The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-06-03
CONDEMN
ACTION AGAINST
SCHOOL OFFICIAL

Resolutions condemning the agita-
ton against Roscoe c. Bruce, assist
ant superintendent in charge Of
Washington's colored schools, were
adopted at a meeting in Calvary Epis-
copal Church last night.
The resolutions were forwarded to
the Board Of Education today BY the
Rev. F. 1. A. Bennett, pastor OF the
church, who was responsible for the
meeting. They charge the Parents
League, an anti.Bruce organization,
with unwillingness TO give Mr.. Bruce
an opportunity 10 present his aide OF
the case.
The resolutions follow.
On Tuesday evening, April is, 1919,
there was held at the Metropoiitan A.
II. e. Church, 1918 N street northwest,
q mass meeting: Several dayS prior to
this meeting many circulars- were dis
tributed throughout the city, inviting
citisens to be present.
"A copy OF this circular is hereto
annexed, marked Exhibit A. The cir
culars are headed Moons Teachers
Must Co. On Tuesday morning of
the same date the Rev. c. II. Tanner,
pastor of this church, was informed
by the Department of Justice that but
one school teacher was in any way
connected with the case in question.
Collected Funas t. Push Case.
at the meeting several hours later
this information was withheld from
the people and q large sum of money
collected to carry forward the aEita-
ton, which now assumes the form
OF demanding ne removal from office
Of Mr.. Roscoe c. Bruce, who was not
even remotely connected with the
Moons AFFAIR.
Mr.. Bruce was invited to attend this
meeting. He went, He was prepared
60 speak IN defense Of the school ad-
mlnistration. He was compelled to
sit on the platform with the picked
speakers Of the eVening-deIiberate
insulted and denied an opportunity to
speak either in hts own defense or
that of the school system.
We respectfully submit the above
statement Of facts without comment
As the weeks went BY. other mass
meetings were held and are still being
held-no names Of the "Moens Teach
ers" have been given to the subscrib-
ers of the publication fund, and the
burden Of oratory is-Mr. Bruce must
go. At all Of these meetings combin-
ed, limited to approximately twenty
speakers all told. no one is allowed to
speak unless he nrst declares his OPP
position to Mr.. Bruce-free speech
being denied.
We also respectfully submit this
statement without comment to your
honorable body.
SBring Teachers IRtO DIsFepute."
The net result OF this agitation has
been to bring into disrepute at home
and throughout the country, as evil
denced by the out-of town press, the
colored women Of our teaching force
of whose names have been
whispered on the streets Of the city
as being involved in the Moons case,
when they were not, and final and
last desperate assault upon the as
sistsnt superintendent OF public
schools by men and women who have
not hesitated to take advantage OF
the code Of laws OF the District OF
which makes libel a GRIM
inal offense, but not the spoken word.
When called upon to reduce to
charges, which, with q singu-
lar freedom from restraint, have been
made by irresponsible people in pub
lie, no responsible person connected
with the Parents League has put
down over a single signature any
charge involving the moral charac-
ter OF any school official
SGOne Members AIIsIed."
There are some good people in
the Parents League-courageous
and honest These
have simply been misled by vociferous
assertion unsupported by fact and by
which has gone
because free speech is
denied.
Prof. Kelley Miller Of Howard Uni
attempted to place the truth
Of the school system before the pub
lie in the daily press-leaders Of the
Parents League called on the Presi- |
dent of Howard University to sup
press him.
There is not and has not been dur
ing the last decade any diminution
whatever in the satisfaction express
ed by the average patron in the sup |
port and Endorsement of all the ac-
tiVities inaugurated by the school
authorities.
So great has been the enthusiasm |
and endorsement OF the general public |
such affairs, that floor space |
has been grievously inadequate to ac-
the eager thousands, who |
have sought admittance to all the |
varied and numerous functions inauG |
IrAted.
Proud Of School System.
We are proud of our colored school |
System-proud of the record IL has
made in the education Of the colored
'outh Of the city-many OF whom have
gone forth and taken responsible po-
Iitions in the professional and indus
rial life OF the nation-many OF whom
rave distinguished themselves in the
military service Of the republic, where
hey have recently. on the battle fields
II France, held high the best tradi-
ions Of the American army.
We resent the disgraceful agitation
which has been going on In this city
or some weeks - not representative !