Evening journal., 1912-04-09
DEMAND"
LODGES WITH
SCHOOL BOARD
.contInued Irom First page }

the hire of halls in which to hold
meetings for public discussion of the
charter was not coming in so fast. and
those present at. the Turn Hall meet
ing did not think that for the publc
discussion Of question of this kind
that they should be forced TO beg to
pay rental for places in which such
discussions could be held.
Samuel H. Baynard. member of the
board from the Ninth ward i'm reply TO
the committee said he had read with
much interest the discussions held on
the charter unfortunately having been
unable TO attend any of the meetings
in person. aud said he was forcibly
impressed with two things be had
read. They were that the members of
the Board of Education were scr.
wants OF The people" and that the
schools belonged TO the latter He also
said that he was personally acquaint-
cd with the members of the commit
tee present and knew them to he
thoughtful men and that they would
not have come before the board II
they did not fully and honestly fec
that they wero doing right
Mr.. Baynard said that on the other
hand he considered the members of
the Board OF Education fair specimens
of citizenship. and that while they
might be servants of the people, they
were just as much citizens OF tho city.
Granting its citizenship unquestioned
he said that the board had done what
n thought best i'm adopting rules regu-
iating the use of the High School audi
torium. He said the High School
committee submitted a report on the
rules and the board adopted them
unanimously and he believed the
hoard did right He added. however,
that he was willing 20 again take up
The question and added that when the
committee had acted unfavorahle to
the request. he hoped that the delega-
ton present would not think that the
board was disloyal 10 the citizens Of
Wilmington.
Mr.. Kane. replying TO Mr. Baynard.
said that for 175 years such bodies as
The Civic Association had had access
ia public buildings in which TO discuss
public questions. He said the common
law gave the people this right and
that the law as It stands I'm the statute
books should be considered by tho
board.
Mr.. Baynard considered that 10
would be better policy for the board
TO pay for the hire of a hall for the
association il il was a question of f.
nances. rather than allow the use OF
the High School auditorium for such
purposes.
Or. Evan W. Shortlidge. president OF
tho board. who mp to this time had
taken no part in the discussion, said
that he did not like the methods alto
pethcr. that were adopted by the asso-
citation in coming before the board.
Hc considered them more ON the So
cianstic order. The idea of making a
demand. he said. he did not fancy
Tho word request would have received
moro consideration. he added.
Mr. Kane informed President Short
lidge that while tho vote was proba
blv taken for a demand, the commit
tee had come before the board with
request
NouId BE Bad Precedent
DR. Shortlidge said he had misun
derstood but was willing to be correct
cd He added that the matter Of al
loving persons to use the High Schoc
auditorium had been thoroughly dis
cussed by the board and rules adopt
ed 'If YOU were the only ones II woul
be different" he said. "but by grant
ing this request il would open the wa
for any party, political or otherWis'
to make a similar demand"
To- .Ia.I Ne
lidge that there was no partisanship
The charter question and that IL wa
purely educational. He expressed tn
hope that the board would see its wa
clear to iet the committee use I'll
auditorium.
DR.. Shortlidge said he did not inten
10 convey the impression that th
Civic Association was a political bod
Mr.. Hamilton. continuing, said thu
the city needed new charter an
wanted il badly. and that the boai
should do everything in its power
afford a discussion of IT..
At this junction Mr. Baynard mat
his motion TO refer the matter TO q
board IS a committee Of the who
which was later passed
DR.. y. o. Cooper. a member Of q
board, thought the matter should
taken up by the full board, sever
members being absent last night.
said he had no particular objection
allowing the association the use of {
auditorium. but said that il any 9th
organization made a same request
demand. Il might be hard to define {
rights OF the Civic Association, vi
those OF any other body and WI
would be best for the board to do.
admitted, he said, that the Hi
School belongs TO the public, but y
IL was not. IN his opinion, pub
building for instance like the q
Hall. He said that II there was al
law 10 keep these buildings forcy
omen to the citizens. then the boa
had nothing further to say and h.
no right 10 interfere with the pcop
lie said that il would simply be
question OF leaving the doc
open. DR. Cooper said he felt as n
Baynard did, that If il was a que
tion Of finances with the Civic A
sociatiOn, he was willing. with q
~ board 10 pay for the hire of "A hs
On which 10 discuss the question, b
n 10 was 10 be a test Of whether q
school hall could be used for SUI
purposes. that Was a another matte
ne considered that the Initiative al
Referendum League was doing go
work. and the High School buildi'
vas barred to that association. ]
said that IL would be a hard 'proble
in his opinion where to draw q
line
Col L. 3. Morrow. Of the Elf
ward, outlined the work done by t
High School counnaftfoo o,, a. -.