The record-union., 1899-08-24
8 900 words, and contains the following

5000 words, and contains the following
among other pleas:
'We submit that the following conclu-
siohs as stated in our first report to the
Board of Trustees are fairly, if not ir-
refutably deducible from the vast
amount of testimony reviewed in the
matter.
"F'irst--When DR.. McNaughton was
City superintendent of Schools at Coun-
| Gil Bluffs, Iowa, the charges referred to
herein were made against him by eight
reputable citizens of Council Bluffs,
| filed with the School Board and spread
upon the minutes of such board as a
permanent record.
| ''Second-Said charges have never
| been investigated by any competent
/ tribunal or court.
"Third-We deem it impossible at this
/ late date and at such distance from
Council Bluffs to absolutely determine
the truth or falsity of such charges.
"Fourth-We consider that Professor
| McNaughton was derelict in not de-
manding full investigation of the
charges made against him before some
| board or competent tribunal in Council
Bluffs, and at a time when the contro-
versy arose or within reasonable time
thereafter
"Fifth-Whether or not Mr.. Nc
LNaughton is guilty of these charges,
| the fact still remains that he resigned
his position in the face of them: that
although his accusers were wealthy
men, he never brought suit against any
of them for damages or took any other
active steps to secure a retraction OF
the same.
"Sixth-That many reputable citizens
of Council Bluffs still contend that the
said charges are true and that the po-
sition assumed by them is in direct and
/ irreconciliable conflict with the position
assumed by Professor McNaughton.
"Seventh-That this controversy con-
cerning the character and competency
of Professor McNaughton cannot fail
| but be detrimental TO the welfare OF
| the Normal School of San Jose should
Professor McNaughton remain in
charge.
Eighth-That Professor McNaughton
should have advised the Board of
Trustees of the fact that these charges
We're at least outstanding against him
for the reason that it is evident that
charges of such a nature are not to be
| lightly treated or contemDtuously
waved aside when the selection of the
| principal of a State Normal School is
being made.
"Ninth-That the reason for the dis
missal of Professor McNaughton from
] the Superintendency of Schools in
| Council Bluffs rested in the fact that
| the charges hereinbefore set forth were
made against him.
''It is hardly necessary to enumerate
| the charges made by the citizens of
! Council Bluffs against Professor Nc
Naughton 1t is sufficient for the pur-
pose of this appeal to merely mention
! that the records of the School Board
at Council BIuffs-a certified copy of
which we have and which will be for
warded to you if you request the same
I-speak not only of incompetency as a
| teacher and dereliction of duty: not
only of practices constituting violation
| of the laws of the State of Iowa, but
| of what would be far more serious and
unendurable in a Normal School Prin-
cipal-gross immortality as man. In
| the language of one of San Jose's best
known and most substantial citizens,
| contained in letter recently sent to
a Council Bluffs firm which was solicit
ing testimonials in behalf of Professor
McNaughton from every Imaginable
source: If Professor McNaughton did
not realize that such charges were Sc
rious he is an ignoramus, and if he did
realize their seriousness and failed to
| demand an investigation, but on the
contrary retreated from them he is a
moral coward, either of which would
disqualify him from being Principal
of a Normal School,
1--WE have acted and are continuing
| to act on the assumption that a man
who would be driven from a city or
compelled to resign a high position
| through false accusations is too utterly
small to occupy the position of Prin-
cipal Of a Normal School with either
credit to himself or to the school.
There is another. and far different
phase of the controversy concerning
Professor McNaughton to which we
now desire to direct your attention. We
have said respecting the Council Bluffs
matter that the mere existence of the
charges against Professor McNaughton,
and their earnest and solemn reitera-
tion in letters and in affidavits to the
present day, affords sufficient reason to
demand his release. Yet from Tempe,
Ariz, clear and unmistakable note of
warning is sounded. The Arizona ca
reer of Professor McNaughton, we con-
tend proves conclusively to any one not
prejudged in his favor that the Trus-
tees have made a great mistake in plac-
ing him at the head of the Normal
School,