The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-11

"CHARLES MCNAMARA.
! 'R. G.. RIVERS.
| "Has either one of these men ever done
ANYTHING to show that they were quail
| fed to have charge of the education OF
| tbe blind children of both races, and the
| deaf and dumb children of the negro
| race?
IF YOU had to pick out four men to
| select instructors for the deaf, dumb ana
| blind children of the State, and had the
| whole State to choose from. do you think
| it possible you would select either OF
| these men?
More than that: If. in addition TO
| selecting teachers for these children to
whom the State owes special duty, the
| men chosen had the management of
| a large sum of your money, do you THINK.
after looking over the three hundred
thousand voters in North Carolina, you
would select these four men!
"What have these men done in life
to entitle them to be entrusted with such
delicate responsibilities? Have they sue
ceeded in doing anything in any line 10
show their fitness? Are their names
Connected with any deeds of charity, any
missions of mercy. any business of such
character as to fit them to be the stew
ards of high trust?
''Those of them who are known mt all.
are known as ward politicians whose
highest idea of public service is to get
something out of it for themselves or
their kin. The others are mere puppets.
voting as Jim Young directs them to
vote. either not knowing their duties or
not caring to take the trouble to perform
them.
''These four mems votes control the
destiny of the State white institution
for the blind and the colored institution
for the deaf. dumb and the blind. There
isn't lady teacher in the blind insti-
tuition who cannot be removed ut their
will There isn't dollar that is not
to he spent as they decree.
at is even worse than that: While
it takes four votes to control the Board.
one man-and he the negro politician.
Jim Young-is its dictator as absolutely
as Quay is the dictator of the Republi-
can machine in Pennsylvania. He cracks
the whip. and his three automatons
make the motions as he directs.
Here we have. in this year Of grace.
1897. in the city of Raleigh. n negro
politician who is master not only of the
three white men who do his bidding
at the crack of his whip, but who di-
reefs the policy of the States institu
ton for the education of the deaf, dumb
and blind.
How do you like such white slavery
to Il negro master in Raleigh? Can you
contemplate the picture without indig-
nation. particularly when the institution
is run extravagantly and in some in
stances by incompetent and unworthy
men? If so, Won are not the kind of
Anglo-Saxon who has made the race il
lustrious throughout all the past.
There are seven directors of these
two institutionS-one for the white blind
and one for the colored deaf. dumb and
blind. The men who manage the negro
institution manage the white one. The
superintendent of both is Prof. John f.
Ray, capable and experienced man. n
native of Wake county. who has had
large experience in Kentucky and Colo
RADIO. He has no power to elect any ,of
his assistants. but must take such as
Jim Young gives him. He takes them
and does the best he can with them
His recommendations are needed when
ever no political advantage can be made
by ignoring them and then they are
ruthessly ridden over or ignored.
nation of Prof. Meserye. He is a Re
publican President of negro college.
lie accepted a place on the board to help
keep it efficient. He was forced to re-
sign because, as he said:
Il cannot conscientiouslv. with self |
respect and conscientious desire to do
my duty. remain in position where +
must share responsibility. when a ma
1ority of the Board has adopted a line
OF policy which, in my judgment as to
how the institution should be managed.
is positively detrimental to the highest
good of both the institution and the
State. Individual efficiency and
high moral character. rather than politi-
cal pull can alone subserye the highest
interests Of the public service"
The committee on education of the
Board is composed Of Jim Young. Geo
Tonnoffski and Chas. Mcnamara If this
was not so serious. it would be the fun
NEST joke perpetrated in this century,
MIR. J. A. Briggs has been member
of the Board twelve years, and has done
great service as chairman of the exec
utive committee. The gang now in |
charge turned him down to put George
Tonnoffski in his place. The story of |
the difference in management could not |
be better told to those who know the
two men.
1T is not our purpose today to re-
view the June meeting when Mr.. w. III. |
Rand, capable and efficient steward. |
was removed to make place for j. Row
an Rogers, who had defaulted as the
Republican sheriff of Wake county,"
THE recent meeting of the Board eth
er passed Il resolution. or entered an
order, or something like it. excusing
Rev. Joseph Perry from teaching in the
institution. The Reverend Joseph is |
the political parson recently elected Su-
pervisor of the colored department over
Il competent colored man named Patillo.
AT the time of his election, this paper
said he was unfit for the place. Were we
right? The action of the Board excusing
him from teaching, proves it,
Let us see what Perry costs the State.
lie gets $50 q month and keep" 1t is
the same salary Prof. Pegues received
but Prof. Pegues had classes and taught