The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1923-05-17
Row Over Election of Guer-
rettaz Principal Causes
Him to Quit
MEMBERS OF BOARD
NOT IN AGREEMENT
Superintendent Claims Fras-
er and Arnold Tried to
Make Him Goat

At meeting of the school board
Monday afternoon the resignation Of
LINN II. Smith as superintendent of
he Kennewick schools was accepted.
II. Smith rendered his resignation
Thursday after the board had heard
usotests against the election of j. M.
Guerrettaz as principal Of the high
school,
The resignation is the result of a
Misunderstanding between Mr.. Smith
and Directors F. L. Fraser and F. j.
Arnold as to the nature Of the offer
70 be made to Mr.. Guerretaz. Mr..
Smith claims the two directors chang
Cd their minds in the face of objec-
tions raised to Mr.. Guerretaz and then
sought to make him the goat" in the
controversy.
During the school year more or less
friction has existed between j. c..
Staley, principal of the high school,
and E. O. Eidall, principal of the up
per grades on the one side and Mr..
Smith and Athletic Director Kralo-
wee on the other. For this reason
II has been known to the board for
some time that Mr.. Staley and Mr..
Eidall would not return next year.
At recent meeting the board con-
iidered the question of filling the
places held by these two men. Mr..
Smith claims, and his contention is
upheld by Director M. M. Moulton,
that he was authorized to offer Mr..
Guerrettaz the combined principalship
Of the high school and upper grades,
to be handled in addition to his science
classes. Mr.. Smith made this offer
and Mr.. Guerretaz accepted it.
When information leaked out that
Ar. Guerretaz was being considered
Tor principal, members of the board
began to receive protests. In order
that these objections might come reg
nlarly before it the board invited the
oojectors to present their protests at
= meeting held Thursday afternoon.
J. w. Vickers, who said he spoke for
= number of school patrons, objected
70 MIR. Guerretaz on the ground that
MS promotion would tend to keep alive
me friction existing this year. He
sad there was a considerable Staley
faction In the school and the comnun-
ny and he felt that in the interests of
nstmony new man should be made
pr'nclpal. Similar objection was ex-
pressed in letter by L. A. Stafford.
VINO was out of the city.
IN reply to these objections Mr..
1ouiton said Mr.. Guerrettaz had not
oeen a party to this years friction.
ns asked into the meeting Rev. E. I.
alenell, who said he had been told
~ MI. Staley there had been no open
'lstion between him and Mr.. Guer-
retaz.
~ d. Shanafelt questioned the eff
cy OF Mr.. Guerrettaz, saying
ne had been told by Mr.. Staley
MI. Guerrettaz' popularity with
Students was due to hi slax meth
q IN class work. Walter Lodge and
aor Jacot objected on the grounds
mr. Guerrettaz had been teach
%s 'ae Darwinian theory of evolution.
moulton said he had personally
esagated this accusation and was
4. h''aced that Mr.. Guerrettaz had not
N 'eaching this theory.
A.. !. Elliott said he understood
UT Guerrettaz used poor and
sa Grammatical language in the pres
i. u students. w. S. Dickinson said
au Known Mr.. Guerretaz for 25
an, ms and knew him to be a most cap
I'M, 'eacher and a splendid gentleman
I'd =, :. was opposed to his being NAM
principal because he is Catholic.
toa 0nowing these protests Mr.. Moul-
in,o osed that contract be entered
p,, "..n n Mr.. Guerrettaz as princi-
Of me Inc motion was lost for lack
that ~ seeond. Mr.. Fraser then moved
trae. i' Iuerrettaz be offered con-
itv :. continue in his former capac-
Seem seienee Instructor. Mr.. Arnold
lied a = the motion and it was car
the o,a..: -. Moulton refused to vote on
such h saying ne would consider
proposal an insult to Mr.. Guer-