The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1913-11-13
ANSWERS PROF.. LANCASTER

high school auditorium ON the even
ing at August Il. the Socialist schoo
board members and Comrade Sinclair
inclusive. promised that the SCHOOL,
would be taught as required by law
I'm the course of this public meet
ing Comrade Sinclair touched upor
the administration of Mayor Ford
anent the houses OF prostitution, the
which called forth our worthy may
or's unreasonable antagonism to Sin
clair. Previous TO this, Mayor Ford
owner and. editor of the Arlington
i Chronicle, did not print word In
opposition TO Sinclair's right to teach
although he was one of the self-ap'
pointed committee of protest, He let
Mr.. Marsh of the Times fire the In
! itial gun, while he maintained most
imposing silence. The mayor pro
baby thought he might have few
political friends among. the Social
lists and Il would not do to offend.
The shaft directed at my admins
tration brushed the film from his
eyes. Things from that direction
seemed to hold no promise. There
fore the mayor began to bubble over
with an effervescent patriotism that
made all former avowals in this d.
rection look diminutive in compari-
son.
Ford Immediately took a large car
go of public opinion, from which he
literally smeared the columns of the
Chronicle to the utter disgust of the
general public. The greater part of
the noise created by the mayors gen.
crosby in this respect was conferred
around the Chronicle office, while
the real citizenship maintained qui-
escent attitude, much to the discom-
fort of Ford, Lancaster ct al.
A petition was circulated request
ing the school board to put the whole
matter to a referendum vote. Some
14O names were secured largely
through Misrepresentation. This
method at first appealed to Comrade
Grimm, who at first voted favorably.
But upon investigation he found that
no legal restriction could be APP
piled to such election. At the fol-
lowing meeting of the board he
moved for a reconsideration, and
upon motion, voted the measure
down.
Lancaster Flops
1t was about this time that Pro-
lessor Lancaster took his stand
against the school board in the teeth
of the fact that a full and fair pro-
mise had been given by the Social
list board members and Comrade Sin
clair that the requirements of the law
would be strictly adhered to regard
ing teaching, and all school matters.
Lancaster, an employe of the school
board, stated to various persons that
Sinclair should not teach, notwith-
standing the action of the authorized
board in employing him.
The elimination of this feature of
the dispute was reached when Coun-
ty Superintendent Lizzie Jones is
sued an illegal suspension of Com
rade Sinclair's certificate. Professor
Lancaster had been warned by Di-
rector Morris that if he persisted in
his attitude toward the board and
Sinclairs employment he would be
served with fifteen days notice of his
removal.
Upon Sinclair receiving notice of
the suspension of his certificate,
brought about by the activities OF
Professor Lancaster, the school board
Immediately served the professor
with the fifteen day notice of his dis
missal.
The board employed Professor Cald-
well of Arizona to fill the vacancy in
the district superintendent office by
the retirement of Lancaster.
Lancaster appealed to the county
superintendent Of schools from the
action of the Arlington school board,
as the county superintendent had
been a participant in the opposition
against Sinclair, and would not I'M
der any circumstances give sanction
to the boards action, although she
CMrs. Lizzie Jones) knew their act
was unquestionably legal AS was
known and expected, she reversed the
act of the school board.
From this decision the board filed
| an appeal in the superior court, which
! came up for hearing on November 4.
Recall Of Board Members
A sufficient number of names have
been presented to the clerk of the
I school board to warrant a recall cleo.
ton directed against Comrades
Grimm and Morris for their firm
stand against the dictation of Ford
and Lancaster.
Many Of the names on this petition
were placed there by persons friendly
to these comrades, for the purpose OF
taking the whole matter out of the
I