The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1908-11-26
NOVEMBER 20, 1908
Mr.. CaIdweII's Reply to the
Chargee Of Governor
Sanders.


Sanders.
Below The Enterprite present
statement by Mr.. Caldwe
which is a most complete refuta
ton of the charges preferre
against him by the Governor.
Next to the completeness Of tn
proof by which Mr.. Caldwell.
statement are sustained, the Othe
most notable feature Of the paper
is the calm dignity, perfect cour
tesv and rare frankness which
characterize it.
Referring to Governor Sanders in
teryieW published in The Shreveport
Times November 18th, under heading
"Why Caldwell was Let Out" | res
pectfully submit he following STATE
ment:
About the 18th of June Governor
Sanders telegraphed me from New
Orleans to meet him in Ration Rouge
Next morning | met him in his Office
in the capitol, and he informed me in
a courteous manner that he intended
to reorganiZe the Normal School
Board, and that | would not be re-
appointed.
/ had voted against him in the race
for Governor and | accepted my dis
misSal without demur.
He asked me when my term would
expire, and on my replying August ISL
he told me | might get out at that
time or continue to the end OF the
summer term, September 18th. l de
CIded to get out August lst
The new board, with Governor san
ders presiding, met at the Normal
School about the 2Sth of July, and,
without my knowledge or desire,
passed resolutions commencing my
twelve years service as president OF
the Normal School
Neither in my interview with the
Governor nor in the board meeting
was there a word of criticism or an
intimatiOn that | was dismissed for
unsatisfactory service. | assumed
that it was a political necessity and
aGcRptad if WV5jtIeRliit &H9rd e. tArfinftfif
drsd letters on the subject | wrote no
word of criticism Of the Governors
course: and / declined a number of
requests from newspapers to discuss
the matter In their columns.
When my term expired I left
Natchitoches with my family and
went to Paducah, Kentucky, my
native State. | have spent the
intervening time fishing at Reelfoot
Lake and in Canada, visiting kinsfOlk
and looking for a new field OF work.
Last Tuesday | received a number
of copies of Louisiana papers contain
ing the Governors interview charg-
ing me with criminal negligence and
and stating that | was removed on
thataccount l left Paducah that night
reaching New Orleans Wednesday
night and NatchitOches Thursday
night. Friday and Saturday, through
the courtesy of President Aswell, /
was permitted to see the books and
vouchers IN the Normal Office and a
true copy of the Bank Examiners re-
port to Governor Sanders; and to-day
from the Cashiers of the two banks
here and the Treasurer of the Normal
School, | obtained the remaining data
used in this statement.
II.
There are two sets Of accounts at
the Normal School, the business
records of the school itself and those
of the boarding club.
/, The school Is supported by the
State; the Club is supported by the
girls who live on the school grounds
The Schools money comes from the
Auditor to the Normal School Treas
urer, and is paid out by him. Never
dollar of the schools money passes
through the hands of the PRECEDENT.
The accounts of the school are kept
by the Treasurer, audited by the
board and published twice year
2 The Club money comes from the
boarders, is collected by the Cashier,
who is usually the presidents stenog-
rapher, and paid out on the order Of
the president
SCHOOL ACCOUNTS.
AS to the accounts of the school |
itself, the Governors statement |
Times, November 18TH
makes four charges:
L. criminal negligence and |
''mosU deplorable condition of finan- |
ceS, which | understand to refer to |
the deficit incurred i'm completing the |
new Normal School building.
2 Keeping herds of stock on the
Normal School grounds. feeding them
the products of the State Farm, and
selling the milk to the dormitory as
4 personal enterprise.
). That there is not "a voucher of
any hndior description in existence"
4. That mot dollar of the States
money can be traced -
Taking these charges in order |
submit the following statements
/. THE DEFICIT.
In 1906 | asked the legislature for
500 900 to complete the new Normal
ochool Building. This sum was allow
"a, but later it was reduced $4,000.
eavlng only S4S 900 available for the
building. With this sum it was i'm
possible to put up the building need
But the need was urgent The Nor
nal School was graduating about 10
teachers a year, while the parish
school boards were calling for over
700, and the State Superintendent es-
.imated 700 were needed.
To meet this emergency i'm the
school interests Of the State | under
jook to get the building completed
waiting two years for the
lext legislature to give the necessary
fI6,VVV. ! proposed that we contract