The Washington Socialist Party, with many teachers in its ranks, saw public education as a battleground became intensely active in organizing teachers, running for school boards, and most importantly, presenting a working class curriculum. The story of Arlington Socialist teacher J.E. Sinclair’s battle with the school board.

‘The Complete Story of the Plot to Expel Socialist Teachers’ from The Commonwealth (Everett). No. 141.  September 11, 1913.

Timber Barons Behind Plot to Oust Sinclair and Buchanan

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE ARLINGTON SCHOOLS SPLENDID RECORD OF THE SINCLAIRS AS TEACHERS.

For two years Arlington’s school board had been composed of one Socialist and two members who were not Socialists. During that time the employment of the teachers and the enactment of rules and regulations for the government of the schools was in the hands of the capitalist majority. But of course no Socialist might lawfully refuse to send his children to the schools on that account.

About a year ago the county superintendent consolidated the Arlington, Trafton, Island and Edgecomb districts, creating a m district out of I their combined territory, and placing the whole number under the management of the directors of the Arlington district.

At the election which occurred the first Saturday in March, 1913, Chas. E. Farrell, a merchant and capitalist of Edgecomb, was a candidate for director to succeed J.A. Gray, whose term was about to expire. W.G. Grimm, master of Island Grange and a prominent Socialist, was nominated against him. The election was very warmly contested, autos being in requisition all day to convey voters to and from the polls. The fake announcement of a prominent capitalist daily of this county that the election I was carried by Mr. Grimm through I the apathy and negligence of the voters is absolutely a fabrication and has no facts whatever to support, it. For the convenience of voters four voting places had been designated in the district. A certain capitalist politician sent word to Trafton, just as the polls were opening, that Grimm had withdrawn and would not serve if elected. The voters there were puzzled, but they were wise enough to investigate before voting, and the enthusiasm for Grimm was eventually increased in all probability by this thread-bare trick. The vote at Trafton stood, Grimm 55, Farrell 2. At Arlington, where every capitalist voter who could be induced I to, go to the polls was rustled out and free transportation was generally provided, Grimm received 96 votes, Farrell 92. At Edgecomb, Farrell’s home, I Grimm received 21 votes, Farrell 7. At Island, Grimm’s home, Grimm carried every vote. Grimm was elected by the handsome majority of eighty votes. And this was done by the voters of the district with full knowledge that the school board would thereby pass into the control of the Socialist party, for that fact was constantly argued by the capitalists who were seeking to defeat Grimm.

As soon as the new board was organized in April, a resolution was introduced by J.W. Morris, Socialist, and unanimously adopted, declaring the purpose of the board to be the maintenance of the very best school possible for the Arlington district regardless of consequences. Pursuant to this a corps of teachers, mostly non-Socialists, was employed. The very fact that a very large majority of the faculty is non-Socialist fully exonerates the board from that silly charge occasionally heard that they “immediately filled the places with Socialists.”

Among the teachers hired by the new board. Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Sinclair were named. They are both teachers of ripe experience and came peculiarly well recommended. Mr. Sinclair, about whose devoted head such a storm has centered, possesses a life certificate, good all over the state of Washington. He can products testimonials Touching for his ability and aptitude as a teacher from officers and patrons of his former schools, from county and state superintendents, and particularly Mrs. Lizzie Jones, county superintendent of Snohomish county, assured the Arlington board before Mr. Sinclair was employed that his record and experience as a teacher left nothing to be desired. Dr. Oliver, the one capitalist member of the board, nominated Mr. Sinclair and surely no one will blame the two Socialist members for voting aye and idling him. At least, under similar circumstances, who ever heard of a capitalist board refusing to employ a teacher just because he adhered to the capitalist system? So the board entered into a contract with him.

Sinclair Supported Timber Workers at Hoquiam.

It is safe to say that nothing even in the way of protest would have followed this if there had not been any outside interference. But Mr. Sinclair had been active in supporting the strike of the workingmen at Hoquiam. Capital never forgets and it never forgives while it has the power and the courage to strike a blow. The tax-dodging timber-barons got busy and their campaign in Arlington was launched. The word went forth that Sinclair must go. The board was to be recalled, but that failed. A few declared they would not send their children to be taught by a Socialist, and other extravagances were indulged in. A hue and cry was raised and naturally some innocent people joined in it for a time, but the agitation has been kept going, guided when at its height and stirred up again when it lagged, by just that bunch that one would expect to find doing the bidding of the masters.

The Flag Pretext.

A handle was soon found—capitalism always wants a handle. Sometimes it is one thing, sometimes another, but when nothing else offers, the flag will do. It seems that while the legislature was considering the advisability of adopting a school flag pledge at the last session, Mr. Sinclair in company with Socialists generally and with thousands of good citizens who are not Socialists, opposed the measure. He wrote an article for the Commonwealth in which he took the position that the flag is a capitalist flag; for he says the capitalists have taken possession of it and subverted it to their own selfish purposes.

He says there is not, as a matter of fact, “Justice for all” everywhere under the flag and that a pledge which would recite that such is the fact is a lie. He therefore opposed compelling children to recite such a lie every morning. So many people of all political parties opposed it for similar reasons that the bill was finally dropped and did not become a law. But the fact that Mr. Sinclair was a pioneer in the opposition made him a ready mark for the slings of the flag gang,

Minions of Capital Get Busy.

