The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-04

it is unhealthful. We have found these
statements to be untrue. The street is
high and the school grounds are three
or four feet higher than the street. 1t
is as slightly a location for a school as
any in Topeka. There is no ground for
complaint on the grounds nor the
healthfulness of the location.
These people have refused to send
their children to that school and give
no other reasons. They are in state OF
rebellion and we must get out of it. We
have no communications to make them
and none to receive from them until
they send their children quietly to that
school. Until they put themselves out
of open rebellion we can not encourage
them.
Il saw that there might be a compro-
mise effected if some children in the
sixth grade would be sent to the Low
man Hill school, continued Mr.. Wilder
referring to the exclusive story printed
in the State Journal to the effect that
the compromise was under conSidera
ton of some members of the board.
1T was stated that if this was done
the others would go to the Douglass
school l was mortified to think that
for a minute that might be considered
in connection with this question. We
have no right to consider anything in
the interests of harmony.
This brought DIR. A S. Embree for
ward with an announcement that set
many of the board members to whisper
ing and wondering. Il agree with Mr..
Wilder" said DR.. Embree land 1 want
to supplement what he says by saying
that a good many patrons would like to
send their children to Douglass school
but they are being held back by influ-
ences they can not control The in
fluence comes from the colored teach
ers of the city schools who are Vitiating
themselves and stirring this up and we
are paying the people who are agitating
this. / wish we could handle them with
out gloves. We owe them nothing. There
is not a man on this board whose
character has not been attacked by
them. | move that we give the matter
no further consideration"
DR.. Embree referred to two colored
teachers in the city schools who are
suspected of having stirred up the
trouble in Lowman Hill among the col
ored people on account of jealousy He
says that these two teachers wanted the
position of principal of the Douglass
school and when the place was given
to Mrs. Langston they Immediately
started a quiet agitation among the col
ored people to induce them to keep
their children away from the school and
deprive Mrs. Langston of the position.
IF any teachers are fomenting this I
think we should discharge them at
once" said P. I. Bonebrake.
when such people apply for re-elec-
ton as teachers L am against them"
said DIR. Embree.
question asked by several members.
I am in favor of discharging them
whether We can or not and find out af-
forwards" said A. A. Rodgers.
DR.. Embree's motion not to consider
the question further was carried 1t
was found that the state law compelling
people to send their children to school
could not be used against the parents
in Lowman Hill as the children there
have already attended school the re-
quired length of time. The entire talk
and discussion was brought about by
G. w. Williams. the colored member of
the school board, bringing up the mat
ter in the form of question as what
should be done. He agreed with the
board that the colored people have no
grounds for complaint
Then the question of allowing the col
ored children in the sixth grade to go to
the Lowman Hill school was brought
up. Superintendent Davidson reported
that two families wished to send their
children in the sixth grade to bowman