The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-05
PROF. ROBINSON HAS
AROUSED A HORNETS
NEST WITH CHARGES
Members of Student Athletic
Board Make DeniaI-Parents
Threaten to Take Action
Against the School, Principal.

mo grating has been done by the
managers of high school athletic as
sociations, nor have trust funds been
misappropriated by the various school
organizations. There has been no
stealing and no irregularities in the
MANAGEMENT of and disbursement OIL
money collected at athletic meets, foot
ball games and other exhibitions, at
which admission fees were charged.
In brief this is the answer of all the
high school boys, who have been con-
nected with the athletic societies, to
Principal E. V. Robinson's sensational
charge that a systematic graft" has
been worked by the young men who
have had the management of athletlcs
in their hands.
Both the accused boys, and their
parents, are greatly incensed at Mr..
Robinsons attack, which they charac-
teriZe as cowardly and uncalled Tor
A score of young men who were con-
nected with this years field meet, when
interviewed yesterday, declared the
charges false in every detail
"Of course we are not Included
among the 'grafters, said member
of the interscholastic association last
night, "for Principal Robinson said IN
the report that he and the other prln-
cipals took the management OF TINS
years meet out of our hands. Yet he
infers that the officials of the organiza-
ton for 1903 were the most corrupt
that ever came into power and that
this was the reason for the action OF
the principals. Well, Mr.. Robinson Will
be called upon to prove me thief and
if he fails, promise that he Will be
forced to swallow that report"
Books Are Open.
Another association officer said that
the books of the organization are open
to inspection. 1--WE will demand COM
plete. examination of our records. Mr..
Robinson will not be allowed to make
charges rejecting on our characters
without protest"
Alexander Barclay, who was chair
man of the committee on arrangements
for the 1902 field meet, was seen last
night at his home, SS1 Dayton avenue.
He denied Mr.. Robinson's charges and
said he has complete record OF the
money received by the association and
also a detailed record Of the expendi-
lures.
principal Robinson" said Mr.. Bar
clay, "inSinuates in his report that the
managers of the 1902 field meet were
wholesale thieves. l was chairman of
the committee on arrangements and
defy Mr.. Robinson or any other person
to show one penny shortage in our &C
counts. E
Here, look at this" Mr.. Barclay
produced set of books, in which ap
parently5 was "a detailed statement of
the transactions of the interscholastlc
committee. II have a record Of every
cent" he continued, land court an in
vestigation of these books by an eX-
pert auditor.
Nov, as to Mr.. Robinson's state
ment that the attendance at the 1902
field day was larger than the attend
ance this year. He is correct and he is
also right when he says the receipts
were not quite as large in 1902 as they
were this year. But he does not give
the reason for the difference in the
receipts. In 1902 we tried to make the
field meet a big social event. We
wanted to get the crowd interested so
that they would attend all subs equent
athletic contests, and for this reason
we gave out more than a hundred COM
plimentary tickets. If Mr.. Robinson
will deduct our complimentary list from
the total attendance he will find that
the paid admissions were smaller in
1902 than they were this year. That
is the only reason for the difference in
the receipts.
again, the principal of the Central
high school accuses us Of grating
the money contributed for medals. His
statement is false.
Harvey Barnett, who was treasurer
of the Interscholastic association, has
records to show that in 1902 1925 was ex-
pended for. medals. OF this amount $16
was spent for medals for the indoor meet
in March and $3.50 for the medals for theh
outdoor field day in May. think Bar
nett can also produce receipts signed by
the dealers from whom the medals were
purchased"
"Mr. Robinson's attack on us is
cowardly. He has waited until we
have been out of school over year
before bringing charges. Some of the
members of the 1902 board of managers
have left the city, so they cannot re-
flute his statements But l have pre-
served my records and [ defy Mr.. Rob-
inson to show where my accounts have
been doctored or where / have mis-
appropriated or appropriated for my
own use any of the society's money.
what is true of the administration
of 1902, / feel confident is true of for
mer administrations. Some of the
boys have not conducted their affairs
in businesslike manner and have no
records to show, but none of them
would steal a penny from any person
or society.
when I was made manager I care
fully audited the accounts of my pre-
decessor and found them accurate.
now ask Mr.. Robinson, or any other
persons interested, to examine my
books. l want an investigation, for 1
cannot and will not be called a thief
by Mr.. Robinson. He has made his
accusation, now he must prove his
charges"
Parents Threaten.
Alexander Barclay, young Mr.. Bar
clay's father, said that he would insist
on having a thorough investigation. II
will not have my son branded as q
CRATER and a thief" said he ''Mr.
Robinson must produce his evidence
of corruption or else swallow his SEN
sational charges. I know Alec is hon
| est, and I am pretty certain that the
| other boys associated with him in the
management of the athletic associa-
ton were not a class of boys who
| would misappropriate trust funds
| Harvey Barnett, son of e. De F. Bar
| nett, 1874 Summit avenue, was treas
urer of the athletic association in 1902
| Mr.. Barnett corroborated young Mr.
Barclays statements. and said that he
too, can produce records to show there
| was no grating.
1t is probable that the parents O.
the boys accused of grating ant
misappropriating the athletic assoeia
tons funds will formally demand {
school board investigation Mr.. Rob
inson's charges are SO general and far,
reaching that at least hundred youns
~.