Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-04
Colorsd Gtiasns Object to the New
Trustees.
ILL fS0E 0sEG,HI RCH
Baptist Ministers Make a vieor-
Gus Attack 80.
oU SIDE OPINIONS


trict of Columbia, at a conference held
this afternoon at the Vermont Avenue
Baptist Church, Rev. D. George w. Lee,
pastor. adopted protest against the ap--
pointment Of Rev. Sterling NJ. Brown and
George H Richardson as school trustees.
The meeting was enc of the largest ever
held since the organisation Of the confer
ence. nearly every member being present
Rev. 8. Miller, president, occupied the
chair, and Rev. J. I. Loving was secretary.
After the transaction Of various matters
of routine, Prof William NJ. Cook of How
ard University was introduced. In accord
ance with the custom in such cases, Prof.
Cook made short speech. in the course OF
which he referred to the appointment of
Rev. Mr., Brown and Mr.. George, H Rich
ardson as members Of the school board.
The appointments were criticised severely
as having been made by two men and in
the interest of one small church.
II do not ask you to do anything" said
Mr.. Cook; II do not know what you can
do. but can inform you that charges can
be made and proven against both Messrs.
Brown and Richardson.
Rev. w. Bishop. Johnson said that in
order to bring the matter before the con-
ference he would offer a resolution that
the conference indorse the appointment
OF Messrs. Brown and Richardson to be
school trustees Of the District of Columbia
A member asked that the resolution. be
considered in executive session.
Rev. George w: Lee. d. D., said, IT am
opposed to holding an executive meeting of
the conference ON this subject, and wish
we could have a meeting of the whole
people of the United States of America in
reference to it."
Rev. ]. I. Loving said, I'VE want to speak
out and be heard. There is no need for
an executive session. We want the whole
world to hear what We say here today"
Were Ignored.
Rev. DIR. Anderson Taylor, pastor Of
Shiloh CHURCH, said: II aH-;hot willing to
place myself on record as either favoring
the appointments of Messrs. Brown and
Richardson or the way the appointments
we're made. They do not reflect the desire
of the people interested.
Il believe If the sober, sensible citizens
OF color whose children attend the public
schools could be assembled in mass meet
ing there would be opefthird of them Xho,
would oppose Commissioner Ross selection
Men were asked for who would have re-
nected credit on pMr people, but they were
ignored, and we have been given people who
were Endorsed by-only one or two gentle
men.
To-day we. have the beautiful spectacle
of three trustees, of the public schools. be-
longing to one church, while the wife and
daughter of''anot4Yer are also members OF
the same church, 1t is an outrage. 27T'z %
when maHths ago some or us were try
ing. to strike, at the root of. the trouble OF
which We complained, said We Nehld
never get better gchools while the present
Commissi6her was in Charge -
There are onGaor- two men and few
women whoI eontHol the negro educational
facilities of sthe, District OF Columbia. The
trouble with us is, that there are too many
who are ready to- trade each other off for
little favor to ourselves. You might as
r. tlf
change in the, manasement of the public
schools under Mt, Ross 8 ....l
What are the facts? Petitions were pre-
sented tof Mr!n Ross signed by 10000 per-
sons, asking fpr certain Appointments to
membership I'M the board of public school
trustees. These were all turned down, and
petition Signed by fifteen individuals Sc
cured the appointment OF two members of
the board. What are you goirfg to do about
u?" "a :, '.'7l-='
Rev Hugh t. Stevenson of Anacostia,
who occupied a seat III the church. re-
sponded; Nothing, nothing =, Resuning.
YES. we will do something. We will call
public attention to the matter. If we are
to accomplish anything for the good of our
race we must get together like men,
49,. r.. Rev. Lees Opinion. 49,
Rev George ". Lee-"We have been
asked what we can do about these appoint
ments, and the response. has been Moth
ing!' We can show one thing. at least.
which Is that we are opposed to them.
Sometimes thereoiis more honor in defeat
than In victory, and that IS the case in
the present 'fiist afce. l have been told and
now believe i, that the more influence
you bring t6 bear on the District Commits
sioners the less likely is the, candidate you
favor to" be successful do not know
who asked the appointment of Messrs.
| Brown and Richardson, but assume that
they were at least asked for by the little
fifteen-member church. If any one thinks
that Richardson Is a man who will do his
duty under all circumstances his mind
might as well be disabuSed on the subject.
am confident that If the wife and daugh-
ter of a certain member of the beard ask
ed for the head of John the Baptist, King
Richardson will give it to them. Already
intrigues are being made, growing out of
these appointments 80
II think it very strange that as many
petitions as have gone to Mr. Ross in
evor of other candidates he should have.
ignored them all. Mr.. Ross has hurled
back at me scriptural quotation, None
OF these things move me- Why that
church that has furnished these appoint-
ments Is not even self-supporting."
|. A voice at this juncture responded, Eyes,
it is: 1t Is supporting Bruce"
|; DR.. Lee paused for a moment, and then
said: THAT may not also be SO. If Mr.
Ross selected Messrs. Brown and Richard
son as school trustees simply because
he believed them to be good men, think
the time has come to expect that the mil
lehnihrns may he looked for at the Temple