Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-23
INSTRUMENTATION CHARGED
President Of Board Of Education
Makes Statement.
DEFENDANT EARLY on HAND
Superintendent Of Public instruction
in Attendance-To he Governed
BY Good Sense. &.

The trial Of r. L. Cardoxo, supervising
principal of the thirteenth division Of the
public schools Of the District. who Is
charged with INSTRUMENTATION and writ
Ing an anonymous communication to q
local newspaper rejecting upon q SUI
perior. was commenced about 2 80 o'clock
this afternoon in the library Of the
Franklin School building. The charges
were preferred against Mr.. Cardozo for
mally by Mr.. w. 8. Montgomery, assist
ant superintendent in charge of colored
schools, who Is said to represent Super
intendent w. E. Chancellor in the matter.
One Of the first members of the board of
education to appear in the trial chamber
this afternoon was Admiral g. w. Baird,
the president. He was soon followed by
Vice President Barton w. Everman, Prof:
Cook and Mrs. Ellen Spencer. Mussey.
Assembled in the library were num-
Der Of colored men and women, represent
ing colored organisations and committees
who are interested In the defense Of Prin-
cipal Cardozo, also q sprinkling Of white
instructors. -. -
Cobb OF his counsel, appeared some time
before the trial began. and was at once
the cynosure of all eyes. The other at
f9rney connected with his defense. Mr..
appearance
later. as did the other members Of the
board OF education.
Superintendent Chancellor entered the
trial room at 2:20 O'clock and was seated
at the head OF the long table behind which
sat the members of the board Of educa-
ton. There were others present who are
connected with the various educational in
terests in the District.
Mr.. Stuart McNapara, special counsel for
the board OF education, represented Assist
ant Superintendent Montgomery at the
hearing.
Admiral Baird's Statement.
At the outset Of the trial Admiral Baird
made the following statement:
''The purpose of the meeting of the board
today Is to enter into a formal trial of
Supervising Principal Cardozo upon charges
and specifications which have been served.
and published. and which will be read again
today.
THE board has endeavored to avoid this
formal trial, for cogent reasons but as q
writ OF mandamus has obliged US to re-
proceed to trial. Congress has given us the
power to try cases which may properly
come before the board. but has Formulated
no precise procedure. nor has 1t provided
any higher tribunal to which the accused
may appeal. No power has been given US
to. obnge the. attendance of witnesses, which
may operate as q serious detriment to the
pCSl AutcTfotS VI Iuc commonwealth. Con-
gress has not required the members OF the
board to be learned IN the, law: it is, there
fore. fair to assume that Congress-, in it's
wisdom. expects us to be governed, BIZ our
good sense and not by technicalities nor
bubbles. - -. - :
I'VE are confronted in this case by one
Of the most skillful advocates in the legal
profession, whose eloquence and persuasive
powers. besides his technical knowledge OF
common and statute laws, are SO well
known.
Duty Regarded as Plain.
"Our duty is plain. We are not sitting in
judgment in this case for our own pur-
poses. but In an effort to protect and fos-
ter the best interests, Of the public and
the schools. We are expected to be gov
erned by the evidence presented and by
our own consciences.
1T may be said that having once passed
upon this case we cannot be impartial
judges now. But there is no provision for
any other tribunal to try this case, 30 there
Is no alternative. This may be some en-
barrassment, but we can and must divest
ourselves Of all prejudice In the case and
proceed with determination to do what Is
right and that only. Our Office Is a thank
less one: we all knew that before we as
sumed the grave responsibilities"