Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-07-02
..srnIors coMpllcArloxs.
wnmiugton's ooiored Citizens In an Angr.

r
as ea5f Mood.
The colored people who have been
advocating the appointment OF a male
principal at the Howard School and
raising the standard thereof are angry
attthe action of the Board of Educa-
tion Monday, and serious complica-
tions are threatened.
At recent massmeetlng OF colored
citizens the 'owiDgScommittee was
appointed to impress upon the school
board the necessity for change at the
Howard School; DIR. j. A. Parm,
Presiding Elder Joseph r. Waters,
Bishop B. 4. Ruley, Aabury Sterling,
Asbury q. Sterling, Stansbury y. Muir
rny, William II. Caldwell. Sr., William
M. Winston, William j. Miller, John
VI. kirkman, Isaac w. Howard, James
II. Seeney, A. 7. Brinckley, William
i. Reese, Frederick Price, Lelion Col
Inns, Charles Colbourn, Harlan Roberts,
George B. Benson, Dr.iE. w. Hubert,
Richard ID. Weeks, II. M: Naudains }.
III. Weeks, William Robinson and
Charles Dolly.
The committee has been investigat-
ing matters at thetschool and several
meetings were held, ,Athe result being
made known to the committee on
teachers of the school board Monday
afternoon.
"A reporter of The Gazette Tuesday
morning ran across several memb ers OF
the colored mems committee, who
we're holding conference over the
matter.
7. ''The board has totally ignored the
colored people," one OF them remarked,
and the others gave assent.
sit has refused to grant our request
and no reason has been given for doing
so.
tWe will make final effort 10 have
change made at the next meeting OF
the board. Our committee will before
the next meeting OF the board place in
the hands of the committee on the
Howard School affidayits sustaining
charges Of incompetepcy and conduct
unhecoming "a teacher, which we will
formally prefer ut the next meeting of
the board, two weeks hence. We will
have ample sworn evidence to sustain
the charges, and we will place 1T III
the hands of the, committee before the
meeting in order to give time for in
vestigation by the committee and
members of the board,t should they
desire to investigate. IN
SIR at the next meeting OF the board
we are again ignored. we have another
course. Some OF the people having
children attending the Howard School
will send them to the High School, al
| Eighth and Adams streets, and whether
| they be admitted or not, at the nexi
school election we will put up candi.
dates for the board In every ward IN
the city and will also turn out large
| delegation to vote.
"At present, you know, the law does
not allow us to vote at school elections,
but We contend that we have right Il
vote and if our ballots are refused, we
will take the matter to the courts anG
test the constitutionality Of the law,
\ even il we have to 60 to the Supreme
Court of the United States. We have
already consulted counsel and hav,
been assured that the law denying vi
a vote at school elections 10 unconsti
| tutional.
"We are determined to have say
| aH to who shall teach our children. !
| 1t takes 10 years to do go. We are alst
determined to have our rights as citi
zena. fG
| HWe give Senator John Pyle credit TO
standing by the colored people OF ou
city,. 4.
| ~ have been informed. I" remarked
another, ''that two members Of tn
board, only one Of whom was mem
ber Of the committee, made the aat
as far as the Howard School is con
cerned, before the committee met ol
Monday afternoon. ~. hess
~ also understand that remarl
was made at the board last night Il
the effect that some teachers are con
tinued on the score of friendship. w
don't want any of this at the Howar,
School"
| A member Of the School Board wa
surprised Tuesday morning to learn tn
feeling of tho colored people, but b
was unable to say what action tn
board will take. He gave assurance
however, that any charges which ma
be made will be investigated carefully