Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-12
STOCKINGS CHARGES.
Mt. Pleasant Citizens Refuse
to Take Action on Them.
REPORT BY COMMITTEE
INVESTIGATION ADDUCED NO
GROUND FOR VAGUE ATTACKS.
Discussion at Last Nights Meeting
The Star Attacked and Defended
Other Business.
REPORT BY COMMITTEE

are rumors afloat on the streets and in the
public schools of the city, causing de-
moralizing influence among the teachers
and pupils of the schools The matter I'M
der investigation was referred back to the
association. with the suggestion that the
board of education is the proper body to
consider such charges, and with an exproz-
sion Of confidence in the board of education
that If such alleged demoralizing influences
are at work the board would take the prop
er steps to eradicate them.
The presentation of this report formed
the chief feature of the May meeting of the
association, which was held In the Hotel
Stratford. also formed another oppor-
tunity for Mr.. r. B. Stocking to take
other fling at The Evening Star and the
District Commissioners.
The committee on public schools of the
association consists of A. B. Chatfield.
chairman; ]. \. Watson, G. H. Zelers and
DR.. W. II. III. Warn. The report was sub
mitted by Mr.. Chatfield, and was signed
the report Mr.. Chatfeld stated that Mr..
Watson preferred that his name should be
scratched off the report. whereupon all
members of the committee individually
erased their names from the report. The
resolution upon which the investigation was
conducted was introduced by Mr.. E. B.
Stocking at the regular meeting of the
ISOLATION March 8 last. The report of the
committee as follows:
The Committees Report.
"In considering the resolutions. which are
indefinite and without specific personal
charges. the committee felt the great
sponsibility resting upon them, and with
no motive but to learn the facts, and be
prepared to make intelligent report we
entered upon the duties assigned us. We
have given the matter great deal of time
and consideration and held a number of
fp1rC hut OH toad RI or 70
the committee labored under a disadvan
tage. for whether there are or are not ru-
mors and gossip of a demoralizing char
acter in the public schools of the District,
the committee is not competent body to
compel individuals to give evidence of a
positive character to sustain or refute
the alleged charges set forth In the resolu-
lions.
And therefore we respectfully refer,
without comment, the matter to you for
consideration and disposal, believing, how
ever, that the proper place for considera-
ton of matters of this kind Is with the
board of education.
I'VE believe that said board Is emlnently
qualified to care for the affairs of the pub
lie schools, and we do not believe that they
or any of them, in any respect whatso-
ever, will disappoint the public IN the great
trust imposed upon them, or permit con-
dition to exist which hazards the moral or
intellectual standard of our children or
teachers whenever convinced that such Is
put In jeopardy.
Mr.. Watson's Explanation.
After the reading of the report Mr.. Wat
son arose TO a question of personal priv
ilege and explained why he did not wish
10 sign the report as submitted to the as
sociation He said that the report was
agreed upon unanimously as the report to
he submitted to the executive committee.
Before 1t was presented to the association,
said Mr. Watson. he desired that it be
amended by adding a recommendation that
the matter be tabled The executive COM
mittee, however. instructed the school COM
mittee to submit the report as READ 10 inc
association
There is a difference" said Mr.. Watson.
'in signing a report that Is presented to
committee, and in signing one that goes
before the association and then to the
press l would not like TO be understood as
having seriously considered a resolution
which makes no definite or tangible charges
and that amounts merely to an effort to
revive a scandal which was satisfactorily
disposed of by the Commissioners and the
school board some two years ago, except
TO recommend that the resolution be ia
bled. or, in other words, ignored. Any
other action would be inconsistent with
the regard I have for the board of District
Commissioners and for the school board.
Mr. Stocking was then recognized by the
chair He said in part:
Il have no criticism to make. OF the COM
mittee The members have interviewed
Commissioners mcfarland and West. Gen.
no teacher with but one exception, who
would say that there Is any gossip about
this matter"
Mr. Stocking. however, declared that sew
eral teachers had declared to him that such
gossip Is affoat.
Mr.. Stocking on the Floor.
He referred to the publication of the Com
missioners' statement relative to their in
vestigatlon of school conditions and criti-
clsed the action of the Commissioners while
sitting as a judicial board of inquiry.
Mr. Stocking concluded his remarks with
a bitter attack upon The Star, referring to
the charge Of evasion of taxes, brought
against 1t recently by The Times OF this
city
After Mr.. Stocking had finished Mr.. Wat
son again secured the floor. He stated that
the committee individually interviewed
number of different teachers in the public
schools with the result that only one teach
er admitted having recently heard any gos-
sip among the teachers or pupils relative
to the matter under consideration. Mr..
Watson stated that several teachers who
have been in the public schools for many
years. and In whom he has the utmost con-
fidence. told him that the report of
mcrs of demoralizng nature being afloat
is absolutely false.
He said that the committee interviewed
Commissioners mcfarland and West and
Mrs. West. whom. he said Gen. Boynton says
Is the most efficient member of the board
of education, and also called on Gen. Boyn-
ton himself to ascertain what he had to
say. The president of the school board
said Mr.. Watson. spoke only in regard to
the matters leading up to the investigation
by the Commissioners some two years ago
The committee also called on Mr.. Stocking
the speaker said but that gentleman said
he could not give any facts
In closing" said Mr.. Watson, II would
like to ask Mr.. Stocking when he first
heard and knew OF this matter and how he
came to hear of it,"
Mr.. Stocking evaded divulging the name
of the person who enlisted him in the cru
SADIE against alleged demoralizing Intiu-
ences in the schools. In reply to Mr. Wat
sons question, Mr.. Stocking said:
"Mr. So-and-So' Appears.
THE first knowledge received about the
matter was when attending meeting some
time ago. a very intelligent looking gentle
man came up to me and asked is this Mr..
Stocking? L assured him that was my
name Then he said. 4 am Mr. So-and-so
Mr.. Stocking, don't let anybody or anything
swerve you from probing this school mat
ter
Continuing. Mr.. Stocking said:
'If the committee wants il / can show
them abundant direct testimony of objec-
tiona ble-and / don't use the word 'objec-
tionable' in any criminal sense-of object
tionable conditions In the public schools