The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1913-11-13
CAPITALISTS PLOT TO GUST SOCIALIST TEACHERS FAILS

{
Inc. We heartily welcome the recall
election and think you shall learl
through that channel hat the work
ing people of this district are not de
pending on the Ford, Lancaster Mos
eses to guide them into the land o
promise.
Had the Socialist school board elec
ted in district N, 301, Arlington, no
been hampered by the Interference Of
Editor Ford and few others calling
themselves the citizenship of Airing
ton, this district woulC have had the
best administration in IS history. The
intention of the board was to employ
the most efficient teachers they could
procure for the various departments
and to make such additions in build
ings and equipment as the means at
their command would Iermit. 1t was
no part of their prog an to employ
doubtful economy whore a few dol.
lars more or less would insure better
teachers and add to the needs and
comfort of the pupils.
One OF the teachers employed was
Comrade Sinclair, who came highly
recommended by County Superin-
tendent Mrs. Lizzie Jones and many
others. Upon the impression made
by these recommendations, he was
selected without dissent by the board.
This seemed satisfactory to all con-
cerned until some person, not defin-
itely known, came upon an article
written by Comrade Sinclair and pub
lished in the Commonwealth of April
II, in which certain criticisms were
made of some laws supposed to have
been passed by the last legislature.
The article was passed around to
a few of Arlington's best (2) citizens,
who Immediately con stituted them
selves into citizens committee to
nrotest against the -loyneut- of
Comrade Sinclair on the ground that
his utterances were unpatriotic and
seditious
This committee presented their OBJ
jections to Comrade John Morris, a
Socialist member of the school board,
asking for the immediate dismissal
of Comrade Sinclair. DIR. Oliver, Sec
retary and member of the school
board, having gone east, and Director
Grimm at the time serving as juror,
made it impossible for Comrade Nor
ris to take any action, even if he de-
sired so to do.
In the meantime, and previous to
the discovery of Sinclair's criticisms,
and the interim between the return
of DR.. Oliver from his Eastern trip,
many friendly letters passed between
Comrade Sinclair and Professor Lam
caster. In some of these letters Pro-
fessor Lancaster seemed to be in
hearty cooperation with Comrade Sin
clair's Socialistic views. An extract
from one, written May 8, 1913, is self
explanatory. 1t follows:
From your letter to Mr.. Morris
l gather that need say nothing about
the great responsibility that rests this
year upon the school board in this
district, upon you and upon me to
make record that can stand as 1ust1-
fication for the control of the schools
by the Socialists. Working together
in wisdom, in harmony and with en-
ergy, it is my belief that, at the end
of this year. we can go before the
voters with the assurance that they
will endorse our management or the
schools In full AS we have agreed
here, it Is not only in Arlington, but
in this whole county and in the state
that this experiment Of Socialist con
troll on a large scale is under obserVa'
ton. Under this condition 1t behooVes
us to move with care and yet with
strength. Two principles have so far
governed the new board: list. Strong
teachers regardless of all affiliations
but. all other things being equal 70
give the preference to Socialists
2nd. at all costs to keep both relig
ion and politics out of the school
room. These two principles will
think commend themselves to your
approval So long as a teacher does
his duty according 70 these ideals
there can be no just cause for com
plaint from even the most preiudieed
With the private activities IN social
political or religious lines, followed
by a teacher. no one has any business
to NEEDLE. But as public servants
teachers must be guided by the fac
that they are hired by all the public
and are serving the public.
BY the above the reader can readil!
see that the professor pretended u
advocate the Socialist control OF tn
schools and that the social. polltiea
and religious attitude OF teacher dil
not enter into the qualifications re
garding his or her right TO teach.
j IContinued on Page 8, Column 80