The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1909-04-15
PROF. THOMAS EXPLAINS.
Resents the Accusation That Plans For
Commencement Were Changed On
Account OF "Colored Girl"
NORA WATSON TO BE vALEDICT0RlAN.
EDITOR OF NEWS -

l copied the following par
agraph from an article in an issue
of the Fulton Democrat dated
April 8, headed "Color Line
Drawn.
"The newsgatherer for the
Democrat has heard 1t rumored
that the High School of the Bor-
ough will hold no commencement
exercises this spring, and the
reason given tor this omission is
that a very bright colored girl,
the only one IN the schools of the
borough ste nds at the head of the
graduating class, and would
easily take first honors, etc.
Now, Mr.. Editor, In reply to
the above ] wish to say that the
commencement exercises have
been planned for a month, and
the valedictorlan, the aforesaid
"colored girl" Miss Nora Watson,
has had her address prepared
for two or three weeks, and has
been gwen the most desirable
place on the program, as those
who attend the final exercises
will see for themselves. 1t is
true that the com mencement ex-
ercises, as such will consist only
of the Valedictorian's address,
but this will be followed by a
good jolly play.
Now, for the reason of the play.
Last year Q908) while the High
School was preparing a play, |
asked one of the County Com
mlssloners for use of Court House
in which to have play. He said
the com mlssioners were in ses-
sion, and that he would bring the
matter before the board and let
me know. l saw the same com
missioner shortly afterwards,
and he said that we might use it
so far as he was concerned.
Shortly afterwards l saw another
of the com missloners, and he as
sented to our using it, but said he
wished that we would get the
New Auditorium in the Pubic
School Building furnished before
we would hold our Commence
ment Exercises, as there was
soma dissatisfaction about using
Court House for entertainments.
l mentioned the matter THAT
there is nearly always trouble to
get the use of Court House tor
entertainments) to DR.. Mosser at
the dinner table, think the next
day after having conversation
with second com missioner. He
proposed two plans tor furnish
ing Auditorium. FIRST, by sub
scription, and he further stated
that he would give as much as
any one else If 1t did not exceed
$50. Second, that we could raise
the money without interest, those
investing 1T to wait until High
School could pay 1t by entertain
ments. He further stated that
he would invest 800 in this plan.
We both agreed that the money
could not be raised by sub
scription. am sorry to say
that cannot claim the honor OF
originating the plan used In furn.
ishing the new auditorium as
shown above, but 1 did carry
plan into effect. Again, af;er the
new board of County Com mis-,
sloners were sworn In, In Janu-
ary (l909, asked one of them
for use of Court House in which
to have a play by High Schoo
shortly afterwards. The salts
faction / received made 1t very
doubtful, the commissioner as
signing apparently good reasons
Shortly afterwards | met the
school board of this place, ant
made the following proposition
that l believed we could get mer
to put up the money without In
terest to furnish tho new auditor
ium, and wait until the Higi
School could make the money Il
refund by entertainments. Fur
ther, | told them that / had $lOt
IN bank which / was willing to bt
used in raising the fund. knew
that the board could not (for tim,
TO Gomez furnish the auditorium
at the expense of the taxpayer