ justifable cause; that Professor Nc
/ Naughton used his authority to compel
the pupils in his school to sign a petition
vOuching for his professor McNaugh-
J ton's) good character when the Council
Bluffs charges became known in Tempe -
and that he demanded from those Dll-
pills who had manhood or womanh6od
enough 10 refuse to sign the reasons fol-
/ their course; that he was influenced by
considerations of wealth and position iT
/ dealing with his pupils, being partial tC
/ those whose parents could aid him II
/ his political schemes; that he
/ threatened TO discipline some and
\ bluff or cajole others into sign
/ ing the petition circulated in his
own school in his own behalf; that he
USED disresPectful language in speaking
of his associate teachers; that he USED
prOfane language on one occasion il
/ speaking of a pupil whose dismissal from
/ the school he had secured" that he was
| 'untruthful," partial in his dealings
with pupils, and dishonest" When pu-
/ pills writing at different times and from
| observations in the Tempe Normal School
while the same was under the charge OF
J Professor McNaughton, we certainly
/ ought TO pause in our course and inquire
] If California can afford to carry such a
man
These letters from Arizona bear the
/ stamp of truth. Young men and young
women are not generally in the business
/ of iibeling worthy teachers. What for
! mer student under Professor Allen, Pro-
/ fessor Childs or Professor Randall or
what university student under, Dr.. Jor-
! dan or Professor Kellogg would for an
/ instant contemplate writing anything
/ detrimental to the character or compe-
tency OF these men and purposely spread
the same broadcast to the world? So far
as the career of DR.. McNaughton in 4ari-
zona is concerned we have no hesitancy
| in saying that the proof-the only COM
petent proofs overwhelming that he is
| a failure as a teacher and discipllnarian
/ inasmuch as he did not possess the trust
and confidence Of pupils which a good
teacher always commands; that he was
| constantly embroiled in disputes with
teachers, students and citizens: that. in
short, his career has resembled that OF
the politician filled with stormy and in
cessant controversies rather than that OF
the scholar. contemplative, serene ana al
peace with his fellow men
We therefore, in the name of the
! Alumni Association Of the Normal Schoo,