National Republican., 1876-08-15
PARENTS AND TAXPAYERS SPEAK


present, and among them the men who have
been most prominently identified with the
welfare of South Washington. The meeting
was as enthusiastic as it was large, and all
Joined in a hearty denunciation of Trustee
Champlin, to characterize whom some of the
strongest adjectives in the English language
were brought into use.
The indignation extended beyond Mr..
Champlin to other members of the board who
had voted for Mr. ThompsOns removal, and
especially TO General Hovey, who came in for
almost as large a slice of Opprobrium as Mr..
Champlin. There was general expression of a
desire for a reorganization of the board, in
order to secure trustees who more directly
Represented the people and who would consult
their wishes.
The meeting was not opened until some time
after the hour appointed, as the gas had been
turned OF and the metre so manipulated that
it was utterly impossible to obtain light. The
Champlin faction were accused of having
caused this in order to throw an obstacle 10
the way of successful meeting. Candles
were procured, and by their dim light it was
vowed to support Mr.. Thompson and do all
possible to have Mr.. Champlin ousted.
THE MEETING
was called to order by Mr.. G. B. Clarke, who
read the call for the meeting.
Mr.. J. E. Holmead was nominated aud
unanimously elected permanent president of
the meeting. Mr.. Holmead made few re-
marks in opening the meeting, which were
warm in the support of John <. Thompson,
and denounced Mr. Champlin's actions as in
spired by petty malice.
Mr.. Thomas B. Kalbfus was elected secre-
tary of the meeting, and spoke briefly, urging
that some expression of sentiment should be
adopted.
On motion of Mr.. J. Stephenson, commit
tee TO draft resolutions was appointed, as fol-
and Samuel Gedney.
Mr.. Stephenson read a letter from DIR.
James F. Morgan, regretting that he was un-
able TO attend the meeting, and expressing
himself heartily in sympathy with the objects
of the meeting, saying that the right of the
people to judge of the qualifications of public
educator had been denied them by the Board
of Trustees.
Ex-Trustee W. W. Ashdown was invited to
speak, aud made remarks, which were well
received, concerning the great work which had
teen done by Mr.. John E. Thompson in estab-
fishing the schools Of the District on their
present basis.
KEsOLJ TIUN-.
The committee on resolutions reported the
following:
Whereas by the recent action of the Board
of Trustees of the Public Schools in removing
Mr.. John z. Thompson from his position as
supervising principal of the schools of this
District serious in jury has been inflicted upon
the cause of public education in this city: and
whereas we parents and guardians of the
Fourth school district who are most deeply in
terested in whatever affects the organization
and morale of the schools in which our chill
dren receive the mental culture and training
which are to fit them for the duties and self
responsibilities of after life believe it incum
bent upon US to express in some manner our
views upon the action Of those officials by
whose acts our children have been deprived of
the experience and capacity of teacher who
has, by long and honorable service, proved
himself especially fitted in mind and morals
for the responsible duties of public educator
and supervising principal of our school district:
therefore be it
ResOIred, That we do hereby emphatically
condemn the removal of Mr.. John E. Thomp-
son, and most especially do we condemn the
unscrupulous means by which such removal
was effected.
ReSoIr,d, That we fully approve and indorse
the report OF Trustees Lloyd ard Moffatt, the
minority on the committee on teachers, and
especially the statement referring to the late
supervising principal, Mr.: John f. Thompson:
that the confidence SO long reposed in him has
not been shaken. and that TO remove him would
not only be to disre. ard the wishes of those
most interested. bit would be blow at the
confidence of tie public IN the manag cement of
our schools.
Rooued, That the thanks Of this meeting
ere due, and are hereby rendered, 10 Mr.. Ben.
+. LLOYD for his Jealous though iDafrctual
efforts to promote the educational interests of
our school district and to secure fair investi-
tbation, aru we hereby heartily inlorse and
approve his aetiof
ReSolrtd, That we Hereby tender our thanks
to Trustees Moffatt, Ryder, Reyburn AMI
johnson for their determined stand in defense
of the light and of the bes: interests Of our
schools.
Px.o3,,7 TIL AZ tho y ,-rD> Al l IEtr-prr,. ~
EVcnimq Star, Daily Ghronicle, Washington
Journal, Tie Capital, Sunday Herald, ForncyS
Chronicle, Sunday GGzoite and WdSLiitgtom Sen
t;,.eI, by opposing the action of the school
board, has earned, and We hereby tender, our
thanks.
Resolred, That Trustee Champiin. by his un-
deserved opposition, merits the censure and
reprobation of the residents of the Fourth
school district, manilesting by his utt.stnS a
total unfitness for the position he occupies, in
having so outraged our feelings and wishes,
and we do respectfully ask his immediate re
moval.
Resolred, That Trustee Hovey, while men,
Der of the investigation committee, and bound
by his oath of office to judge impartially,
voluntarily assumed the position of prosecut-
ing attorney, and by the spirit he manifested
and the course he pursued proved himself unit
for the position he occupies.
Resolved, That a committee Of - be ap-
pointed to lay the action of this meeting before
the honorable Commissioners of the Dis; riot
of Columbia, with copy of these resolutions
and that they be directed to request early
action.
The resolutions were unanimously adopted.
Mr.. Henry Barron thought that it would be
well to have the fact brought to the attention
of the Commissioners that Trustee Champlin
narrowly escaped being ousted once before
for making vile attack Oh q mem1er OF tle
board.
r
twenty-five be appointed to present the reso-
lutions to the Commissioners.
John T. Given, esq, WAS present, and was
invited to address the meeting. He responded
by speech which fully reflected the spirit of
the meeting, in urging the reorganization of
the school board.
The following, offered by Mr. Geo. Wright,
was adopted:
REORGANIZATION.
Resolyed, That in the opinion of this meet
ing the Commissioners of the District would
promote the interests of the schools by reUr
ganizilg the board Of trustees.
Mr.. KaIbfus offered the following, which
was adopted
Resotged, That it is the sense of this meeting
that Mr.. W. j. Stephenson would make a val
liable and efficient representative of this dis
trict in the councils OF the school board, fitted
as he is by experience and capacity for a
proper discharge of the duties thereof.
THE COMMITTEE.
The chairman announced the committee to
wait upon the District Commissioners as fol-
lows: George White, Samuel Gedney, L. w.
Wright, Samuel PumPhrey, George B. Clarke,
Henry Lee, Dr.. c. P. Culver, A. H. Stephen
son, Thomas B. Kalbfus, W. W. Ashdown,
W. H. Fletcher, W. H. Butler, L. F. Clements.
A. Archer, DR.. }. R. Riley, H. Fisher, ].
Colclaizer, j. F. Havenner, F. G. Wheeler,
W. H: Wright, S: H: Wimsatt, w A. Fen,
wick, W. H. Crook, A. McKincher, Thomas
X. Gray, Robert Mahorney and John T. Cas-
sell.
motion was carried that Mr.. John T Given
be invited to accompany the committee before
the Commissioners. The meeting was then
adjourned.
The committee will wait upon the District
Commissioners this morning.
The School Question in Congress
Mr.. Willis, of New York, yesterday offered
the following preamble and resolutions in the
House, and they were REFEREED to the Commit
To- the District of