Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-08-27
Wilson Defends
POSITION TAKEN
SOME LITTLE STING OF TRUTH
IN ALIEN MOORI'S TESTIMONY.
Gives NARRATIVE STORY


Dismissal.
BY Associated Press
Oklahoma city, Aug 26 That
there was some little sting of truth"
about the charges preferred against
him by President J. Alex Moore, of
the Chickasha Girls Industrial COL
lege, was the admission Of state Su-
perintendent r.. II Wilson towards
the close of his direct testimony be-
fore Governor Cruce in the Board of
Education investigation Saturday af-
ternoon. At the close OF Wilson $
testimony, the hearing adjourned to
Monday morning
Wilson completed Saturday after
noon complete recital Of the facts
connected with the removal Of heads
Of institutions by the Board of Edu-
cation, and the election OF new pres
ldents and faculty members. II was
noticeable throughout that Wilson
was the man who suggested men who
were suitable to head various insti-
tutions.
Wilson denied that he had ever In
structed a school president to take
political affiliations into considera-
tion in making his recomm endatons
to the Board Of Education for faculty
nominations, and asserted that the
presidents were given a free rein and
told that they would nominate all the
faculty members.
In regard to the charges OF Pro
MnAra phor
Moore with a very bad recollection
In some matters. He denied that he
had ever checked over the old faculty
list and indicated who could not be
retained. He explained the famous
remark that Jesus Christ himself
couldn't nominate" certain members
of the faculty by stating that 1t re-
ferred to the entire faculty as it stood
at the end of the school year
He denied that he had ever said 1t
would ruin his political career If Ger
tain teachers should be elected He
said Moore had objected to certain
teachers of music because of their re-
ligion.
Superintendent Wilson made his
statement in the form of a narrative,
without guidance, or no more than
a few scattering questions from coun-
sci. He stated at the outset that he
had made his campa gn on a plat
form of educational reform in Okla
homa, favoring a board of school men
to control the state schools At a con-
ference on the proper educational leg
islation shortly after Inauguration,
Wilson found an overwhelming senti-
ment in favor of revision of educa-
tional laws and organization Of
state schools.
When the governor called the state
board together after its appointment.
he told the members that if anyone
had political ambitions he had better
dismiss them or get off this board. >"
Beginning with the State Univer-
sity, the superintendent gave the rea-
sons for the removal of each head Of
an institution dismissed, and the at
titude of the board on each PROPOSE
ton. He said he had travelled over
the state and expressed the opinion
that 80 per cent of the people be-
lieved DR. A. Grant Evans never
should have been appointed to the
presidency OF the State University. He
believed 50 per cent approved Of
his removal. The first vote on DR.
Evans retention showed two in fa-
vor Of Evans and five against. Later,
It was made unanimous.
Wilson had talked to various deans
at the university, saw the condition
Of the buildings, and noted the ex-
pense of janitor service and the like.
II indicated to him that there was
no business management. He dis
cussed the conditions with W. Il. Row
ley. n member Of the old board of
regents. The Tahlequah Normal
School had been mixed up in n polit-
ical fight for a year. ID. Frank Redd
had been president for two years
There was bitter rivalry between him
and Vlce-President Ira L. Cain, as to
who should be the next president.
Citizen committees on both sides Wis
tied the Board OF Education. Redd
was n good school man, but had in
CURED the ~ will OF the county su-
perintendents IN the vicinity through
his handling Of n government fund
which was given him to disburse The
opinion Of the board was that It
would be best to make a change. Pc
t.tions were received asking Redd's
reinstatement, but Wilson stopped
this movement in its infancy and said
that no appointments would be re-
considered. The petitioners said that
they were actuated by fear that Cain
would be elected president. Redd
was Republican. He was later
transferred to Weatherford and Civ
en- a faculty position.
Dr. Murdaugh was president Of the
Claremore Preparatory School Some
complaint was filed against him. and
II was coniended that he was n nor
nal school rather than a high school
man. His case was the only one
where the removal was not by a un1n-
fmous vote. He was later elected
president Of the Durant Normal.
Wilson said he was Influenced in
the case Of the State Blind School at
IT. Gibson by the fact that President
Bruce had a family Of ten. including
himself. IN comparison with only
4bfr4,.opa Inmates cf fTa fnutttutfou