The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-03-18
ALYA STUDENTS
BEFY GOVERNOR
Tell Their Troubles TO The
ublic in an Open
Letter


at the avs normal school brie, 2 en-
tion Of wh'cl was made in Yesterdays
Leader 1ae preamble is In answer
to a charge imputed to Governor Fer
guson that the so called students
rebellion" was instigated by Presi.
dent Ament. and the students in re.
taiiation, request the publication OF
their reply in full;
To the Citizens Of Oklahoma. Greet
ing
whereas, 1t has been alleged by
the governor of Oklahoma that James
E. Ament has prompted the students
OF the Northwestern Normal in the
part which they have taken in the
fight for his retention. we the mem
hers Of the Senior and junior classes,
respectfully say. and are willing to
take oath to the same, that President
James e. Ament has not iii any way
Influenced us or intimsted hat he
wanted us to espouse his cause
We, after laborng with him and
seeing him in daily life public and
private, believe hiiG to be an honest,
courageous man. and that his object
has been to build up for Oklahoma a
great school and 10 devlop the char
acter Of her young people Many Of
us have been in the school since it's
founding, when It was organized in
the Congregational church. without
seats. blackboards or other necessary
apparatus, when no man was willing
TO undertake The building Of the
school; but now. that President
Ament has built a great school, Tom,
Dick and Harry. from all parts Of the
land are fighting to get his position.
and we believe he should be allowed
to enjoy the fruits OF his labcys
We further believe that the citizens
Of Oklahoma should denounce the pc.
litical moves against the Northwest.
ern Normal and demand that its presi
dent be retained, and that no man be
selected on account OF personal, po
htical or religious relations but from
the fact OF competency and force OF
character. And we further believe
that the governor in his interview in
the Wichita Eagle. published March
18th, has cast reflection upon the
character OF the young people OF this
school by his intmation that the
courae Of study was not equal TO that
OF other institutions and that the pur
pose for which he at.cmpts TO make
a comparison of our course of study
with those OF other Normal schools Is
10 cast reflections upon us Compar
ing our course Of study win the Ed
mond Normal we find that they do not
in their regular course teach the ele
mentary branches. Furthermore. we
find upon comparison that many OF
the leading Normal schools Of the
United stateo, such as the Illinois,
Iowa. Kansas, Minnesota and Wiseon
sin state Normal schools have these
elementary branches in their regular
course. Therefore we hnd that cur
course Of study IS more like the Nor
NAL schools Of the middle states than
the course al Edmond The course
OF study of the Alva Normal was ap-
proved by the presidents Of Of several
leading Normal schools before SIS
adoption.
And whereas II has been said that
the Alya school is not run in mar
mony with the admins ration. we be
lIeve that the administration Is ig
noiant Of she high class Of work done
here having as set not visited this
institution, but has attended politi
cal meetings.
And whereas. The aim OF the in
saitption is TO p.epare teachers for
the public schools OF Oklahoma, we
believe fl is des,rNctiye 10 the best
'in.ersst OF oklahoma ior an attempt
TO be made to force its president into
political harmony"
Anl whereas. The governor OF OK
lahomu has not made ma investigation
OF this schools work and laid that
investigation before the people inter
estel We re spectiully ass ~ citizens
OF oklahoma 10 assist us Ia giving
Justice 70 whom justice H. due
And whereas has been claimed
that ihe president OF this school has
Aesp oxtrayagaat and lavish Ia lur
nisfios the school building werespect-
fully ay mat the equipments for the
size 81 he school ana accommoda-
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