The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-06-06
Alderman Mitckell's State
ment Arouses Great
Storm of Protest
SPICE INJECTED INTO
COMMITTEE HEARING
Three Witnesses Heard and
the Investigation Adj
journs to June
Fourteenth

Charging in effect that the puhic
school teachers are "unioniSed, tha'
4hev have FRAMED up for tnVest'ga-
,,on ~ the puhltc school system OF
Richmond, an declaring that II was
a waste of time 10 prolong the matter
Aldernan John J. Mitchell. mem Der
Of the special counciimanic comm
that was appointed to probe ttls1
mond's public schools, threw oofnp
last night that threatened Tor White
to disrupt the investigation
,rhis the only sensational feature OF
thu committee hearing came at the end
~ two-hour session held last night
IN the council chamber. which was
nacked with an interested audience
or teachers, IN which women preoom-
mated Ave To one-----
After the testimony of several prin-
cipals had been heard. and the guas-
ton Of a date far the next meeRihs
cnnae up. Mr.. Mitchell arose ana
stated that he saw no reason for pro-
longing the Investigation. He was
convinced that the teachers and the
Drincipals were org pized, and that
rrrv had agreed or what they wo@ia
say 10 the committee He undef-
stood, is,. said,, that the primary ana
elementary teachers and the prince
pals had associations and that tneF
prepared TOT lHtiT
before the special committee
Then the storm broke
Demands Hearing,
Professor Turner, head az the Nor
NAL scheI. advanced rapidly TO the
front and demanded hearing. whyh
Chairman Pollock refused. Superin-
;enaent A. II. Chandler arose with MI
Turner and demanded the point or
personal privilege. Chairman Pollock
xu~ftv N
on the stand could ask TO be recalled
~ he so desired. but denied Turner
the privilege Of the floor. Principal
A. E Taylor. Of the John Smith
school, instantly demanded the pftFi-
lexe and told the committee vehe-
rnentIy that so far as he knew the IN
vestigation had never been discussed
A. any meeting OF teachers or prthci-
pals.
superintendent Cnanler then gained
+he floor and Indignantly resented and
denied Mr.. Mltcheils aspersions. de-
ploring what he termed the discord-
ant note that had entered into the
investigation.
Ren~ws Charges.
Mr.. Mitchell, with some warmth,
got the floor and renewed hts charges.
declaring Il as his belief thar the
teachers had discussed the matter be-
Tor the investigation.
Indignant Denfals.
Superintendent Chandler and Prin-
ripaI Taylor were both on their feet
before Mr.. Mitchell sat down. voicing
indignant denial. and in the same
breath DIR. Chandler demanded TO
know why the members OF the special
committee had not visited the schools
as he understood IL was part Of their
duty to sec for themselves what was
being accomplished, He asked that
the chairman set dav for a vista
ton by the committee. but Chairman
Pollock ruled that this was imprac-
ticable, suggesting. however. TO each
member OF the committee that he
make It a point 10 visit as many of the
schools as possible this week $1,000 the
aeauafnt himself with existing condi-
tfons and be the Better prepared TO
continue the investigation.
After prolonged discussion, the com
mittee finally fixed upon Friday, june
18th, for me adjourned meeting TO
continue the investigation.
The committee heard only three
witnesses last night. They were
Principal Fentress, Of the Chimborazo
school: Principal A. f. Taylor. OF the
John Smith school. and Principal Dun
away. OF the Sidney school.
The hearing was interesting from
start to finish. Professor Fentress
was gay. game and dehonair." and
kept the crowd amused with the read
mess OF his answers and matched hts
wit not only against that of Assistant
City Attorney Anderson, but directed
some we'll aimed shafts toward Com
mitteeman Hirschberg. who ventured
A few interrogations in manner that
evidently seemed grouchy to the wit
ness
Prime. pal Taylor had round with
both Chairman Pollock and Mr..
Hirschberg. He declared, on being
asked to give his opinion on the pc
Rod OF supervised writing-which
seemed to weigh heavily on the com>
mittee's mind last night-that the
public school children OF Richmond
could write much better than he
could whee he was twelve years old.
and could read better. too. Chairman
Pollock asked the witness as to his
memory OF what he tthe witness)
could do when he was twelve years
old. and Taylor remarked quietly;
well. I could read as we'll as you
could when you were twelve years
old
Committeeman Hirschberg dis
played temper several times apparent
~ when he and the witness had
fieeting passages at arms. but nobody
was hurt.
The feature Of the hearing was the
presence and interest OF the women
teachers. They keptupa buzz of audible
conversation during the hearing. and
several times the chairman found it
necessary to call their attention with
his Eavel to the fact that serious busi-
ness was on hand.
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Ono Killed IN Strike.
MADRID. June s.--A clash be-