The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-07-06
PERRY NEW LEGAL
SCHOOL ADVISER
Assistant District Attorney
Succeeds to Berth of
Stuart Mcnamara.

Assistant District Attorney Frank
Sprigg Perry was today assigned as
legal adviser to the Board OF Education
TO succeed Stuart Mcnamara, who was
recently appointed special attorney for
the Department of Justice 10 handle the
Panama libel cases.
Mr.. Perry was selected following q
conference this morning between Dis
Trict Attorney D. ". Baker and Capt
James F. Oyster, president of the Board
OF Education. It was decided that the
appointment should be a temporary one
because Mr.. Baker intends to reorgan-
lie his office STAFF later on and did not
wish to have Mr.. Perry bound perNa-
nently to the Board of Education at this
time.
Mr. Perry viii shortly look into the
charges filed with the Board of Educa-
ton against Assistant Superintendent
Roscoe Conkling Bruce by Napoleon b.
Marshsn and James 3. Nell with the
idea OF advising the board as TO the
proper procedure.
appointment Temporary.
Speaking OF the matter this morn
ing, Mr.. Baker said:
"There is a question in my mind as
TO the necessity OF appointing another
counsel for the Board of Education.
as it is posi- bic that Mr.. Mcnamara
can still serve. In the meantime, Mr..
Perry can handle the work. 1 have
planned q reorganization of my office,
which viii be made in the fall. and at
that time Mr.. Perry viii be tenn
porarily reappointed or other ar
rangements made"
Charges Discounted.
Indications are that the Board Of
Education win not 1. eat seriously the
charges made by Napoleon B. Marshall
and James b. NeiH, local coIored men,
against Assistant Superintendent r. c.
Bruce, alleging that as virtual head of
the oolored schools his administration
has been faulty. While no expression
as to the boards attitude toward the
charges was forthcoming this morning
from President Oyster. il is understood
they will be considered at a special
meeting which the boards head viii
call shortly.
Inquiry TO-DAY among several persons
familiar with the conditions in the
colored schools ELECTED the Information
that the charges against Bruce have
grown out OF the opposition Of a group
OF colored men to the assistant super
1ntsndents advocacy OF Industrial train
ing rather than in science and the pro-
2 pupil Of Booker Washington, has
thoroughly imbibed the Tuskegee edu-
Gators theories along the line Of indus
trial education. This fact, which he
conceal has gained him certain in
fiuential as well as combative enemies
among his own race. whose contention
IS that his attitude IN substance that
he discounts the wisdom of Offering
the advanced educational courses to the
average negro youth Is Z. serious Of
Tense to cOlored students as a whole.
Situation Outlined.
This in effect is the situation brought
out in an article published in a Boston
colored organ, the Guardian. written by
S. II. n. Murray, of Washington, and
upon which the charges against ASS ST
ant superintendent Bruce are based.
The Murray article makes substantially
all the allegations made in the charges
filed with tkc Board OF Education by
Bruce's enemies. II charges that he
has been the prime mover in an at
tempt 10 ''Tuskegeeize" the coiored
schools of Washington, and that this
ton OF a movement 10 Introduce in
dustrial education in negro public
schools throughout the country
One effect OF the opposition TO Bruce
has been TO create strong school
rivalry. almost amounting to a hatred
between the NJ Street High School and
the Armstrong Manual Training School.
The teachers and pupils Of the former
school having been encouraged 10 feel
. mental superiority over the latter
school. and the latter school resenting
Il bitterly.
No member Of the Boals Of E,ducs
ton would discuss this phase of the
matter this morning, nor would Assist
ant superintendent Bruce His silence
a this time. he said, was because il
would be -'unprOfessiOnal'' 10 talk until
The board had acted.