The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-11
A GRANGE FOR The Blind
Open Letter to the District Commits
sieners by T. Z. Cleaveland
Exceptions to the Attitude of Those
in Authority on the Curtis Bill
pIimentcd - The Need for High
err Education for the sightiess.

Ia an open letter to the District COM
missioners f. f. Cleaveiand, President of
the American Association of the Blind,
takes exceptions TO the adverse recon-
mendations of the board on House bill No.
4347, known as the Curtis bill for the
higher education of the blind.
Mr.. Cleaveland states that his attention
has been called to letter written by the
Superintendent OF Charities and published
in a local paper. and says he is much
gratihed to note the progress Mr.. Lewis
has made toward grasping the correct
idea OF the position taken by intelligent
blind people who from years Of contact
with the world have been able TO bring
10 thoughtful consideration OF the prob
lens presented TO the sightless, knowI-
edge born of experience
Mr.. Cleeveland quotes from the pub
lished letter referred to the following ex-
tract: blind persons of the better class
are everywhere clamoring for the carrec-
tion OF the exaggerated notion of their
helplessness. They are not asking for
charity. What they want is fair recog-
milton of their abilities and a chance to
work out their own Independence" Re-
Ceiling du WIN INT GultA AZ
tendent of Charities. in which Mr.. Cleave-
land disavowed all knowledge of the au-
thorship OF the Curtis bill. he goes on to
say: Il recall that at this interview he
and | discussed the measures proposed
by The bill and that | stated IL TO be my
Judgment that the bill asked for too much.
and that | feared by so doing its adyo-
Gates would defeat the very object it was
intended to further. The Superintendent
of Charities assured me at the time that
such WAS the impression he had formed
but that he would give the subject careful
consideration and would endeavor to OBJ
tain information from every source that
would throw light upon the problems in
Yolved
MIR. Lewis Conclusions.
Il have waited with considerable anX
iety for his conclusions. The reason for
this anxiety Will be apparent when / state
that I knew he would find a wide differ
ence existing between the opinions of
sighted persons holding positions which
give color TO their claims TO be authority
on the subject and the opinions enter
tanned by the educated and successful
blind.
1T is. therefore. with much qualification
that note the language employed by him
In the communication above cited. and
that after having given the subject care
ful study. and having read the theories
and opinions of sighted persons claiming
TO be authority OF the subject, he has been
able to grasp so correct an idea of the
real needs Of the adult blind. ! specify
the adult blind because the institutions
now existing for the education OF blind
children. so far as the scope of their work
extends, are accomplishing excellent re-
suits. II Is. therefore, with the adult blind
and their chances In life that we have TO
deal, and in whal follows. l. as their ad-
vocate. desire TO submit To the Commits
sioners OF the District OF Columbia the
principal reasons why | believe the Efforts
OF the American Association to Promote