The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-10-07
SAYS SAUNDERS CHARGE
IS WITHOUT FOUNDATION
Editor j. w Everett, Of Virginia
Journal Of Education. Makes Re-
ply 70 Contracting Printer.
srEARNEs KNEW NOT OF ACT.
Mr.. Everett Declares Superintendent
Has Never Sought to Use journal
For Furtherance of Political Inter-
csts-State Board Is Busy.

csts-State Board Is Busy.
The State Board of Education.
which met yesterday morning for the
transaction of routine business and to
Ill the vacancy caused by the resigna-
ton of J. H. Binford as supervisor OF
rural schools. found enough of the
routine to keep 1t busy for hours. and
several unlocked for pieces of bust
ness. which caused the session to run
over into today. One of these was
the matter OF the dismissal of the
Misses Ashby. stenographers in the
Office of Superintendent Stearnes, and
another was a controversy between
Joseph W. Everett, editor Of the Vir-
ainia Journal OF Education, and Clyde
w Saunders, former printer of that
publication.
When the board Last night took a
recess till this morning at 10 o'clock
It has accomplished Its routine ana
had named District Superintendent
W. r. Hodges of the Alexandria
ford It has the matter of the dis
missal of the stenographers and the
Everett-Saunders controversy to come
up today. and a lengthy session IL
anticipated.
Mr.. Bfnforti's Successor.
Mr.. Hodges, who succeeds Mr.. Bin
ford as rural schools supervisors, Is
a graduate Of William and Mary, and
for q number of years was student
OF education at Columbia University.
Mr. Hodges has prepared several bull
letfns for the United States Depart
ment Of Education rural school
problems that stamp him as well
equipped for the position he is about
10 assume. The public school sys-
tom that he has built up in Alex
AndriA County Is another tribute to
his ability.
A resolution was passed by the
. board permitting teachers In Rich
mond to pursue certain educational
courses IN the night school connect
ed with the city normal school, and
to have their certificates renewed
without attending the summer normal
schoois.
The letter OF Clyde w. Saunders.
who charges political considerations
caused the loss by him OF the con-
tract for printing the Virginia Jour
nal OF Education. and the CORES
pondence between him and Mr..
Everett, were received yesterday by
Acting Secretary Binford. who will
lay them before the board at today $
session.
Says Charges Unfounded.
The correspondence was given pub
ncauon yesterday afternoon before
the matter officially reached the
board, and having so become a mat
ter OF public interest. Mr. Everett last
night issued a statement. 1t follows:
The charge Is absolutely without
foundation. I made the change OF
printers solely because / secured bet
ter terms from another Arm. Super
intendent Stearnes did not even know
OF my action until thirty days or more
after the change was made. / have
sole control OF the business and edi-
torial department OF the journal. and
have never allowed a single one Of Its
interests to become involved in poll
tics In no conc etvable way has
Superintendent Stearnes ever sought
to influence its policies. or use its
business contracts for the further
a1fco Of his political interests He has
never even discussed the latter in con-
nectton with the Journal and to those
who know him best such course
would be incredible.
Not Paid BY State.
Mr., Saunders asserts that / am a
State of1cer and as such am paid by
the State am not a State ofncer
and am not paid by the State. My
salary comes wholly from the pro-
ceeds Of the Journal. He further as
serts that two campaign documents.
were inserted in the Journal intended
20 aid the political interests of Mr..
Stearnes and that the expenses in
cident thereto were paid by the Jour
nal Neither statement is true.
The documents referred to con-
- ~ {V1fN q ~ ~
concerning the certihcation of teach
ers, q list Of penhoned teachers, and
Mr. Stearnes' offfcial address before
the annual conference OF education OF
the state. For the insertion of these
officiAl papers the Journal was paid.
as always. by the Department OF Pub
iic Instruction"
Saunders Submits Correspondence
Mr.. Saunders letter submitting to
the State Board the correspondence
with Mr.. Everett. bore the date OF
yesterday, and read as follows:
"Gentlemen,-Enclo closed please find
. bill for $Se0.s7. including interest
to date. This account has been stand
i ing ever since July. 1913. 1t being the
balance due for printing your vir-
ginia Journal Of Education during the
management of same by Mr.. r. l..
Blanton. Mr.. Blanton had given
me notes Sl8ueu ny the NhSiuA
journal Of Education. which be-
came due after his death. and the
above amount Is the balance that Is
still owing on that account. Mr..
Gtearnes gave the bank who holds
this paper to understand that the
came would be paid.
II think / have carried this ac-
count a. long as I should be asked
to do 80 and would not at this time
make q request for payment. but feel
that a. long as I am not doing the
printing Of the Virginia Journal OF
Education I should not be expected
to carry the burden for the depart
ment.
Enclosed you will flnd some cor
respondence, numbers one to four. of
recent date. between Mr.. Everett and
myself. az regards the payment of
this account"
Mr.. Saundcgs' First Letter.
The nrst letter from Mr.. Saunders