The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-05-30

Inacy, Arthur A. Dyer, George A.
Brown, James A. jackson, Chas.
A. Newton and Charles X. Lewis.
Testimonial to Captain Oyster
One thousand leading colored
citizens gathered at 10Th Street
Baptist church last Wednesday
evening to testify their apprecia-
ton of the signal services render
ed in behalf Of the colored schools
Of the District by Capt. James f.
Oyster, president of the Board of
Education. Largely through the
active friendship of Capt. Oyster,
the colored schools Of Washington
have been granted their full share
OF the appropriations allotted for
the support of public education,
on the basis Of population. In the
fiscal year of 1911, the colored
schools got 81 per cent. of the total
amount appropriated in 1912 they
were allowed IS per cent; and the
estimates for 1913 call for a sum
representing Al per cent. of the to-
tai asked for. Because of the ag-
gressive fight for fair play led by
Capt. Oyster, and because of the
fidelity with which he has lived up
to his motto: "the best is none too
good for our Children" and his
courage in trying to make "the
schools Of all the children Of all the
people of the District of Column
bia as good as the best in the land, !"
the colored citizens, led by the pub
lic-spirited Mr.. H. @. Tyson, con-
ceived the idea of giving the peo-
pie an opportunity to thus express
their gratitude for the unselfsh
zeal displayed by Capt. Oyster in
thus protecting their most vital in
terests. The response was sponta-
neous and hearty.
Hon. j. G. Napier, Register of
the Treasury, who hurried from
Tennessee to be on the scene, pre-
sided and spoke earnestly of the
purpose Of the mass meeting. Ad-
dresses attesting the gratitude of
! the colored people for Capt. Oys-
ter's generosity were delivered by
Rev. Walter H. Brooks and Lawyer
| w. l.. Houston, and Mr.. James A.
| Cobb read the resolutions, express
ing the sentiments of the house in
praise of the guest Of honor. The
resolutions were unanimously adj
opted, and copy, elegantly en-
graved on parchment, was present.
ed to the Captain. The document
bore the signature Of the members
Of the general committee. Capt.
Oysters eloquent response embod-
led his educational credo,' which
announced his belief in the broad
est education for all the people,
equal opportunities for white and
black, rich and poor, emphasizing
vocational training, instruction in
homemaking for girls, liberal ap-
preparations for adequate buildings
and grounds, higher salaries for
teachers, the application of the
merit system impartially, from
Janltor to superintendent, and in
sisted upon the teaching of true
Amcrlcanlsm, which he translated
as sincere devotion to the doctrine
Of the "square deal"
superintendent w. NJ. Davidson,
who was present, made felicitous
speech. Capt. Oyster s compliment
tary reference to Assistant Super
intendent Bruce was applauded
to the echo, attesting the high
standing Of that capable young
man with the real people Of the
District. The musical and literary
program, which was unusually fine
embraced piano solos by Miss Mary
Il. Europe and Miss Beatrice l..
Chase violin solo by Mr.. Joseph
II. Douglass; a solo, "The Trum-
peter" by DR.. G. Sumner Worm
ley, accompanied by Mr.. Harry
Williams; and recitation Of Rud-
yard Kipling's "Ballad of the East
and tho West - nv Mice Mor1, Do,,,