The Coconino sun., 1918-03-29
STUDENT BODY PRE- SENT THEIR CASE TO
 THE PLAIN PEOPLE

we, tHe 6lutcul uOuy Ol tiC iNoi th- ern Arizona Normal School, want to have a heart to heart talk with the people of Arizona about the dismissal of our president, Doctor R. H. H. Blome.
 There are about 300 of us, and among that number there was only one who was not fully satisfied with his administration, even to the point of striking for a hearing for our president. Think back on your school days--did you have a teacher that could get one entire class to like him ? Then what an exceptional man for the head of large institution is one that is admired and loved as is Doctor Blome.
 Our parents know whether or not we are learning our lessons and being trained to be good men and women. Only one parent disapproved and took his child home when we went on strike. Would our parents have allow ed us to go that far to uphold man that was not making good"?
 We have been here from one to four years, and Flagstaff is not very large town, so we know quite well what is going on. Several of our stu dents know Mr. Hennessey felt re- vengeful toward Doctor Blome from the way the Hennessey boys talked and acted. They never behaved as they should have, and Doctor Blome rightfully sent one of them home. It is understood in Flagstaff that MT. Hennessey asked Governor Hunt to appoint him as a member of the Nor mai School Board, and as soon as he was appointed we knew it meant trouble for Doctor Blome. MT. Hen nessey is anything but the kind of man that should be allowed to act as a member of school board. We are confident he sought the position to "get even" with Doctor Blome. If so good Normal school president is to be dismissed over petty personal troubles when most of the people of the state, and of Flagstaff too, realize and appreciate his worth, it is time for the citizens of Arizona to act. The board discharged Doctor Blome with out ever even visiting the Normal school to ascertain existing conditions.
 Citizens have told us that when MT. McGonigle went on the board he was in favor of retaining Doctor Blome, but when he made trip to Phoenix, someone changed him to the other side. Doctor Blome has been here nine years. MT. McGonigle has had three daughters attend our Normal school during that time, and he was ,1e ntroc tpr of tho Nn,. nal buildings. If there was anything wrong with Doctor Blome he knew it before he went to Phoenix. Someone evidently did some "wire pulling on him when he was there.
 MT. Case, the state superintendent of schools, is the third member of the board. He was opposed to dismissing our president. The superintendent is experienced in educational work and we think the other two members should have listened to him for that reason, and also for the reason that he is elected by and represents the people of the whole state, and only the governor appoints the other two mem- bers.
 The board gave as an excuse for dis missing Doctor Blome that he is pro German We know he is not pro I German He lives in the boys dormi- tory, eats in the dining hall, is with us during school hours, and we, as good Americans, could very quickly detect it were he disloyal. One of his sons is first lieutenant in the United States army, another is awaiting his l f,t ,. ag x,,illinrr proud to have his boys go as any father we know. The first students from the state schools to enlist were from this school and Doctor Blome encouraged their enlisting.
 Judge Perkins, Mir. George Babbitt Mir. Pollock and Mir. Dolan, former members of the board, were opposed to Doctor Blome's dismissal. Some of them had been on the board as long as four years, and every one of them lis better qualified to know good school executive than the present members. ....
 Some maintain that as the board had the right of dismissal, the citizens and students cannot change it. We know we cannot, but we think the voters can if they will.
 The board dismissed Doctor Blome on the 9th of March, and their action was not made public until six days later On Monday, the 18th, they Ihurriedly met in Phoenix to elect the new president instead of meeting ir the school building as the law pro. vides. We surmised their scheme, anc on Sunday, the 17th, a committee comprised of three citizens and three students telegraphed a request to tho board and also to Governor Hunt tt not make their action final or appoint a successor until the citizens had time to present petitions and to be heard They ignored this request and pro ceeded as though no one had righ to be heard Both the constitution o, Arizona and the constitution of thu United States of America say tn, In defiance of our request, their hast! action was surely an abridgement O the right of petition. Was it not? Now, we feel that when he was sue ceeding so well, Doctor Blome was a l. Lofn,.a h,