The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-11-26
Texas Representative Fa-
vorS Plan to Remove
COlored Men From
the Board.
Says if School Troubles
Aren't Settled Senate
Committee Must
Act.

81 am in favor of abolishing the
Board of Education and putting
the schools under the control of a
superintendent who shall be subor-
dinate to the District Commission
ers; or, l would favor a plan 10
create a colored board TO manage
the colored schools and n white
board to manage the white schools"
This declaration of dissatisfaction with
the present school situation in the Dis
trict OF Columbia was made today by
Representative BurIeson OF Texas. who
took prominent part in the formulation
and passage OF the present school act.
Mr.. Burleson followed this statement
up with the following emphatic words:
1T is disgusting to me that the Re-
publican party. for the sake Of few
votes IN close Congressional districts,
will put on this Board Of Education
three negroes who always have a good
deal to say and sometimes have the de-
Gliding say in how our children snail
be educated.
Planned White Board.
1T is disgraceful that politicians are
willing to sacrifice the interests Of their
children for the sake OF getting votes.
When we framed the last school bill.
the one now in effect, we thought VIC
had arranged it SO that the judges OF
the Supreme Court Of the District would
appoint only whites to the board. In
that we we're mistaken. The judges put
three colored men on the board. And
] am convinced that this District must
feel humiliated by the realization that
these cOlored men have so much to do
with the education Of the white chill
drCn.
why the Anglo-Saxon race. the su-
periOr OF any IN the world should
call to its assistance in educational mat
ters the most inferior race IN the world.
is more than I can understand. Ahd I
do not say this in a spirit Of harsh
ness toward the colored race. Its In
feriOrity is simply factor with which
We have TO deal.
I have twO little girls IN the public
schools here now. and II is a source OF
Indignation TO me, as IL must be 20
other parents, that colored men have
anything 10 say with how my children
shall be educated IN the schools The
thing is simply incongruous and prepos-
ferrous"
Referring to the trial OF Superintend-
ent William +. Chancellor, which is now
going on. Mr.. BurlesOn said:
Chancellor's Treatment Unjust.
''Dr. Chancellor is nothing to rne per
sonaliy. never saw the man but once
in my life. ] don't know that 1 would
recognize MIN II saw him on the street
today. But I must say that the idea
OF the Board Of Education acting as
accuser, prosecutor. witness. and Judge
against the man Is irdeCently unfair
and grossly unjust
There is manifestIy something wrong
In the schools OF this city. II Congress
takes the matter UP this session. I shall
be in favor of some change. I agree
with Senator Gallinger that something
must be done to improve matters. The
Commissioners put negroes On the
board as a result OF this playing Of pol
ltics in the education OF children. The
men are not of the board yet. Per
haPs it might be arranged so that they
shall have no say In the education OF
the children of the AnglO-Savon race
1 sincerely hope 50 a. any rate"
Senator Gallinger, chairman OF the
Senate Committee on the District of Co
lurnbla, was no less emphatic in his as
sertOns that Congress should do some
thing 20 improve the situation t. the
schools.
Washington should have the best
SlAoOl system IN the world. declared
the Senator, but, as matter Of fact,
Is this the true state OF affairs at thfs
timc2 / think not"
Senator GallinEer also declared that.
unless the troubles in che system are
settled before Congress convenes. ne
will bring the matteP before the Senate
in some shape.
Another Senator. who will not az pres
ent allow his name TO be mentioned
suggested that IL might be we'll to put
the schools under the control Of the
Commissioner Of Education. who is a
Federal oficeholder