The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-09-01
THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER
MISOUOTES Mr.. JOHN E.. RAY.
Jim Young's Full Power.

News Observer, Aug. 25th
The first editorial in this weeks Re
publican organ, the Progressive Farm
ar. contained an article on the manage
rnent of the institution for the Deaf,
Dumb~and Blind which contained
following purported interview with
Prof. John E. Ray, principal OF the
institution
sThe law provides for board. OF
trustees of seven members to manage
the affairs of the Institution. The
institution over which l have the hon.
or to preside as principal is divided In
to SMo 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 IL.
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 be
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 be saw me
at my Office, politely transacted his
business and retired. He never served
on any committee of inspection OF the
N
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
resigned about Juuo LIST, and has not
attended board meeting in three
months. There is not now a colored
representative on the board"
! The above was shown to Mr.. John
E. Ray, principal of the institution,
and he was asked "Did you make
the statements contained in the above
artlcle7'
/ "Mr. jim. Denmark called upon me
| last week and asked me certain ques-
tons which / answered." was the re-
ply.
"Did you say that Jim Young was
selected With the view OF having a
colored representative on the board to
give special attention to the colored de-
partment"
81 did not" said Mr.. Ray. II said
that James H. Young was selected by
the Governor and confirmed by the
Senate. I did not say why he was
do moi
consulted about his appointment and
! I have never been consulted about the
selection Of any member OF the board. :
6 Did you say 1t was Young
"PRIVILEGE to vote on all ques
:, tions?"
81 don't remember exactly wha
word used, whether f'prIvilege" o.
lsome other"
"What are Jim Young's rights OF
the board?"
"rhe same rights that all othe
: members have"
: 'eDid he not have the right as
director to inspect every department Q
the institution"
Legally, he did,
!. "Were you present at the meeting O
the Board when Jim Young, desiring
to break quorum for the transaction
e OF business, called to Tonnoffskl ant
u SAID Come on George?"
4 s'Yes. 1 was there. don't remen
a Der the circumstances. / do not recal
,. the words he used. I simply kno'
that he and Tonnoffski went out an
d their going out broke the quorum an
If the Board adjourned because there wa
Ie no quorum"
% "Did not Jim Young actually max
1t an inspecting tour in the white lnstitr
7. tom"
IS "Not to ny knowledge. The house
n keeper tod me that one day he was !
n the store room in company with Pres
s. dent Meserve, another director. / Wa
t. away from the institution at that TIM
Il The only three times ] recall that b
was on the grounds-except at Boar
IL meetings, were when be came with th
of other members of the Roard to be pre-
e. ent when the new building at tn
Is white institution was staked of,
Or think he was present when the cornt
A stone was laid, and one morning b
at came to see me at my Office in tn
o. white building on some matter of bus
rs ness connected with the institution.
O. ."Did you say that he meyer served Q
o. the Inspecting committee at the wifi
h institution
be 81 said that I did not recall that
Or ever did. That was my language"
ey "What date did Young resign?"
II have his letter. It was betwee
p the first day OF June and the regul
We time for the meeting of the board (
ct the second Monday night in Jun
st There were two vacancies at that'tim
IN Since then two new members ha,
es been appointed: There are now tv
d, vacancies. do not know whether Il
OF successor to Young has been appoint,
~ or not"
...In what part of the building is Il
be corner stone of the new institution
ne the white blind7'
be 's1t is at the south east corner of Il
Mt building"
* Is there not a marble slab frontil
-, the street that will stand forever sho
ing under whose administration t
mt white blind institution was built?"
is, eyes"
lat "What names are chiseled In th
nd marble?"
m &C. T. Bailey, chairman, r. C. RI