Arizona republican., 1920-07-27
TEACHER READY n QUIT F DECIDED SHE lS NOT PATRIOTIC

Nhhhg 70 revoke her certificate as a -sacher Tn the public schools of Arizo- na 1T the superintendent of public in structions finds her lacking in patriot ism, Mrs. Veronca Wood yesterday ad- dressed Attorney General Wiley P Jones who publicly reprimanded her TOT oiscontinuing salute to the flag when she found the laws of the land not being carried out.
 Mrs Wood claims that her respect Tor the flag was so great she could not salute 1t when the laws were being openly violated in Aguilla where she taught and where gambling was be- ing openly carried on :-. front of the schooi children who were given nickles ana dimes to keep off. the tables She complained to county and state of ticeTs. put without avail. only to bring charges against herself and threats not 10 e-employ her from the att torney general
 Mrs Wood now says she informed the county superintendent of her in tenton to omit the salute and received no comment
 T presume he knew I was working with an honest and sincere purpose sne says in the letter to Mir. Jones yesterday.
 The American flag was hoisted each morning as the Star Spangled Banne, was being sung. and I do not hesitate to say that I would feel perfectly secure in letting those 16 pupils compete with any school in Arizona in their manner of response
 Mrs Wood stands ready and will Ing to substantiate any of the gamb- nnS charges she has brought, as she has said before.
 Sheriff Montgomery has stated that three Giffnrnnf he hae Investigated the district, but has not found the evidence. He says, however should Mrs. Wood sign a complaint against any of the men, he and hi: staff are ready to make the arrests.
 In the meantime the patriotic issue has been settled as far as the womer or the city are concerned who were deeply moved over the position taker Dy the attorney general in the matter They do not doubt Mrs. Woods patriot. ism, even though they have not reae the most recent letter she has writer the attorney general in which she say ln part:
 If after two years of having actu ally observed these things you couls stand beside me, in the position of : rural teacher and you direct from tn attorney generals office. knowing tha to your complaints and protestation not one word of advice or move O action had been made-if you couI,
 
 heartsick and ashamed when yol raised your eyes and your hand t salute the flag-then I admit you ideas of respect to the flag, and mine are different. And if because of tha difference Of opinion, in that when would consider it an insult to act. yo would call the same action disrespec, If then I have disqualified myself a a commendable teacher in Arizona shall surrender my certificate to tn superintendent of public instruction he so decides upon the receipt Of thes coTnKRlnications.
 Mshould also like to say that be cas1EA of your attitude toward my ac tlon$~ am sending a copy of you andTny letters to the school superfn teTM&znt in the county in which I al eoT4Fhcted. with instructions to her | caINel the same if the trustees deem
 wen realize. MT. Jones. that a you Say. Not only the anti-gambIir, Iau@ but scores Of others will be vic latad as long as humanity and th sfatR of Arizona exists. But I den the~right of any officer or officers , alipw the continuance of such viols tlons upon complaints such as I kno WHrA zfgiVeu in this raSa