The evening times., 1897-11-11
.FAVOR|T|sM IS CHARGED
Protest Against Music Teachers
in COlOred Schools.
COMMISSIONERS WAITED UPON
Competition Narrowed So as To Ex-
Clude Outs.ders-The Point Made
That the Best Men Available Are
Not selected as Trustees - Matter
Taken Under Consideration.

At II O'Clock this morning Il committee
of white anu co)ored citizens called OH
the District Commissioners, To protest
against the action of certain colored uem-
bers of the tyard of public school trustees.
They were Messrs. Chaplin Brown, John
+. Cook, John II. Cook, Mrs. Anna Murray,
W. :. HGggin, William N. Cook and Henry
M. Earle. Letters from Paul Dunbar, DR..
C. V. PCrvis, Prof Charles Cook, OF How
ard University, and Daniel Murray were
presented indorsing their petition.
Ii was alleged, among other things, that
the present colored school committee Is
using It's authority to place fayorites IN pO-
sitions ~ school teachers.
Tne matter leaGing up 10 this formal
protest discloses interesting church and
school history, wherein the system Of
IA wheel within wheel H. eXempllfied
For rome months the storm OF diSsatis
faction at'Ong patrons OftheCnlDred schools
with the management has been brewing,
but not until today has the cloud burst,
nor any definite protest been filed.
Early ia September, the board Of public
school trustees, at the instance Of Or.
Shadd, the then trustee, passed resolu-
tion providing that the position as director
Of music in the colOred schools should bc
filed by the successful contestant in
public competitive eXamina ton. 10 te held
before certain musical experts designa ted
by the trdStecy. Subsequently, Or Shadd
was removed. The pastor of the Park
Temple Church (cOlOredJ was appointed
trustee in place OF DR.. Sbadd.
AT the very first meeting at which the
new trustee was present, h. signalized
his appearance by offering a re'Olution
providing that the competition for posi-
ton as musical director be confined TO
those PcrS.ns who were already III this
s.r' ice. thus making practically sure the
selection OF Mrs. Alice Dsvis foT this honor.
II should tc stated Ia explanation that
Mrs. Alice DAVIS is the vOlugtary OrgauIst
"f the ncS trustees church, ana still
further. that two Of the memrers ur the
heard of trustees. prior TO the removal Of
Dr. ) hadd, are members of the ParS Tenn
pie Church. In fact, the pastor and
orsanist and members Of Park Tempk
Church We're controlling the musical, If
not All departments, IN the colOred public
schools. Hence, the protest of this Joint
CO,Iirittee tJda Y.
II is admitted that MIS-. Alice Davis
is better qualified than the other cum
pOBents of the musical corps. still there
are several other outside candidates 81
undOuhte ed ability and marked skill against
WHOM she could not 50 easily contend
This explains the resolution C,nfining the
examination fCr director of
music to those hCw in the service
very prominent white trustee. speak
ing Of this matter said that FROM his
intercourse with tie Cul1Ted trustees he
was led to believe that they did not seek
to secure for THEN SChGols the beS: talent
obtains hlc, but were much more inter
eSted IN promoting the interests Of indi-
vidu2is, aud that every suggestion loOk
ing to the betterment OF the cClored
schools, ofleIed on the part Of the white
trustees, seemed TO he regarded with
diSiavur and was indignantly refused
An effort snould be made, il - said, i'm
the interest Df all to ypa yers To see that the
money provided for the schools ia every
department i expended with a view uf
securing for the children, who are limited
in their opportunities for an education, the
very hest help that the money so ap-
can supply.
The real difficulty as regards the matter
Of the coloIed schools, It is said, lies in
the fact tl.at the Test men available are
not invited to become public school trus-
tees here. There are quite number OF
coIored ineu N no are intelligent honorable
and progressive citizens. who are tax
pa ver.,. and stand wen in the community.
whJ, II the appointment as school trustee
were offered them, would not refuse. but
they are men who value their >,.lf-respect
and dignity too highly to seek or canvass
for such an appointment. Thus, Ii is
staten, the matter resolves itself into the |
simple proposition that the District Com |
misSionerS do not take sufficient pains to
select the hest and most representative col !
pIed men as trustees on the public school |
board.
A prominent colored man, speaking on |
his subieCt, stated to a Times reporter |
hat OF account of the fact that the col |
,rcd schools il, Washington did not afford |
he proper and most thorough instruction |
fOr his children he had been compelled to |
,end his two sons away from home To Sc |
'urp this very training for which there was |
3 full and sufficient appropriation If il |
were properly distributed. One son is |
tudYing music at Otcr1in, and the other /
s attending Cambridge University.
The delegation asked that the matter |
bn investigated by the entire school board |
Mr. Ross, in reply, stated that he Tnade |
a rule to interfere as little as possible |
n public school affairs, but that he would |
-efer their petition to President WhelD
ey, of the school board