Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-24
Contempt of Court.

Realizing the Importance of tie decision
rendered on Saturday by Justice Anderson,
The Star endeavored to obtain an interview
with DR.. Chancellor, the superintendent OF
schools. on that day. DR.. Chancellor de-
clined to receive representative o. The
Star. but has given voice to his feelings
elsewhere in a manner to arouse the keen
est interest in subsequent proceedin s In
this case In another part of The Star to-
day is reproduced in full an interview with
Dr. Chancellor. published yesterday in the
Washington Times. 1t my probably be re-
garded as an authentic statement. 1t is un-
deniably an amazing one
1t is first to be made clear in this connec-
ton that the Cardozo matter, which has
given rise to the courts intervention in
school affairs, is based entirely upon DR..
Chancellor's initiative. 1t was he VINO
brought charges against the supervising
principal and demanded his immediate dis
Iuissal in the manner which the court de-
clares to be invalid. 1t is understood that
the board acted in that case not entirely IN
accordance with its own view of what was
wise and lawful, but in a certain sense under
duress or at least under vigorous pressure
from DR.. Chancellor. 1t is natural there
fore that the superintendent should most
keenly feel the rebuke administered now
by the court and should decry the decision,
while the members of the board properly
maintain a dignified silence.
In this interview DIR. Chancellor shows
the same contempt for the court as he al
ready has shown in his utterances for the
Commissioners for Congress and for the
school system of Washington. He revives
against CardoZo the anonymous letter
charge. once withdrawn; convicts him in
Oh, hic ant
"despicable," and puts the Board of Educa-
ton in false and embarrass ng position
by alleging that it dismissed the principal
on the anonymous letter charge. The re-
vival of this defamatory charge seems now
TO be on the personal responsibility of DR..
Chancellor.
Without warrant or excuse the superin-
tendent drags the color question into this
matter. In point of fact, the complexion of
the dismissed and now reinstated super
visng principal has never been an item of
consideration. The law was not observed
in the process of his discharge and the
court now commands that ii be obeyed.
DR.. Chancellors remark that Cardozo
would never have been reinstated if
white man is gratuitous offense to the
court and a serious reflection upon its
motives in interpreting the law.
The superintendent has himself precipi-
tated the color question, first by consenting
10 and himself recommending the summary
dismissal of colored teachers and principals
without trial. ''for the good of the service
while visiting that punishment in those
terms upon none others. He has further en-
phaslzed race matters by electing to goat
d most inopportune time-to the south to
inspect negro schools, and according to his
own words, to seiect teachers for the col
ored schools of the District If there does
occur, as Dr. Chancellor predicts, wave
OF negro emigration TO Washington, his
own course in disparaging local teachers
and encouraging importations will do far
more TO bring it about than anything the
court or Congress has done.
This Incorporate and silly outburst from
the superintendent proves how necessary
was the intervention of the court to restore
the law TO its meaning and value as a pro-
lection to the teachers from hasty, partisan
and lawless acts by the school authorities
1t furthermore demonstrates the need of
greater care than ever on the part of the
board of education in readjusting the mat
tiers affected by the courts decision The
superintendent has put himself in an atti-
tude of such contempt for the established
processes of law Interpretation and law ad-
ministration that his prestige as the head
of the school system has been materially
impaired.
The board of education will be wise in
reasonable self-protection to act and speak
for itself in this emergency, and not to rely
unquestioningly upon so unsafe an adviser
and commander as DR.. Chancellor.