The San Francisco call., 1910-07-08
GILLETT WANTS
THE SCALP Of
{. {. VAN EIEW
Chief Executive Calls on Chico
Normal Trustees to Gust
Ogling President
Peremptory Demand That the
Educator Be Removed From
His Position
Especial Dispatch to The CALI

Especial Dispatch to The Call
SACRAMENTO, July 7.-Governor
Gillett made public tonight letter he
sent to the trustees of the Chico state
normal school in which he practically
demands that DIR. c.. c. Van Liew, presi-
dent of the school for a number of
years be summarily dismissed because
of improper conduct toward students at
the school, and particularly toward at
tractive young women.
The governor declares that man
whose reputation for morality is bad
or even under suspicion should not be
retained as an instructor at a state
institution, and Van Liew, he says,
admitted to him and to State Superin-
tendent Hyatt that his morality was
bad.
The trustees are asked to make a
thorough investigation of six charges
which the governor enumerates in his
letter.
Climax of Inquiry
The governors letter is the result of
an investigation following charges
made by Miss Ada Clark that Doctor
Van LEW hugged her. The letter fol-
lows:
ITO Edward Hyatt F. c. Lusk. E. A.
Warren. Clifford Coggins, ]. F. Camp
bell and F. j. O'Brien. trustees of the
Chico state normal school:
Within the last three weeks COM
plants have been lodged with me af-
fecting the conduct and moral standing
of c. C. Van Liew, president of the
Chico normal school.
'It is alleged:
First-That Mr.. Van Liew's repu-
tation for morality is bad:
'Second-That he has taken i'm
proper liberties with young ladies who
were students of the school;
aThird-That he has been under the
Influence of liquor during school hours
young men, students in said school,
who at the time were minors;
q Fourth-That his reputation is
such, and his conduct has been such, as
to bring public criticism upon himself
and upon the school. to its detriment
and injury;
'Fifth-To continue him longer as
president of the school WOULD be
against its best interests.
Should Be Above Reproach
'It>-is very important for the well
fare and success of the normal school
where young ladies are being edu-
Gated for teachers that the character
of fts president should be above re-
proach, for nothing can be more harm
full to such an institution than to have
a man at its head whose reputation for
morality is bad, or whose conduct or
morals are constantly being discussed
by the student body and by a large
number in the city where the school is
located.
IF the normal school at Chico is to
succeed and have the confidence of the
peoeple of this state who have daugh-
ters whom they desire to educate in
such school then those in charge of
its affairs must see that no one is re-
tained in it as an educator against
whom suspicious, even, of want of NOR
ality exist, and whose lack of NOR
ality is being generally discussed.
There is one charge in particular
which l desire to call to your atten-
ton, as it is very recent one.
About two weeks ago Miss Ada
Clark, young lady and student in
- . -.1.ooI ooynrlainod m mo tbat ono
day when she went to Mr. Van Liew's
private Office to get from him an ex-
cuse for being absent that he sat down
alongside of her, told her that he could
sympathfze with her and placed his
arms around her and hugged her; that
when she reprimanded him for doing
so he replied that she could not blame
him, for she was very attractive
girl.
A young lady. and a student in the
same school met Miss Clark as she
came from Van Liews private Office,
and in a letter to me, which 1 re-
quested her to write, she says that she
noticed that Miss Clark was very pale
and was very nervous and much agi-
tated, and, knowing from the girls
appearance and manner that something
unusual had happened, asked her what
the matter was and that she then re-
lated what had taken place in sub
stance as stated above; that Miss Clark
then requested her to go into the
schoolroom and get her books, as she
could never enter the building again
Miss Clark has left the school,
It wish that you would make a full
and fair investigation into the charges
made as herein before set FORTH and
especially as to Doctor Van Liew's rep
utation for morality. as number have
complained to me that it is bad and in |
answer to a question put by me in the
presence of State superintendent Hyatt |
he admitted that it was bad
In making your Investigations will
assist you all can, and l will also
request the attorney general to have
representative present from his office
and aid you in having the evidence
properly presented.
y. N. GILLETT,
Governor of California
Dated July s, 191o."