Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-08
DEMAND WITHDRAWAL!
Kenilworth Citizens Object to
Certain Pupils in School.
MEETING LAST NIGHT
APPEAL MADE TO THE DISTRICT
COMMISSIONERS.
Association Incensed at Delay by
Board of Observation-Disclosures to Be
Further Considered.

The presence in the public school OF Ken
iworth, D. c., Of three children VINO are
alleged to be colored has been the cause OF
no little friction in that suburb during the
past few weeks, and last night the kenii-
worth Citizens Association which some
time ago asked the board of education to
| remove these children from the school,
went on record as being distinctly dis
! pleased with the manner in which 1t nau
been treated by the board in the matter.
| BY an almost unanimous vote 1t was de-
| cided to call the matter to the attention OF
| the Commissioners of the District OF CO.
lumbia, and, after giving them full ac-
count of the dealings with the board, re-
| quest that they take definite action.
The situation is in many ways an inter-
| esting one and it is believed by some to
| have serious import for the board. since
1t brings up the question of whether or not
| colored parents can be compelled by law
| to take their children out of white schools
| in the District, and also the question OF
how mans color is to be determined
John Colvin, the father of the children,
claims that he is a white man and refuses
to withdraw his children, also alleging that
their mother was white. On. the other
| hand the Kenilworth Citizens Association
has procured several affidavits that Colvin
that he is registered at the government
printing office, where he is employed, as
| a colored man, and has been employed as
a janitor In the public schools of the Dis
| trict as SUCH
History of the Controversy.
| Although the children of Colvin have
been attending the Keniworth public
| school for about two years, the trouble
over their presence among the other pupils
old not begin until this fall. The Kenil-
worth Citizens Association informed the
| board at the beginning of the term that
Colvin's three children were attending the
school; said they were unquestionably col
ored children, and asked that they be
withdrawn. The board, it Is understood,
acknowledged the communication, and di-
rected Mrs. ]. H. voorhees,, principal of the
school, to send certain colored pupils In
her school tC their proper building, not
designating the Colvin children by name
Mrs Voorhees,, it Is said, being aware of
the feeling toward the Colvin children, at
once sent a copy of the boards letter to
the father, who thereupon denied that he
| was a colored man, or that his children
| were colored, and refused to withdraw
them from the school. The principal then
let the matter drop at that end of the line,
and requested the board of education for
| more definite instructions.
| A committee of the citizens association,
with ]. B. Holmes chairman, visited the
board thereafter and demanded that def
| mite action be taken. The board, it Is
said, on this occasion asked for proof that
Colvin was colored man. which the COM
| mittee promised to furnish, and 1t Is said
did furnish at the next meeting of the
board. The proof, as stated, was in the form
| of several affidavits. They were procured
from persons In Fauquier county, near
Auburn, Va, where Colvin Is said to have
been born. They stated, 1t Is said, that
his mother is still living and is a black
woman; that his brother votes as a col
| bot 0Jyytp ny,1N
regarded as a colored man while he re-
| sided in that section.
Wants to Hear Both Sides.
After consideration of the evidence the
board of education informed the associa-
| ton by letter a few days ago that it would
| act as soon as 1t should receive an answer
| to a letter sent to Colvin requesting that
| he state his position. This delay on the
! part Of the board is believed to be mex
! cusable by the majority of the citizens of
| Kenilworth, who demand that immediate
action be taken on the evidence in hand.
| Some counseled last evening that the
| board be given time to hear both sides of
the case, but these arguments were an,
swered with the assertion that Colvin could
not be made to present proof of his color,
and Furthermore would not do SO under any
| circumstances.
strong feeling that the school should be
boycotted, but this sentiment did not pre-
vail, though it is likely to do SO later
If the situation is not altered. The as
, sociation also Is contemplating action at
law If such be possible, to secure what IT
believes to be the rights of the citizens OF
the suburb
cation delay in this manner II one of their
own children was attending school IN
which there was colored chlluE asked
one member Of the association In the de-
bate on the motion to refer the question to
the Commissioners.
Advocates of the Measure.
Among those who were most prominent in
urging the adoption of strenuous meas
ures, to secure the withdrawal of the Col
win children was John T. Barber, vice pres
ident of the organization. 1t was his mo-
tion that carried in the end. Correspond
ing Secretary Mallery was also earnest in
behalf of immediate action. Two members
who advocated delay were President Voor-
hees and Mr.. Shaw.
At the conclusion of the meeting Mr.. NAL
lery presented a petition from Mrs. w. B..
Hayson, a colored woman of kenilworth'
asking for the cooperation Of the citizens,
| association in an effort to secure colored
nuh1ic school at Kenilworth The associa-
ton however, decided to lay the petition
on the table until the present controversy
with the board of education shall be set
tied But all expressed themselves as be-
, ing heartily in favor of the establishment
| of a colored school in the subdivision and
| promised to help on the movement at
later date.
before the meeting adjourned and after
other matters of less moment were disposed
of the association voted to take steps to get
out a full attendance Of the association at
the next meeting, to be held week from
next Monday night AT this time the Col
vim case will be taken up again. and 1t Is
predicted that If the board the Com
mssioners have not acted In a manner
satisfactory to the white citizens of the
town. more strenuous measures will be
taken.