Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-07-10
Mr.. Schombrr Rises to Explain.
OLYMPIA, Wash. July ;.

! Ed. STANDARD.
feel that it is due to myself anc
all friends and supporters of our pub
lie hOolS that | should make an eX
PLANTATION as To the causes leading
up to the heat II remarks attributed
to me bv the II .'D,rlr in its issue ot
July |. 1905. as having been made by
me at the meeting OF the Board OF
( Directors School Board. held on that
day. at which meeting the full Board
was present and Mr.. kreagcr. While
/ | regret the necessity of referring
to the particular incident connected
with the election Of Mr. McClelland
as principal of the High School, yet
I think it best that il be made public.
/ Remarks We're made by all present
defining their respective positions in
( the matter, in every respect cOmp!l-
mentary to Mr.. McClr.and, TIL best
and safest way to improve the rtic-
icncy of the High School being the
principal point considered.
Mr.. Bryan, the new member
moved the election of Mr.. McClelland
for principal of II. $; motion second
ed by Stocking. Before proceeding
to a vote Mr. Bryan, the gentleman
from Rochester, made remarks to the
effect that he had fully investigated
the evidence for and against, and
would squarely stand for Mr.. McClel-
| land.
Mr.. Stocking remarked that he
would have to vote for Mr.. MeClel-
land for the reason that he had
promised that he would, expressing
doubt at the same time, as to his ac-
ton being the right thing to do.
My remarks were clear and could
not very well be misunderstood or
misconstrued, and were addressed to
the board, questioning the source
and correctness of the information
secured by Mr.. Bryan ndstyled "evi-
dence" by him. stated that if his
conclusions were reached and based
upon information solicited from and
freely offered by bunch of rene
gadeS, who for several years past
have made every effort to diScredit
the work of our schools by indust-
riously circulating misleading re-
ports and misrepresentation detri-
mental to orr schools, then gave fair
warming that would consider it my
duty to publicly call attention to the
motives prompting his action. tend
ing to keep up and alive the disturb
ance mentioned.
My personal relations to Mr.. Nc
Clclland have always been pleasant
and unhesitatingly leave this mat
ter with Mr.. Lemon. Mr.. McLarty,
Mr.. Streets and Mr.. McClelland him
self. Every one of these gentlemen
is invited to recall one instance if
possible, where and when | failed to
stand up and vouch for Mr.. McClel-
land,
1t was my desire to have talk
with Mr.. McCelland and in frank
and manly way discuss matters with
him and arrive at some satisfactory
conclusion, actuated only by my de-
sire to do the best thing for our
schools, and | sincerely regret that |
did not have the opportunity to have
that understanding with Mr.. McClel-
land, although the failure was no
fault of mine
When Mr.. Bryan went further,
speaking upon the same authority no
doubt rs before and upon information
secured from the same sources, and
made the positive statement that our
schools have gone back rather than
n1x-nvnsnr / Annn,,nnn1 his
ment as false in language more vehe-
ment perhaps than necessary and
courted and invited full and fair
investigation.
AS the only representative OF the
former. boards with whom | have
been connected since 1897, felt it
my duty to defend the gentlemen
composing the former boards, and |
appeal to DR.. Woodland, Mr.. King,
Mr.. Ross, Mr.. McLarty, Mr.. Lemon
and Mr.. Streets, who in succession
held positions on the Board, gentle
men of the highest standing and in
tegrity, having the respect and con-
fidence of the community, if this
Scurrilous and slanderous attack,
gratuitOusly hurled by a man who
has been a resident here just long
enough to entitle him to cast his
vote, and who assumes the task and
responsibility of reforming the school
system. is to be passed by unnoticed,
or whether was right in denOunc-
ing the undeserved. insulting slur cast
upon men who have made every ef-
fort to build up our schools and who
have reason to be proud of their re-
cord and high standing - justly
earned - enjoyed by our schools,
which distinction is really more
than Statewide.
| appeal to the patrons who have
taken such great interest in the we'll
fare OF our schools, and who have
kept pace, with our steady improve
ments, and to our pupils, who have
been benfited by the advanced ground
taken by their schools, to say if l
was right in defending our schools.
When the same gentleman further
offered malignant insult to a for
mer member of the Board by quot
ing Mr.. Streets as saying that a
moral man had no business to be
employed in our schools.
ask you candidly, if you think
that | should have set quietly by and
allowed these malicious statements
to be made without protest? No; l
guess not. ! am not coward even
if have to stand alone. Twill stand
up and defend the integrity and high
standing of our schools and the
reputation of the gentlemen, with
whom I consider it a great honor
to have been associated. Since 1897
l have been connected with our
schools, harmony and unity have
always prevailed and characterized
all actions of the Boards for all these
years. Never before and not until
this present time. has an occasion
arisen where and when it was con-
sidered that the best way to serve