Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-21
THEY WILL STAND PAT
Capitol Hill Citizens on the
School Question.
MR.. SMITH TALKS
A COMPLETE INVESTIGATION
DEMANDED
Into the Causes That Led to Insubor-
dination-Mr. M. I. Weller
Gives His Views.


portance of the matter sufficiently not to
let summer resort vacation Interfere with
the settlement of the
Mr. Smith said: 1T Is very shortsghted
in the citizens of Capitol Hill to talk of
Withdrawing their children from the East
ern High School Only the more turbulent
would venture to speak OF boycotting the
school or doing anything to impair its use
fulness. No good can be done now by
agitating the subject and only the younger
and inexperienced persons would counsel
radical action. The matter is in the hands
of the board Of education, against which l
wish 10 make no criticism. The resolution
OF the board transferring Mr.. Swartzell
was iudorstd by the association, and now
the board has rescinded it's own action. 1t
may be ina gined that some of the East
Washington people feel pretty badly about
it,
An Executive Committee Meeting.
There will be executive meeting of
the East Washington Citizens Association
the latter part of next week to consider
what action may be necessary under the
conditions
There seems to be a division of seuti-
ment among the people. but all are no
doubt loyal 10 the school and its hest in
ttrests, whatever may be felt concerning
the principal. There is a story of sharp
practice on the part of the boys who got
W the defense petition in getting sigma
lures on the understanding that MIR. Swart-
zell would resign. That may be a misunder-
standing and l would not say that Mr.
Swartzel should resign. He is, / under.
sIahd a man of sound sense and sound
principles, and however he may be charged
with lack of tact and inability as an execu-
I'VE he no doubt knows how he may clear
the way. There is certainly something
wrong In the atmosphere
Inc dlmculty may be that the fault Is
win Mi; Swartzell. or with members OF
ne FACULTY, with the necessities Of many
u"eilluS IN that section of getting into ac-
tive life through the shorter courses of the
Business and the Mckinley schools: II NAV
oe the lack OF cross-tOwn car facilities but
the condition Is not a theory and demands
complete investigation. II is a hot lob for
hot weather and to leave the matter I'M
solved for summer resort vacation Is not
TO give 1t the earnest consideration which
is its due.
Tine Evening Star has taken the right
attitude on this question. which Is not the
easy way out or the best means of cover
ing things over, nor standing by this man
or that. 1t is not whether Wilson or Swart-
Zeh be transferred or retained but whether
at the root of affairs there is not a con-
perfect system.
The whole question may result in the
necessity of making sharp divisional lines
Just what the boundaries of the Eastern
High School Jurisdiction may be. am not
sure. but that the schools should not in
trench on each others property is certain
ne Eastern SCnOol must be preserved for
Eastern people and all talk of boycott
should be reprobated in the strongest terms
Dy every taxpayer on the Hill. | have every
reason to believe that the matter when
thoroughly sifted will make for the de-
Velopment of the school,"
Mr.. M I. Weller's Views.
The East Washington Citizens Associa-
ton" said Mr.. Michael l. Weller when in
terviewed this morning on the sentiment
of Capitol Hill. can afford to stand pat
and do nothing. There is no reason now
why It should take any pronounced action
| shall certainly recommend at the coming
meeting Of the executive committee that
so far from allying ourselves with the re-
uonary and boycott movements, we calmly
await the action of the school board which
the present condition renders imperative
What We have asked for was a fun inyes-
LEGATION of the conditions obtaining at the
Eastern High School. not an inquiry into
the disturbances subsequent to the cadet
drill, but thorough Sitting for those causes
which have led TO such characterization and
aggressive mutiny. We are not In SYM
pathy with the rebellious pupils of that
school Whenever on the various occa-
sions that ! have had the pleasure and priv
lese OF addressing school audiences | have
most earnestly main tanned that IL was To
the teachers OF the public schools rather
even than TO parents, whose plain duty 1t
children that pupils loyalty and obedi-
ence should be directed. The teachers
whose ideals make them devote themselves
10 The public service must be implicitly
trusted and supported by parent and child
Sound Discipline and Sound Scholar
ship.
Il believe IN sound discipline and sound
scholarship. / do not believe that the bows
OF Capitol Hill who have been so severely
censured. and who may have deserved some
public censure. opposed to a strict If q
Just. system of school administration These
young men would loyalty support any man
In a square attempt to build up the East
eTu school and make tt a leader in numbers
and efficiency. The boys have not been I'M
derstood. They have grievances In the
English navy when a mutiny has occurred
the matter Is handled peremp torily. The
guilty parties are shot, but the matter is
50 thoroughly Investigated that If It be
FOUND that the causes have been real the
grievances are redressed That has not
been done by the school board Neither the
boys nor Mr.. Swartzell have been given a
square deal Frankly, my sympathy goes
out to Mr. Swartzeu. He has been MASTER
ed over with fulsOme commentator and
then led to the guilotIue from which he
has been reTnanded only because the ma
Gnhe was found 10 be impracticable'
He has frankly asked for an investigation
and II has not been given him
Swartzell Has Not Had Justice.
Whatever may be advanced against
dents and parents. however much IL NAV
be pointed out that the school has during
his term of office fallen off in numbers
TO an alarming extent and even though II
be generally allowed that there is NO
hearty human sympathy between him
and his pupils or between him and his
teachers, and particularly his men teach
ers. 1t being reported that since taking
his position six of the ten men teachers
have left. 1t is only too clear that he has
not been given justice.
This Is not a sentimental matter. but a
material one 1t gravely affects the ma
terial interests of property holders on the
hill There seven members OF the
board OF education. there is but one merl-
Der from East Washington where we have
one-third OF the population. We should
have at least two OF the members of the
board. l am told that should not be sec
tioual but when the condition in the .choci
board affects the conditions of schools
in my section OF the city that / am con-
fronted by the objection from des rahie
tenants that they cannot permit their chill
dren to be brought up under certain teach
ers. why should l not be sectional?