The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-09-28
AS ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
OF ASHIN TON CITY
SCHOOLS IS ASSURED
Charges Fall Flat
lncoherent Address OF Negro Menu
her of Board Of Education Fails
to Impress Other Members, Who
vote to Refer Whole Matter to
superintendent Davidson. ,,....

Washington, d. c., Sept. 23--Prof.
Roscoe Conkling Bruce will he re-
tl'n:d as assistant superintendent uf
the Wasl ,-gton public schools. at ,ast
Tor the present.
AT an alleged secret" meeting of
the Board Of Education Tuesday
evening, the opposition to Mr.. Eruea4
tred their heaviest gun, and it proved
to be loaded with blank CARTRIDGES.
The "charges' preferred by Mr.. r. r.
Horner, it is said, turned out to he
only rambling statement Of personal
discomfort because Mr.. Bruce had not
been able to comply with certain in
dlvldual demands, having more to do
with the distribution of places, rather
than touching the organic welfare of
the school system. The incoherent
address Of Mr.. Horner, which pur-
ported to speak for the 1900 COL
ored children in the washington
schools, was joined in a haIf-hearted
way by the other two colored mem
bers of the Board, Dr. w. V. Tunnel
and Mrs. w. H. Harris.
After heated debate of two hours
or more, behind closed doors, with
windows barred and all entrances
carefully guarded, it was decided by a.
vote of to l, to refer the whole mat
ter to DR.. w. M. Davidson, superin-
tendent of schools, for further inves-
tlgatlon. The one dissenting vote
was cast by Mr.. Horner. ~.
1T is stated that DR.. Davidson made
speech during the evening in which
he very clearly indicated that the ap-
polntment, retention or dismissal of
an assistant superintendent. was large
~ prerogratiye to be exercised by
himself. He wished time in which to
satisfy himself as to- the ability, Of
Mr.. Bruce and to look into the OBJ
jections himself before making up his
mind as to the proper disposition of
the matter. DR.. Davison's high opin-
ion OF Mr.. Bruce could easily be read
between the lines, and it is not doubt
ed that he has long since discovered
the timsy character Of the CHARGES" :
against Mr.. Bruce, as wen as the true
inWardness Of the movement that led
up to the fight against him. He Is
not inclined to take any stock in the
"frame-up' against Mr.. Bruce, and
the prediction is freely made that In
an official way, this Is the last that,
will be heard Of the case Mr.. Bruce
has routed his enemies, and is prac-
tically assured Of an ultimate vindi-
cation. -
Over against the protest OF tho
members Of the board is set the pc.
tition for Mr.. Bruce's retention, sign,
ed by over 250 Of the Districts most:
influential and substantial citizens
and the personal pleas of scores of
leaders in the educational, business
and professional world, presented for
the consideration Of the school off,
cials at the climax Of the struggle for.
Mr.. Bruce's scalp These statements
had vital effect in bringing about
the happy result now part of the
history Of the times. ..
MIR. Bruce Is receiving hearty con-
graduation upon all sides, and Dr.,
Davidson is getting his share of the
acclaim, because Of his firm Insist
ence upon fair play at every stage of
the proceedings. '''
'..-
After the daily practice at Penn
-.