Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-06-26
TEACHER DROPPED
AMID CONFUSION
Wild Scene Follows Action of
East Orange School
Board.

For deposing the principal, Charles
w. Evans, of the East Orange High
School, a mad and excited crowd of
1000 of the leading men and women
OF the city took part in a demonstre-
last night that for a time threatened
TO precipitate disaster and to result
In scenes of rioting and promiscuous
lighting. Mr.. Evans was made super
to the committee on school improve
ments. He will receive the same sal
airy as before, $1,000 a year.
Strong epithets were hurled by the
who retreated under fire from the
stage of the High School auditorium.
An energetic plea by Mayor Julian
A. Gregory, who demanded that the
Infatuated crowd listen to him. prob
ably averted a more serious demon
stration.
Thomas R.. Creole. a candidate for
mayor. savagely attacked Rev. Fer
dinand @. Blanchard, a member Of
the board and pastor of the leading
Congregational church, criticizing
him and Mayor Bregory for bringing
religion into politics. and decrying
the presence on the board of a
clergyman of any faith.
You are a miserable coward" said
Creole to the minister. after the
board had voted to remove Mr..
Evans. Friends stepped between
them and Mr.. Creole was led away.
Later Mr.. Creole addressed the
crowd and renewed his attack on the
minister. His remarks were greeted
with Misses and his friends finally
persuaded him to refrain from any
reference to religion.
Mayor Gregory mounted the plat
form and rebuked the crowd for the
attack 1t had made on the board.
Amid misses and applause he f1ayed
them for what he termed their injus-
tice and intemperance. The crowd
had adopted a resolution calling on
the Mayor to demand forthwith the
designations of the members of the
board.
This Is q disgrace" shouted the
Mayor. Don't let us act this way"
Referring to "the gentleman who pre-
coded me-" the Mayor denounced Mr..
Creole for his remarks, and the crowd
eheered. The Mayor told the citizens
1t would be useless to present the res
olution Just adopted, as he would re-
fuse absolutely to request the mem
bers of the board to resign.
az am not in sympathy with the ac-
ton they have taken.' said he, "but
they have acted legally, and we should
not continue this disgrace"
Disregarding the protests of the
citizens and not permitting them to
have'a voice in their objection to the
removal of Mr.. Evans. the meeting
was thrown into the widest disorder
when the board appointed Ralph e
Files, principal of the High School at
Haverhill, Mass, to succeed him.
After passing the motion the five
male members of the board slipped
out through a side door when the
men In the audience made a rush to
Che platform of the building.
The crowd stampeded, declaring
"We will never permit the new prin-
cipal to fill the position"
IT have believed in the initiative,
the referendum and the recall" said
Mayor Gregory, "but If the action of
this meeting can be taken as a sample
Of what would occur If 1t We're given
to East Orange, l must revise my
views"
He was interrupted by Kisses, but
Insisted on being heard. The resolu-
ton deposing Evans was drawn by
Commissioner Hurlburt, chairman of
the teachers committee. The popular
belief is that the superintendent OF
schools. Vernon l.. Davey, has pre-
vailed on the board to put Evans out
OF his place. Mr.. pavey was not at
the meeting, as he left during the
day for Atlantic City.
Forty friends of Mr.. Evans yester-
day wired the newly-appointed prin-
cipal, Mr.. Files, of Haverhill. advis-
ing him not to accept the position.
Accepting the decision of the Board
OF Education, Mr.. Evans said today
that It Is not his belief that the
movement concerning himself and the
board was inspired by personal hos
tility on the part of any member of
the board. THAT this has been true
in some cases." he continued, lis well
understood, and the parties to whom
1t applies are well known. They were
somewhat more than willing to take
an action That might result in the
wrecking of an educational career.
The net result. so far as l am con
: cerned. has been the. opening up of
possibilities for a career along lines
which 1 have regarded as highly de-