Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-16
CITY SCHOOLS GOOD
Say Guests of lexington Citi-
zens' Association.
THE TEACHERS POORLY PAID
Radical Legislation is Considered I'm
necessary.
TENTH ANNIVERSARY DINNER
Members of Organization Entertain
District officials With Banquet
at the Riggs House.
TENTH ANNIVERSARY DINNE1

The North Capitol and lexington Citi-
versary by banquet at the Riggs House
last evening, which was attended by more
than 100 members and invited guests. Dis
cussion of the school problem, which IA
vored no more radical legislation than that
to Increase the compensation of the teach
ers in the District public schools, was the
principal feature Of the evening. Commits
sioner Mcfarland started the discussion
and the speakers who followed included w
u. Henderson, Maj Sylvester and Sqlperin-
tendent of Education A. T. Stuart who
took UP the same line.
Inc banquet brought together members of
the association and guests from other asso-
cations Tor social greeting and gave them
an opportln nifty to exchange views In So
clal way. The diners assembled In the I'D
per parlors of the Riggs House, from which
1hey adjourned TO the dining room where
Col. orren u Staples was in charge in per-
SON. The tables We're laid in the shane Of
a cross. After grace had been~said nv Fa
tner eugene A Hannah, the party sat down
~ an excetient repast which fully satisfied
the wants of the inner man
At the head of the table sat A r Servo,
president of the association and at the OH
ef END was A. o. Tingley secretary and
treasurer. Surrounding the prasident wore
me- principal invited guests-Commissioner
Macfarland, A. 7. Stuart superintendent of
pubic schools; Richard Sylvester major
ana superintendent of police; William Tin
Gili, secretary to the Commissioners. Rev
citation. VI ZIG "9so-
Complaint Clubs.
President Server called the assemb,,e,o 60
~ Nei ai'ei the menu was served and started
'ie speech making. He said, in part.
our association stands in the front rank of
the citizens associations in tho Dis+r,o.
Nhat association can point to an event a
successful as this one? The citizens, SEQ
C Gs are sometimes called "ComnlaInt
Siuos: Each one here familiar with his
make lIfa ,nat ever, every advance step to
oecause some one has been Dissatisfied
Wiln Inc conditions that existed. We or
sahIZed because We're were dissatisfied: and
we saw mat We needed the co-operation oP
an those to be benefited by the ohtact IN
view. we have the pleasure of having
with us the governor of the District oS
Soiulilpia' man not selected because of
iore uI.lcal pull not because of his
,ong training as newspaper man, but
because or his long supply of gray matter
Mr.. Macfarland.'
M. mr.. Macfarland began his address by
association and then by touching on the
school problem. He said in part.
1T TOOK wit it took wisdom to start an
association like this, and it has taken both
o. lhose to bring 1t up to it's present
power. Three prominent men at tho ha.
ginning, three wise men from the east are
those who made these ten years of snccess
possible, and 1t is coincidence that two
OF them mold the highest offices in the as
ISOLATION. That shows however that thay
were the right kind of men for builders
Had 1t not been for the railway service
or a decade ago this association would
the uses of adversely. We owe much to
the association, with its 200 to 800 mem
bers, with its keen interest in the affairs
OF the District, and in the laudable and
SUCCESSFUL EFFORT to attain the proper aims
through wise, prudent and successful work
at the District building and at the CapitoI
1 congratulate you on your tenth anniyer-
sary, on all you have done, both for your
sectlonal interests and for those of the
entire District.
Citizens Well Organized.
In the future. and you are going to live
on IN great future as In great past, we
must as citizens stand and work together.
NO citizens anywhere are better organized
than here. Nowhere else has public opin-
Ion such expression or such influence. No.
where else has the individual such oppor-
tunity to enlist public opinion. Every
proposition that has merit will get cons!d-
Grafton, and If 1t has sufficient reason will
be adopted by the public opinion of the
community But we must not split up our
do not agree. That is not the American
way. Let us work together for what we
can agree upon, and defer other things
For example, let us work for the better
pay and promotion of teachers, upon which
we all agree. and let suppose the few
who want to tear up our public school sys-
tenn by the roots, take it out Of the District
government remove it from out autonomy
so that our citizens will no longer have
voice in the matter dearest to Them as they
have always heretofore, and SO that out
siderS might be set over our public schools
as trustees and superintendent. These
radical and revolutionary proposals can at
least walt until they are indorsed by a con-
siderable number of our citizens which
up to date is not the case. Their whole
effect thus far is to hamper the common eff
fort for the teachers which was about to
be crowned with success.
1T Is by harmony Of action that we have
won great things for the District during
the past five years and like harmony of
action must be had If we are to continue
to have like success. Let us work together
in the future as in the past the citizens
supporting the Commissioners and the
Commissioners guided by the public opin-
ion of the community. and we shall advance
the interests of the national capital to the
fullest extent possible"
Best School System.
w. G. Henderson, former president and
an active worker in the association, was
called upon by President Server to extend
a welcome to the guests that were present
.'In the past when you saw anything
wrong with the school system you pointed
1t out and suggested the remedy" he said.
And am glad to say that this associa-
ton was active in making the changes
several years ago. We have the best sys-
tenn of public schools to be found in the
country, and We do not need radical
change. One thing should be changed, how
ever, that is, the teachers of our children
should be compensated for the services
which they render. am sure that every
member will work his utmost to bring that
change about and will put down other
suggestions which have not the best Of the
system at heart"
The man raernonsShlc FOR TIC r,nrt ...aa-l..