The Washington times., 1912-08-01
OYSTER REELECTED
DESPITE EfEORTOF
COLORED MEMBERS
Chosen to Head Education
Board for Another
Term.

The attempt Of the colored members
Of the Board of Education to defeat
Capt. James r. oyster for re-eJectiop an
president failed. and Mr. oyster is again
the head of that body. Nomination OF
john b. Larner for president and the
tender OF the vice presidency to Mrs.
Susie Root Rhodes, the two new men,
bers, were schemes employed by the
colored members, but without avail.
When the board convened In the
Franklin building late yesterday after
noon, Ernest III. Daniel took the chair
and nominations for president were call
ed for. r. r. Horner promptly nomin-
ated Mr. Larner for the presidency.
Mrs. Caroline w. Harris seconded the
nomination.
Mrs. Rhodes then nominated Captain
Oyster, and Mr.. Daniel seconded It,
! although his right to do SO was chal-
lenged by Mr.. Horner. Larner an
nounced that he could not decline the
honor Of a nomination, although he
thought the board could do better, he
said, to choose a more experienced men,
Der.
Gets Three Votes. .-.
Captain Oyster received three votes,
Mr. Larner, was not cast Captain
Oyster voted for himself, which would
not have been necessary If Henry p.
| Blair had been able to be in the city
and attend the meeting.
Mr. Blair was the only nominee for
| the vice presidency and he received flve
votes, Horner not voting. The vice
presidency was last held by a woman.
Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey, and Mrs.
Rhodes was urged to be q candidate.
but she declined. It is said that the
suggestion that she run was coupled
with the proposition that she vote
against Captain Oyster.
| When officers had been elected the
board discussed the fuel problem at
length. The letter Of the District Com
missioners agreeing to make such
changes in CRATES as will be necessary
I to use soft In place of hard coal, was
read and a resolution was offered by
Mr.. Daniel that the board empower the
superintendent to name three schools
| where an experiment will be made.
Mr.. Larner came to the front with
the statement of his experience as
counsel for companies fined for smoke
violation. He said that technically the
schools will not be breaking the law
even IL smoke is produced, but that a
bad example will be set.
| Superintendent Davidson suggested that
extreme caution be used in making the
change and that janitors be trained
carefully in stohing bituminous coal.
President Oyster called attention to the
fact that the District Committee de-
sires the coal bills of the schools re-
duced and he put responsibility for the
change in fuel planned on Municipal
Architect snowden Ashford. 4:
Result of Experiment. s.r-.
"The Municipal Architect says here
that soft coal can be used without the
emission of dense black or gray smoke
Mr.. Larner says II cannot be done,
said Captain Oyster, summing up the
situation. He called upon Harry .
Hine, secretary of the board, to tell o
| ! the experiment recently made at thu
| Powell school. 1t was admitted tina
smoke was produced at first In this ex
| pertinent.
authorities this fall will proceed to tr!
I soft coal in three schools yet to b
| named.
The board and school officials feel con
vinced that they are likely to be cen
| sured tor producing smoke. but tina
they will surely be censured II they d
not try to reduce the feul bill.
ii Relative to the fuel question, Presi
dent oyster made many peppery re
marks aimed at Municipal Architec
II Ashford, ancient foe to the Board of Ed
ucation. and critic of the use OF coal las
= year.