The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-10
PLEAS fOR FAlRBRCqHER
Residents of the Fourth School Di-
vision in Mass Meeting.
They Resolve That the board of Ed
Former Supervising rr:ncipal-A
Committee OF Fifteen Appointed
to Ask for His Refnstntement.

The friends of Isaac Fairbrother to the
number of about 200 assembled last night
in the Fifth Baptist Church, u and Four
end-a-half Streets southwest, to protest
against the action of the Board of Educa-
tion in failing to reapDoint him to his
former position of supervising principal
of the public schools of the Fourth division
of the District of Columbia. On the motion
of DR.. ID. II. Hazen. ex-trustee of the pub
lie schools, DR.. Miliard f. Thompson was
elected chairman of the meeting Goodwin
At-Lee was selected to act as secretary.
DR.. Thompson addressed the meeting and
explained the reasons for which 1t had
been called. He said in part.
This meeting has been called solely in
the interests of Mr.. Fairbrother to pro-
test against the action of the Board Of
Education in falling to reappoint him as
the supervising principal of the Fourth
division of public schools and TO urge the
reconsideration of that action. We learn
from the newspapers that Mr.. Fairbrother
is no longer the incumbent of his former
position. This, we believe, is due to the
fact that this section has not. for the first
time in the history of the District, rep
resentative on the board.
This meeting has not been called at the
instigation of Mr.. Fairbrother and he knew
nothing of its being called until today. For
the last twenty years hc has been an in
structor in this division, and those who
know him best are his pupils. who will be
given an opportunity later to speak OF the
regard in which they hold him. This meet
ing will conine itself to protest against
the action Of the board in failing to reap
point Mr.. Fairbrother. the expression of
our disapproval. and request to the
board to reconsider its action
AT the conclusion of the chairmans re-
marks he requested Chaplin Brown to adj
dress the meeting. Mr.. Brown explained
that although he came from another part
of the city he was interested in the pub
lie schools Of the entire District. Con-
tinuing. he said in part: Il have known
Mr.. Fairbrother ever since 1 can remem-
ber. / came from the same town as he
did, and know of him always as a capable
man. l think that the board will do we'll
TO reconsider the decision which it made
in this matter" Speaking of meeting OF
the Mount Pleasant Citizens Association.
in which the manner of the appointment
of the members Of the Board OF Education
was discussed, he said: 1T was the SEN
tiInent of the association that the President
Of the United States had about as much
right to appoint the members Of the Board
of Education in the city Of Washington as
he had In any other city of the Union. 1t
is a question Of home rule. and In accord
with this principle only the Commission
eers Of the District have a right TO make
such appointments. The question of homo
rule is involved in the case of Mr.. Fair
brother. The Board of Education should
appoint the man in this division whonA
the people OF this division want. That
this has not been done is shown by THIS
meeting. The board has made mistake.
/ advise that the resolutions to be adopted
set forth that IT is the sense of this meet
ing that the board has made a mistake,
and has interfered with the rights and
wishes of this locality, and that they be
requested to reconsider their decision. 1t
will be time enough to protest our In
dignation if this be not done. To have re-
moved Mr. Fairbrother without investiga-
ton was a mistake: to have removed him
without charge was wrong"
Other speakers were DR.. C. c. Meader.
Dr. D. II. Hazen, Fritz Ely. and num-
ber of the former pupils of the District
schools. The following resolutions were
adopted as the sense of the meeting:
whereas at a meeting of the Board of Educa-
ton helo July 7, 1900. Supervising Principal
Isaac Fairbro;her. of the Fourth division was re-
moved from Office; therefore be it
Resolved, That we. citizens and patrons of the
said division. do hereby express our deep regret,
and respectfully deplore this action; and be it
Resolved. That in entering protest We do
it with the interest OF our division at heart; and
be it further
Resolved, That we hereby endorse Mr., Fair
brother, who has been identified with the schools
of our division for the past twenty-four years.
during which time he has proven himself to be
an earnest, conscientious, and inte!ligen: worker
for the advancement of our schools. and that his
continuance in Office is the desire OF the meet
ing; and be it also
Resolved, That a committee OF fifteen, appoint
ed by the president, shall be directed to present
these resolutions to the Board of Education with
an earnest request that Mr. Farbrother be rein
stated.
The President appointed the following to
act on the committee. who will appear
before the Board Of Education at the meet
ing which will be held this morning at
10 o'clock at the Franklin School, X and
Thirteenth Street northwest: DIR. Millard
f. Thompson. chairman; r. A. Walker
DR.. ID. II. Hazen, DR.. E. ID. Perkins. DIR
Green, Goodwin At-Lee, DR.. Harrison
Crooke, Joseph Bailey, Charles Schafer
w. II. Fletcher. DR.. C. C. Meader, Mr.
Clay, l.. King, DR.. II. r. A. Lemon, W.
H. Baum. A. ]. Butt, James F. Scaggs.
Thomas Stevenson W. A. Church, Dennis
Kerr. F. p. Reside. f. S. McCann. c. NJ
Heller H. A. Zundt, Mrs. Martin. Dr.
Greed Childs. B. o. Billingsly, Edwin