Supposedly because Mr. Sinclair had written thus, the county superintendent refused for a time to approve and countersign his contract. At least that is the reason assigned. The capitalist press took the matter up and made a great hullaballoo over it. It is said the state superintendent and attorney general were appealed to, but evidently they gave little encouragement to the insurgents. It is even intimated that those officers strongly advised dropping the fight. Anyhow, Mrs. Jones eventually signed the contract–after Arlington’s board demanded that she do so and showed a disposition to back up the demand.

But the minions of money were still busy. About this time the Arlington Times entered the arena and had its fling at the board and Mr. Sinclair. A meeting was called to discuss the question and the county attorney came over from Everett. His mission appeared to be to “crush Sinclair.” If he came because someone hired him and expensed his coming, he is no better than any common hireling and should not have paraded as “the county attorney.” If he came voluntarily and expensed himself, then how is it that he cannot come to Arlington to investigate the notorious prostitution which has its rendezvous there, but can find ‘funds” to make a political foray over there?

To use his own flowing phrase, “Echo answers, NO!”

County Attorney Fails in Mission. But the county attorney, or the interests’ spellbinder, whichever he was, won no laurels in his encounter with Mr. Sinclair. Upon the contrary, it is generally conceded in Arlington that he was mighty badly worsted in the bout.

The board pledged that Mr. Sinclair will obey the school law and the rules and regulations made in conformity with that law. Mr. Sinclair himself gave the same pledge and the people of Arlington generally said, That’s good enough, let him go ahead.

Capitalists made the law and the rules, it surely seems they, too, should be satisfied.

The Arlington Times announced itself satisfied and counselled dropping the subject. The people at Arlington grew tired of it and demanded that Mr. Sinclair be allowed to teach until he should violate some law or essential regulation and then (If that ever happens) fire him. But the Arlington Chronicle took the fight up in the teeth of public opinion and continued the agitation. Its editor is the Bull Moose mayor of Arlington. A shady lawyer showed up in Hoquiam. “Evidence” was collected. Scabs and strike-breakers were interviewed. The Lord only knows what manner of lies they may have sworn to in the affidavits that were secured the affidavits seem to be so rotten they are not willing to show them up. The county attorney, the county superintendent and the superintendent of the Arlington city schools may have seen them. But undoubtedly their general publication would only expose their ridiculousness.

The air has been kept at white heat by the capitalist interests, redolent with lies and fermenting with falsehood. Shenanigans galore have been hatched, but to no avail.

The Petition Scheme.

At one time a petition was presented to the board purporting to be signed by a number of citizens and to represent their views, asking that the retention of Mr. Sinclair be left by a referendum to the voters of the district. Mr. Grimm, Socialist, at first favored the idea because he says the referendum is strictly a Socialist method of settling questions. But afterwards many Arlington people came to him, some of whom had never signed the petition, while others had signed it as the result of misapprehension and as the result of false representations. This materially diminished the number of signers and therefore lessened the weight of the petition. Furthermore, the law does not provide for such an advisory election and therefore it could have no legal standing, hence repeating could not be punished. It is alleged that in the past. wholesale “organization” has been resorted to in order to carry elections in Arlington, even when the election was legal and not merely advisory.

Colonization Plot Fails.

Some things were noticed that looked like preparations for just such a “colonization” scheme again. Without the restraint of law, who could expect a fair election at the hands of those who perpetrated the Trafton shenanigan described in an earlier part of this article? Upon mature consideration Mr. Grimm changed his mind and the board refused to order such an election. Those who know Arlington’s capitalist politicians best think the board acted wisely and ninety per cent of the people of the district are satisfied. But the Chronicle, suppressing the true reason for the refusal, is endeavoring to make capital of it.

Mrs. Jones Gets Busy. When all else had failed, Mrs. Jones, just on the eve of opening school, after she had recommended Mr. Sinclair, after she had registered his certificate, after she had approved his contract, turned backward the leaves of her memory and dug up her old objection. She wrote a brief letter telling him that he is suspended and must not teach. But not only did she refrain from disclosing the charges, if any exist, but she absolutely refused to allow the accused to see any affidavits or other documents of evidence in the case. With the case like a cold deck up her sleeve, the suspension looked like a huge bluff. Mr. Sinclair and the board decided to pay no attention to it. Its utter illegality and insufficiency was too apparent. The board ordered him to proceed with his work under his contract and he proceeded. He took charge of the Garfield school in Arlington and more children are enrolled now than ever before. Capitalism was desperate. The interests then sought a restraining order. But the capitalist insurgents couldn’t even make a bourgeoisie judge see it that way. Their case was too flimsy to give them a standing in court. The writ was denied.

Whipped at every turn, the attorney who gives his opinion first and looks up the law afterwards says they are now to try another plan. No doubt it will prove as abortive as all the others have. It seems queer how reluctant capitalists are to abide by their own laws when Socialists become the beneficiaries.

The Commonwealth was a Socialist Party-aligned paper based in Everett, Washington that began in February, 1911. First edited by O.L. Anderson, the weekly paper was quickly involved in the state’s very fractious inner Socialist Party life. Editors followed the changing political fortunes with Anna A. Maley directing The Commonwealth from September, 1911 until May, 1912, who also focused the paper nationally. Maley left the paper to run for governor in 1912, the first woman and first Socialist in the state to run for that office, winning a respectable 12% of the vote. Six more editors followed Maley, including Maynard Shipley. The paper’s orientation was left and supported the I.W.W. when many S.P. papers were denouncing them. The Commonwealth struggled, like nearly all left publications in history, with money financially and sold to the Socialist Party of Snohomish County in April, 1914 to be reborn as The Washington Socialist.

Access to PDF of original issue: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84025731/1913-09-11/ed-1/seq-3/