The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-08-23
INSTITUTION FOR THR DEAF
DUMB AND BLIND AND ITS
MANAGEMENT.

As the News and Observer and some
of the lesser lights of the same politi
cal faith have been making desperate
efforts Of late to bring the Institution
for the Deaf Dumb and Blind into dis
grace, g representative Of THE Pro-
GREssIvE FARMER called on Mr.. John
E. Ray, the Principal, toget the facts
in the case. We need not introduce
Mr.. Ray to our readers. He is we'll
known throughout the State. For
years he was SecretsFy Of the Boards
of the Baptist State Convention. He
vas at one time partner with Col. Polk
in ownership and management of The
PROGRESSIVE FARMER. He is, and al
ways has been a Democrat.
Mr.. Ray says: The law provides
for a board of trustees Of seven mem
bers to manage the affairs of the Insti
stitution. TIE institution over which
I have the honor to preside as Prin-
cipal, 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 h. Young Was selected
with the view of having a colored rep
resentative on the Board to give special
attention to the colored department.
Young was confirmed with the others.
OF course he met with the Board, and
it was his privilege to vote on all ques
tions. He generally voted with his
party friends, other wise he avoided in
reference with the management Of the
white department. He never came
there, except to attend Board meetings,
more than two or three times. Then
he saw me at my Chce, politely trans
acted 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 thai would
in the least embarrass any lady. He
has always been respectful to me, both
in my Chsial and personal dealings
with him. He resigned about June
lat, and has not attended a Board
meeting in three months. There is not
To- a colored representative on the
Board"
It ia needless to say that Mr.. Ray is
mortified and disguised at the IF ort
which is being made to damage the In
stitution which closed, last spring, the
most prosperous year OF its existence.
1t was but right and proper that on
this board of seven trustees, which mas
the contro OF the colored as well as
the white deaf and dumb and blind,
that the colored people should have
one representative, and we do not hesl
tate I'd say that if n negro al con
troll six white men, then the Six white
men deserve no sympathy. nor any
place on n board. Mr.. Ray Is not
ONLY the Principal Of the Instltutlon'
both departments, but is also Secretary
exL fi:io of the Board Of Directors,
hence after Dis all meetings and knows
whereof he SPEAKS.
Mr.. Ray would not tolerate for a
momen even a suggestion that any
n man, alone, should visit and In
spect the quarters of the ladies EN-
ploved in the institution, no ma'ter
what his color, character, or reputa
ton. Hence, to him, to the ladlss'
and to every friend Ct the u~nfortunate''
for whom the Institution was estao
Iished: the cartoons with their vulgar
suggestions and the p~remeditated, de
liberate. wilful and malicious and
~slanderous lies which acc 0mpany them
should forfeit the respect OF honest
people for the perpetrators n drive
their filthy sheet from the homes OF
5ooopt aeIf respectiug people.