The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-06-30

: which at its close was followed with AT
outburst of applause which shook the
building to its foundations The applause
was continued more than a minute Ii
) was as significant of the endorsement OF
Mrs. Williams as it was a discredit tc
Prof Blanton
Mr. Dickson-"Mr President. | move
that the board erase all accusations
against Mrs Williams Do | get a sec
ond?"
i Mr.. Smith-"Iou are out of order.
there is no second to your motion. "
| Mr.. Dickson-"If there is not man
among you who will second that motion
why then
Yes, | will second it." declared Mr..
| Barron.
Il have stated, declared MIR. Smith,
that the board has made no accusa-
tons against Mrs. Williams. How then
can they erase it,"
More confusion
Mr. Scofield. member of the board.
jumped to his feet in an instant and of
fered motion similar to Dr. Dickson's
DR.. Dickson-"That is the same thing
| offered You are out of order. Mr..
Scofed
Mr.. Scofeld-"l am not. Why am
out of order?''
He was visibly affected and excited.
He favored the erasion from the min
utes of any reference discreditable to
Mrs, Williams. In his argument he be-
came mixed and named Blanchard for
Blanton, which afforded considerable
merrlment In correcting himself he
said: Il meant Blanton not Blanchard"
Here Prof. Blanton offered an ex-
PLANTATION which in substance was that
he was not aware that the teacher had
been addressed letters He had nothing
to do with it.
Mr.. Smith-"Do you mean to say,
Prof. Blanton, that you did not make
the accusations against the teachers?"
Prof. Blanton-"I have no recollec-
ton Of having suggested or dictated that
such letters be sent to teachers
Mr.. Smith-"Your memory is short.
We had consultation about this mat
ter and
He's crawhshing! he's crawfshng."
yelled the crowd, and Prof Blanton re-
ceived the unqualified horse laugh from
thea assemblage very much edited over
the fcolloquy
Mr. Wilkinson--"M President. as |
said at the beginning, | am not here as
an attorney but
Mr. Smith-"Mr. Wilkinson. state
your point y
Mr. Wilkinson--"My point is that
have on this floor friend who has been
cited to appear before the board |
Neither she nor | nor her friends know
what are the charges against her She
is here to plead her own case | wish |
to say that | understand that there is
pending before your board an endorse
ment of Miss Mary Dingle by sixty-hve
patrons Of the school of which she has
been a valuable teacher, one beloved by
her pupils. Will you hear her, gentle
ment of this board?"
Mr.. Smith-"We will hear Miss Mary
Dingle.
In clear tone and full voice Miss Din
gle proceeded:
MISS DINGLE'S STATEMENT.
To the President, Honorable School
Board, Patrons and Interested Friends
feel as | imagine youth to feel when
making his commencement address, and
i'll many respects like him. This is my
in being summoned to
account for demeanor to appear, gentle
men, before this board | have served
he the Caddo Board of Education for
fifteen years and this is the first time in
al my work that | have been called to r
account. | have tried all these years to
please those whom | served The pub
icly printed announcement that my ap
Dlication received no consideration at
he hands of the superintendent. and
hat your honorable body cited me to
appear came like thunderbolt on I'M
ears.
Searching my work and conduct of
he past year, | could find nothing of
which | could accuse myself
| am here today for the desired in
erview.
The first knowledge of the displeas-
IRE given this honorable board was
in the letter sent me to give
OH my assurance of harmony and CO. t
peration. Gentlemen, if [ had not been II
o during the past year, could not see IF
low it were possible to be more So /
ould find no time, nor place, nor occa |
ion, when | had not put forth my best |
fort to harmonic all difficulties and Ip
in all measures, when c
eemed these measures of questionable i
lerit | have been brought i'm in the v