The semi-weekly messenger., 1898-08-30
Jim Young Over School
for White Blind.
He IS IN FULL POWER.
The Progressive Farmer MisquOtes
Professor Ray-White Lady Teachers
Under supervision OF Young and His
( TOOls-with Professor Meserve This
Negro Makes an Inspection Tour of
the Institute for the W hite Blind.
Raleiqh News and Observer)

Inc nr5t eQltOrlal IN TINS week g
republican organ, The Progressive
Farmer, contained an article on the
management of the institution for the
deaf, dumb and blind which contained
the following purported interview with
Professor John Z. Ray, principal of
the institutions:
The law provides for board of
trustees of seven members to manage
the affairs of the institution. The in
stitution over which 1 have the honor
to preside as principal is divided into
two departments, white and colOred.
These departments are in separate
buildings, on opposite sides of the city
Of Raleigh, nearly a mile apart. In
selecting the board of trustees to be
confirmed in March, 1897 James II.
Young was selected with the view Of
having a cOlOred representative on the
board to give special attention to the
COlOred department. Young was con-
firmed with the others. OF course he
met with the board, and it was his
privilege to vote on all questions. He
generally voted with his party friends,
otherwise he avoided interference with
the management of the white depart
ment. He never came there except to
attend the board meetings, more than
two or three times. Then he saw me
at my office, politely transacted his
business and retired. He never served
on any committee of inspection Of the
white department. To me he seemed
to studiOusly avoid doing or saying
anything that would in the least en-
barrass any lady He has always been
respectful to me, both in my official
and personal dealings with him. He re-
signed about June 1st, and has not at
tended a board meeting in three
months. There is not now colored
representative on the board
The above was shown to Mr.. John
f. Ray principal of the institution,
and he was asked: Did you make the
statements contained in the above ar
ticle?"
Mr. Jim Denmark called upon me
last week and asked me certain ques-
tons which l answered" was the re-
ply.
Did you say that jim Young was
selected with the view of having a
coIored representative on the board to
give special attention to the cOlored
departments
Il did not" said Mr.. Ray. II said
that James II. Young was selected by
the governor and confirmed by the SEN
ate. | did not say why he was select
ed l do not know. l was not con-
suited about his appointment and l
have never been consulted about the
selection of any member of the board
Did you say it was Young's privi-
lcge t OvOte on all questions?'
II don't remember exactly what
word l used, whether privilege or
some other"
What are jim Young's rights on the
board?"
THE same rights that all other
members have"
Did he not have the right as a di
rector to inspect every department of
the institution"
Legally, he diG.'
Were you present at the meeting of
the board when Jim Young, desiring to
break a quorum for the transaction of
business called to Tonnoffski and said
Come on George"
Yes. l was there. I don't remember
the circumstances. l do not recall the
words he used. / simply know that he
and TOnnOffski went out and their
going out broke the quorum and the
board adjourned because there was no
quorum"
Did not Jim Young actually make
an inspecting tour III the white insti-
tution?"
Not to my knowledge. The house
keeper told me that one day he was
in the store room in company with
President Meserve, another director. 1
was away from the institution at that
time. The only three times I recall
that he was on the grOunds-except at
board meetings, were when he came
with the other members of the board
to be present when the new building
at the white institution was staked off,
| think he was present when the cor
ner stone was laid, and one morning he
came to See me at my office in the
white building on some matter of bus
mess connected with the institution"
Did you say that he never served
on the inspecting committee at the
white institutions"
L said that l did not recall that he
ever did. That was my language"
What date did Young resign?"
Il have his letter. 1t was between the
first day of June and the regular time
for the meeting of the board on the
second Monday night in June. There
were two vacancies at that time. Since
then two new members have been ap-
pointed. There are now two vacancies.
l do not know whether the successor
to Young has been appointed or not.
In what part of the building is the
corner stone of the new institution for
the white blind?"
1T is at the southeast corner of the
building"
Is there not marble slab fronting
the street that will stand forever
showing under whose administration
the white blind institution was built?'
Yes"
What names are chiseled in that
marble?"
&C. T. Bailey, chairman; r. c. Riv-
ers, Chas. L. Mcnamara, James H
Young, (cOl), and Geo. L. Tonnoffski-
TOnnoffski's name coming after
Of %I1A
cipal, architect and contractor appear
On the other side are the names OF
the members of the state board of ed
ucatiOn."
Young usually attended the board
meetings?'
Yes"
Where were they held?"
I'm my office"
Where did Jim seat?'
Jim Young took his seat at tbs