Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-05
The Appointment Of New School
Trustees Criticised.
Mr.. RICHARDSON'S SELECTION
What Prominent Colored People
Have to Say.
FAVORABLE MENT

The indignation among the colored people
of this city growing out of the appointment
of Rev. Sterling NJ. Brown and George H.
Richardson as members of the board of
school trustees referred to in The Star of
yesterday, continues to grow In intensity
and hints are thrown out that charges of
serious character may be made against
one Of the new appointees.
The action of the colored Baptist min
listers at their conference in Vermont Ave-
nue. Church yesterday afternoon, in con-
demning the appointments, which was
printed exclusively in The Star. was the
subject Of almost universal discussion in
this city last evening and again today, and
it IS understood that the ball which has
been set in motion will be kept growing
until the appointment of Messrs Brown
and Richardson IS either revoked by Com
missioner Ross or those who are endeavor-
ing to accomplish this result are finally de-
feated.
A very prominent colored preacher, who
Is pastor of one of the leading churches of
the race in Washington. today told Star
reporter that objection was felt to Mr..
Brown, because even previous to his APP
pointment he had made pledges as to what
he would do after he secured the place and
That he was using his position to further
the interests of his church.
The same minister said that plot had
been formed among certain colored men of
prominence to have Robert H. Terrell,
whose wife is school trustee, appointed
superintendent of cOlored schools in place
of Prof Cook.
MIR. Richardson's Appointments.
The charges which are made against Mr..
George H. Richardson, one of the newly
appointed trustees, make in their entirety
rather complicated and interesting story.
l. is not known exactly who vas the main
factor in securing this his D.
pointment. 1t has been limited that it was
due to the influence Of Mr.. Hanna. This,
however, does not exactly fit in with some
OF the points of the story.
Mr.. Richardson is clerk in the sixth
auditors office of the Treasury Depart
nent. He was warmly Endorsed by Senator
Hanna for prom otion to a chiefship in that
department.
ton until July "a of this year. On that
fatefu date, fateful at least to MIR. Rich
ardson, the latter gentleman, possibly be-
coming tired of waiting so long for his pro-
motion, or possibly the victim of the evil
Vaccinations of some enemy, appeared at
MIR. Hanna's headquarters in the Glover
building in an exceedingly demoraliZed con-
dition. and SO far forgot himself as TO abuse
Mr. Hanna. the administration. and the en-
tire government. He was ordered out OF
the office. and the same afternoon the
Treasury Department was informed that all
Endorsements of Richardson were with
sons addiction to the use of liquor had
been clearly proven by his condition during
his afternoon call. 1t was Also stated that
the new trustee on that occasion had been
profane and insulting.
Officials of the Treasury Department
thereupon no longer considered the question
of Mr.. Richardson's promotion, but those
high in authority even limited that his dis
missal might be a wise move. Mr.. Rich
ardson, however, escaped dismissal, al
though he was disciplined by the depart
ment. No new move was made in the adj
vancement of the fortunes of Mr.. Richard
son until recently. when Mr.. Ross seems to
have obtained the belief that he was the
right kind of man for trustee of the pub
lie schools. Mr. Hanna's Office in this city
was approached on the subject to find out
whether the proposed trustee was so far
on the blacklist as to make his appoint
ment one which would give personal dis
satisfaction.
Mr.. Ross was informed that Mr.. Rich
ardson had made an explanation of his
conduct, ard that his appointment as
school trustee would be entirely satisfac-
tory, If it was thought best by the Com
missioners TO make such an appointment.
1t may he stated in this connection that a
gentleman closely in touch with Mr.. Hanna
Is authority for the statement that Mr..
Hanna has not and does not intend to in
terfere in any way with District appoint
ments and that he makes no recommends
lions remarks unless requested to do so,
as in the Richardson case.
The Commissioners, it is understood
were informed that Mr.. Richardson had
given pledge TO refrain from all bad haD-
its during his term of service, and he was
thereupon appointed, much to the disgust
as 1t seems, of large class of the colored
citizens of the city.
Some Opinions.
It was suggested by one prominent COZ
ored man, who is not taking any part in
the school trustee fight, that Mr. Richard
son is not eligible as a trustee because he
votes in Ohio. The citizen referred to said
that this question was raised in the case
of Mr.. =. p. Davis, at one time president
of the board of school trustees, and as a
result Mr. Davis rendered his resignation
as president of the board, and also as a
member of the board of education.
Mr.. Thomas Walker. one of the trustees
of the Lincoln Memorial Congregational
Church, said.
Il think 1t was a serious mistake to ap-
point all the colored trustees from one
church, and that the last organized in
the District of Columbia, located in one
extreme end of the city, and besides which
all the coiored members of the board are
from the state of Ohio. Richardson was
born in that state and still votes there
Brown was pastor of church there for
several years, and came to Washington
about seven or eight years ago. Bruce was
property holder in Ohio and married his
wife, who Is a native of that state there
and Mrs. Terrell, 1 think, was also at one
time resident of the city of Cincinnati
l think Commissioner Ross was imposed
On in making the appointments of Mess1s.
Brown and Richardson. I do not believe
that the coIored people of the District of
Columbia have better friend than Com
missioner Ross"
Another prominent colored man said that
Brown was not really identified with the
coiored people of the District; that he never
encouraged any enterprise that had col
ored backing, and that he was in no sense
a representative of the race. Contin uing
he said: 1.-THE ooiored population of the
District of Columbia is peculiarly consti-
tuted and more elements enter into the
whole than will be found in any other city
or state in this country. We have moi only
the upper ten, the middle class and the
lower class, but above the middle class the
so-cal!ed upper ten are divided into many
factions.
These higher elements among the negro
people do not contribute to the efficiency of
church organization, but they do help to
give prestige and standing to the race, and
it is to one of these factions that Mr..
Brown is credited with belonging"
Rev Mr.. Waller,~ rector of st. Luke's
Episcopal Church; Rev. William A. Credit,
pastor of Berean Baptist Church, and other
prominent colored men called at the Dis
trict building today to have conference