The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-09
CONTROVERSY.
ST|RS BOARD CALL
FOR SPECIAL MEET.
Demand Reinstate-
ment Of Principal Who
Went to FranCe-PupiIS Go
on Strike at School.

4 special meeting OF the board of edu-
cation will decide on Thursday night
whether or not Prof. w. G. Deem will
be reelected as principal of the A. 3.
Hill school.
A petition signed by $40 patrons Of
the schools and another petition bear.
ing the signatures of IT'S parents who
have children in the Hill school were
presented to the board Monday night
by Clifford Davis. representing patrons
81 the school Both petitions requested
the reinstatement of Prof. Deem, A
delegation of approximately 100 men
and women was present when the petit
tons were presented n the request
made for Prof. Deems reinstatement.
Mrs, Walter Gray, a member OF the
board, offered a motion 10 re-elect Prof.
Deem as principal of the Hill school
and to elect Mrs, Frances Lands as a
supervisor. w, c, Edmondson, another
member OF the board, offered an amend
ment to the motion to refer the mat
ter to the teachers and textbooks CON-
mittee. After some discussion the
matter was passed TO n special meet
ing of the board to be held Thursday
night.
Three Members Consented.
Friends of Prof. Deem claim that prior
to his departure for France last year
to engage In Y, NJ, G. A. work he
sought and obtained the oral consent
OF three member of the board and
that the urgency of his call was such
that he was unable to appear before
the whole board in formal session and
obtain their consent to his departure.
During his absence last year Mrs. Lam,
dis was acting principal Of the HIN
school and for this year was elected an
principal Upon his return to Memphis
Prof, Deem was advised that there wal
no vacancy,
The meeting of the board Monday
night was enliVened by the statement
by Prof, Wharton s. Jones, superin-
tendent Of the city schools, in which
he declared that patrons of the school
had held a mass meeting last week
during the course OF which Clifford Da.
Wis, an attorney, and also president OF
the Central High School Alumni assoc
citation, had advised the children OF
the school not to register for entrance
In the Hill school and that II any OF
them were hailed before the juvenile
court he would secure their release.
During the discussion Anthony Walsh,
member of the board, declared that he
was ready to vote on the matter then.
One OF tho women delegates from the
Hin school, who was apparently great
ly interested In seeing Prof, Deem REIN
stated, told the board that she under
SlOOu MT, NalSn got the StfeetS Ill
North Memphis paved for nothing when
Crump got in but we had TO pay for
ours This remark was occasioned Thy
Mr.. Walsh's very apparent attitude
against the reinstatement of Prof. Deem
Looks Bad for Deem.
As the matter now stands no action
will be taken until Thursday and in
dicatiops are that Prof. Deem win not
be reelected, us Hardwig Peres, presi-
dent OF the board, n Mrs. Gray were
his only defenders on the board Mon
day night, While Mrs, Isaac Reese. MIR,
Walsh and Mr.. Edmondson were ap-
parently opposed to such action.
In commenting on the presentation of
the petition at Monday nights meet
ing Prof, Jones contrasted the attitude
OF Clifford Davis at the meeting with
his statements and attitude at the mass
meeting held last Saturday night at
the Hin school campus. Prof. Jones
pointed out that Mr.. Davis was ex-
tremely affahle and courteous in his
address to the board but declared that
Mr.. Davis had urged the children OF
the Hin school to lawlessness by adj
vising them to strike and saying that
he would get them out OF trouble n
they We're taken before the juvenile
court, Prof. Jones also declared that
Mr., Davis had abused members OF the
board and himself,
Official figures indicate that only So
children registered on Monday 1t the
: Hill school 49,