The Coconino sun., 1918-03-29
POLITICS BRINGS ABOUT DEPLORABLE CONDITION
 AT NORMAL SCHOOL

A deplorable condition has been brought about in the Northern Ari- zona Normal School. This institution has been administered a blow from which it will not recover in years. The whole educational system of the state, by which we mean the state educa- tional institutions, has been shown to be within the sweep of politics and personalities, so that the same thing that happened to the Northern Ari- zona Normal School may happen to any of them. It does not help the matter that the blow at the Flagstaff Normal school was struck in the name of loyalty. We are reminded of Dr. Johnson's aphorism, Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel."
 The outrageous thing in this whole matter is that Dr. Blome has been re- moved from the head of the school on a charge of disloyalty, at this time the crime of all crimes. No attempt has been made to establish his disloyalty, and no opportunity was given him to meet this infamous accusation; his friends were denied the privilege of offering any defense of him. Yet, the punishment for disloyalty, his re- moval, has been inflicted without the semblance of {, trial, the shadow of an investigation, and stigma has been attached to one of the most honored names of the state.
 The governor of the state owes it to the state, to the educational system of the state; he owes it to the principle of decency and fairness; he owes it to himself to order an investi- gation of this charge, which if not sustained or if disproved, should be followed by the complete and formal vindieation of pr. Biomc, his rein statement and the removal from the beard of the men wn2 have so wanton- ly assailed his gon1 name. But if Dr. Blome is disloyal he deserves the greater execration which must follow the proof of his guilt.
 Dr. Blome is of German birth all though he was brought to this country when a child. He has been an Ameri- can for half century lacking one year. He is pronounced by competent judges to be one of the foremost edu- cators of the southwest and for twen- ~ years, those who have taken keen iaterest in the 'ducationa affairs of Arizona have felt that We were peel liarly fortunate in being able to re- tain the services of such man.
 Wherever Dr. Blome has served, in the Tempe Normal and later at Flag staff, he has gained and held the high respect and regard for him, both as an educator and a friend, of hundreds of young men and women, all of whom resent the indignity that has been put upon him. They resent still more bitterly the harm that has been done to the cause of education.
 The presidency of the Northern Arizona Normal, to a man Of the ca pacity of Dr. Blome is a matter of the smallest importance. His removal which means his exclusion from the educational affairs of the state and amounts to his expulsion from the state to wider and more remuner. ative field, is, of course, to his ma. terial advantage, but to tho great dis. advantage of the state.
 It has been charged that Dr. Blomt is pro- German and disloyal. There i. no evidence of that and there has never been an act or a word by hin to create in the minds of his friends those who know him best, the slight est suspicion of disloyalty. The SO called "flag incident" which was made the pretext for his removal has beer satisfactorily explained and it would not have needed explanation but fol the widespread misrepresentation by enemies, of harmless incident.
 The worst and the meanest thing il this whole matter is the attemptel character assassination, though, a; we have said, Arizona is the most nained sufferer. Renuhlican