The Washington herald., 1908-02-01
HARPER And OYSTER
Not the Least Differences Oh
the School Question.
COMMITTEES REPORT UPHELD
OF Chamber of Commerce
Did Not Make the Statements Err
roReOusIy Credited TO Him-What
He Really said in Answer to
Some ReportoriaI Questions.
SENATOR NELSON,

An effort 10 verify a statement made
by q well-kuowu attorney led 10 a very
misleading publication I'm this paper YES
terday. This statement was i'm effect that
Capt James F. Oyster. president Of the
board Of education. was entirely Iospon-
sIbIe Tor the investigation into the pres
ent sCroli system. conducted by a COM
mittee OF the Chamber of Commerce. that
this committee was really chosen by Capt,
Oyster with the primary object Of sup
porting the school authorities. that IL
began Swing articles 10 the press before
actually having made an Investigation.
ana that President Harper, OF the Cham
ber of Commerce. was now convinced
that q wrong course had been pursued by
the chamber
reporter Who intcrrogated Mr.. Har-
per ON these points and to whom Air
Harper talked in his -sharac,ar.sucauy
frank manner it seems misIuterpreted
and misunderstood his language. and the
result was II misleading report which put
Mr Harper In a wholly different attitude
from that which De really holds Having
appointed the committee. even if the per-
Souuel Of il was left in pact % Capt
Oyster to select, il should 60 without the
saving that he would not for a moment
seek 10 disavow responsibility for the
committee. Having approved this COM
miJtee's action. personally and officially.
il should De further taken Tor granted
that he would not now question the sin
he was. unfortunately, through rep0rtoriaI
inadvertence, put in the position of
criucising both The committee and its
work, and 10 a role Of hostility toward
Capt Oyster
Mr.. Harper's Position.
What AIr. Harper really said is set
forth in his statement. which follows. and
which represents his attitude correctly.
Il have been Unjustly misauoted as
criticising the way in which the school
committee of the Chamber Of Commerce
was formed. OF the manner in which il
has done its work. and as throwing asper-
sions upon Cant Oyster
"A reporter called me out from n ban
quet. and asked me number Of dues-
tions relating % the formation OF the
present school committee. and gave him
the facts as nearly as I could recall them.
The report of the interview does
the committee, the Chamber OF Com
merce. Capt. Oyster and myself serious
injustice. At no time have / ever so much
as thought of imDugning the motives Of
the men who suggested the appointment
of school committee. OF the members OF
that committee. or OF Capt Oyster. and
10 be put in the position Of criticising
them, even by implication or suggestion.
is unwarranted, and does me a grave in
justice
Suggested by Capt. Oyster.
'What 1 told the reporter was that the
appointment of a school committee was
suggested at a meeting OF the chamber
in the early fan by Capt. Oyster. At
that time the Chancellor trouble had not
started. Capt Oyster. in suggesting the
appointment of school committee. said
that the board Of education had a large
task upon its hands. that it did not know
whether its acts were meeting with public
favor or not, and that it desired that a
representative committee be appointed in
order impartially to criticiSe its work and
make any suggestions that seemed 10 il
proper. In other words he desired the
assistance of the chamber IN order to
find out what was for the best interest Of
the schools. There had been such COM
mittee of the old Business Mems Asso-
citation and it had proved very valuable.
Il myself suggested when it was pro-
posed to appoint the committee then and
there, that it was only proper courtesy
to consult Capt. oyster in the selection of
the members Of the committee This is
the general rule IN making up all com
mittees Of the chamber. and 1 saw no
reason for deviating in this ease.
Capt Oyster was accordingly consult
cd as We're others. and I named who I
considered from al ms information those
best fitted TO deal with school matters.
C0mmends the Committee.
Il have nothing but admiration for the
way in which these men have given their
time and efforts TO an impartial investiga-
ton of school conditions. Their whole
desire was always to find facts and do
justice impartially to all concerned. and
l consider that they have done more of
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