Outlaws of the Chariton High School Class of 1904

I wrote yesterday about a confrontation during April of 1904 between that year's 24-member graduating class and the Chariton High School faculty and staff. To make a longer story short, the seniors petitioned the school board during late March of that year to bring in an outside commencement speaker to simplify (and shorten) the traditional program that was scheduled for two evenings during May and involve orations and/or performances by all 24.

The board declined, the students acted out in various ways that included protests on April Fool's Day and 13 of the 24 were expelled for their trouble. The other 11 signed an agreement with the board to give up their protest; the balance held their ground --- for a time.

This is a photograph from the Lucas County Historical Society collection of the perpetrators most likely taken on the morning of April 1 at the office of Dr. Albert E. Yocom Sr. before the students showed up at the high school in costume --- the first time. Rebuffed, they returned later in the day dressed in mourning. Only 23 of the 24 students are shown here. Since they are not identified by name, we don't know who is who.

Yesterday's report of the confrontation was from The Chariton Leader of April 7, 1904. Here's a more detailed --- and more sympathetic --- report from The Patriot of the same date:

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The graduating class revolt is still on. Last Thursday night hand bills were distributed about town stating that a lecture would be given at commencement time. The following morning (Friday, April fools day) the class, in a spirit of fun, dressed in costume, as the graduating class several years ago had done, the girls wearing hats of ancient style, sunbonnets, big kitchen aprons, the boys in old overalls, bandana handkerchief neckties, old frock coats one or three sizes too large for them, quaint looking hats, gum boots, in fact anything that would add to the "style" of their outfit. It would indeed be hard to find a more comical looking crowd than they were. They met at Dr. Yocom's office and went in a body to the school house but were not admitted. In the afternoon they dressed in black and wore bits of crepe.

When they arrived at the school house they were taken into the music room, where Prof. Morris talked to them and asked them to sign a paper stating that they would comply with the rules of the school and deliver their orations. If they did not sign the paper they would be expelled. Only five out of the twenty-four complied with the request, viz: Misses Dot Becker, Effie Owens, Nellie Cowles, Fern Gartin, Vida Brown. The remainder of the class were expelled.

On Saturday afternoon, the class held a meeting at the home of one of its members and they decided to go back to school on Monday morning. This they did, but those who had been expelled were not admitted, except to the music room where they were again given an opportunity to sign the paper. Six more signed it, viz: Misses Fredrica McDougall, Marie McCollough, Edna Smith, Elsie Newman, Messrs. Albert Yocom and Fred Newsome. That left thirteen still in revolt.

W.E. Lewis, president of the school board, then went down to the high school building, and ordered that the entire class be allowed to return to school in the afternoon, and this order was complied with. Last evening, the board held a meeting and passed a resolution that every member of the class passing a grade of 75 and delivering their oration, will be allowed to graduate and receive their diploma. Those not passing a grade of 75 will not be allowed to graduate, even through they are willing to deliver their oration. No pupil, even if they pass the required grade, can be compelled to graduate.

The above statements are as near correct as we have been able to get them. The class seem to think they have not been treated altogether fair in this matter, the superintendent and teachers claim they have tried to do what they considered just and right, and the board say they have complied strictly with school law.

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By the following Thursday, the situation had been resolved, according to a report in The Patriot of April 14. The 13 rebels capitulated after the parents of one ordered her to break her oath to her comrades and sign the board's agreement.

The other parents apparently continued to stand behind their children, but it had begun to appear that the situation had gotten out of hand. As a result, the rebels prepared a lengthy letter to the school board outlining their grievances, published in The Patriot, and then agreed to the school board's terms.

That letter was signed by Lester Smith, Corry Walton, Edith Larimer, Carrie Custer, Fay Connell, Maude Smith, Maude Lyman, Frances Culbertson, Porter Smyth, Fred Larimer, Charles Culbertson, Earle Rumble and Dell Stuart.

After that, preparations moved forward for commencement --- spread over two evenings, May 18 and May 19, 1904, filled with orations and performances by the graduates. And all 24 received their diplomas after all.