Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-14

As the school board had adjourned for the
summer ii was deemed advisable to appeal
directly to the President. and that their
efforts to retain their beloved principal will
succeed is guaranteed by the prompt action
at Oyster Bay.
President Gordon Calls.
President Gordon of the board of educa-
ton called on Commissioner Macfarland
this morning Mr. mcfarland said after
ward that they had talked over the high
school situation informally and explained
that this matter was committed by law to
the exclusive Jurisdiction of the board of
education but that in this, in all such
matters. he had not interfered. although he
was always ready to give his advice If it
was desired. He expressed to Mr. Gordon
the hope that Mr.. Emory Wilson might be
retained principal of the Central High
School, having been Informed by Mr. Cor
don that the board had not ordered any
transfer of Mr.. Wilson. Commissioner Mac
farland does not believe that the board Is
at all likely to make any transfer of Mr..
Wilson. He also believes that the board
will make disposition of the case of Mr..
Swartzell which will be just to all concerned
and satisfactory to the community. Mr..
Macfarland said that ii ought to be remem
bered that no one had a deeper interest in
the welfare of the public schools than the
members of the board of education, and
that they could be counted upon to deal
wisely with all the interests affected.
The circle of agitation is widening 1t
Is being questioned whether if prompt at
tention does not settle the matter the dis
satisfaction may not involve the whole
school system.
For two weeks the president of the board
of education has been q daily recipient of
earnest protests and the District Commits
sioners' Office is now being assailed.
A Climax Reached.
That a climax has been reached in the
OF Trade. the Business Mems Association.
the Alumni Association of the Central
school. and committees of various citizens
associations.
AS soon as it was announced that the
board of education contemplated transfer
ring Principal Wilson. President Cox of the
Board of Trade. as previously reported by
The Star, turned the matter over to Mr..
Farden, chairman of the educational COM
mittee of the Board of Trade. requesting
him to follow the school boards investiga-
ton and determine what action would be
necessary.
President Cox said at that time: THE
theory by which the board of education
hopes to remedy the evil in one school by
running the risk. almost certain to be
achieved, of upsetting another and larger
one seems to be preposterous." Yesterday
President Cox said further to a Star re-
porter:
Eastern High School difficulties, composed
of j. Holdsworth Gordon, E. Southland Par
ker and James F. Buntly, submits that it
could find nothing in the course pursued
by the principal to give the slightest excuse
for the conduct of the pupils and If the
school board itself bore testimony in its for
NAL resolution to the integrity and ability
of the principal, the obvious conclusion
would be that the principal should be sus-
tanned.
The resolution transferring Mr.. Swart-
zell from his field of activity, in which it
is acknowledged he has maintained a
high degree of scholarship. seems illogi-
cal There was no statement of the oppo-
sition of reputable citizens in the COM
mittee's report, and to investigate and
exonerate a man on one count and con-
denim him on matter not covered by
the investigation Is astonishing and lack
ing in logic The only possible conclusion
is that the board will. under the pressure
OF public feeling. be compelled to call an
extra meeting to allay the excitement by
a clear and just decision"
Capital Hill Action.
1t is understood in this connection that
the interests of the Capitol Hill people
are being promoted by interested persons
President Cox has been deiuged with letters
protesting against the possible retention
of Mr.. Swartzell a the Eastern.
That the whole city Is aroused over the
matter of the transfers is further shown
by the action of the business men.
Business Men Active.
At meeting of the board of directors Of
the Business Mems Association held yes
terday afternoon at o'clock President
James f. oyster appointed the following
committee to investigate the Eastern High
School controversy: Benjamin S. Graves.
w. S. Hoge. A Schulteis. Fred G. Coldron
nd al
he does not know Mr.. Wilson, but that the
local trouble on Capitol Hill seems to be
involving the entire school system. and that
a thorough investigation should be made
The broad usefulness of the great Cen
trail School, he felt, should not be jeopar-
died to satisfy the opposition of certain
citizens to the personality of Mr.. NJ. F. F.
Swartzell. Mr.. Oyster is of the opinion that
the contemplated transfer of Mr.. Swartzell
Is not logically warranted by the report OF
the investigating committee.
In furtherance of the effort to retain Mr..
Wilson at Central. the Alumni Association
has issued the following letter:
Appeal to Central Alumnus.
WASHINGTON. July 8. 1905
To you. alumnus of the Central
High School. this letter is addressed You
have no doubt heard. through the public
press of this city. of the proposed transfer
Swartzell to the Central High School 1t
is hardly necessary to explain to you with
what disastrous results this change would
be attended: disastrous. at any rate to
Central 1t is the evident intention of the
board of education to carry out the pro-
posed plan, and unless some immediate
and strenuous objection is made on the
part of the students and alumni OF Gen.
trail. the change will be made and Central
will assume the minor position among tse
high schools which Eastern has held since
the advent of Mr.. Swartzell.
Are we. the alumni of Central to stand
by and see Mr. Wilson. who has always
filled his position at Central so ably, as
signed to a school which requires less ex-
ecutive ability and in which the educational
possibilities are fewer. and Mr.. Swartzell,
whose administration at Eeastern has been
a conspicuous failure. placed In charge of
our dear old alma mater?
You are therefore urgently requested to
use your utmost influence on the board of
education to prevent this change Write
f.ffa 20. 4 IIntJ