The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-31
PROBE OF BRUCE
CASE IS ORDERED
Van Schaick Names Committee
of Three to Investigate
Charges.

Definite action TO settle the Bruce
case, probably before the start Of the
school term this fail. was taken at the
special meeting OF the Board OF Edu-
cation yesterday.
DR.. John Van Schaick. newly elect
ed president Of the board. appointed
COMMITTEES, composed OF DR.. H. B.
LEARNED, Fountain Peyton and Miss
coraiie Cook. to investigate the Bruce
case and make a report TO the board
as soon as possible.
Representatives OF the Parents
League. composed Of 10000 colored
residents of Washington, appeared At
the meeting and expressed the deter
mination that the assistant superin-
tendent must be removed before order
10 restored in the colored schools,
The case Of Herman 3. Moons,
whose activities in the colored schools
constitutes one OF the reasons fo=
the campaign against Bruce, was
brought up during the meeting.
Cause for Removal.
Parents League officials declared
that the fact that Moons was permit
ted to operate in the coIored public
schools alone constituted a sufficient
reason TOT bTuCeS removal.
DR.. Van Schaick then interrupted
to say that Moons was introduced to
Bruce through letter given by DR..
Van SchRiek.
The new attitude OF the Board of
Education toward the public was no.
ticeable during the meeting, when
citizens present were given an op-
portunity to express their views on
the Bruce case. During the last
school term efforts by members Of
the Parents League to express their
opinions at the meetings were some
what discouraged by George Z. Ham
ilton. then president OF the Board of
Education
Parents League representatives en-
deavored to have the case definitely
settled at the meeting yesterday. and
Mr.. Peyton suggested that no mat
ter what findings the committee re-
ported, Bruce could not be re-es-
tsblished in the eyes OF public opin-
ion"
Mr.. Peyton for a time opposed the
appointment of the committee, but
finally voted in favor OF Mr. Learneds
resolution instruct'ng DR.. Van
Schaick to appoint the Bruce inves
tigating committee.
VIII Keep Pupils Away.
While expressing their confidence
In the "Reminiscences Of DR.. Van
Schaick, and the other members OF
the board, the Parents League dele
gates very pointedly told the school
heads that any action which would
not result in Bruces removal would
not be supported by the 10000 mem
bers OF the league.
4 n
still assistant superintendent at the
start of the fall term, $4,000 or 10000
colored school children would be
taken out of the public schools and
sent to private schools to be eStab-
lishcd in the colored churches of the
District.
DR.. Van Schaick, several times dur,
ing the meeting, assured everyone
present that the Board OF Education
intends to take all steps possible to
bring about cooperation between the
forces in the school con-
troversies. for the ultimate ben~ft Of
the school children themselves.
Il value my colored friends highly
and ] can assure them that the Board
OF Education will conduct it's affairs
with no racial prejudice" declared Dr.
Van Setback. we shall welcome CO.
operation anu Hclplul CTlIlClSm from
all residents OF the District and the
board will make every effort to CO.
operate in school matters with citizens
of Washington"
Because of the debate over the
Bruce case, none Of the other ques-
lions confronting the board in its ef
forts towards educational reconstruc-
ton in the District, were taken up Al
the public meeting.
1t is understood, however that
some of the questions, including the
council, and greater coop
Grafton between board and school EN-
ployes, were taken up by DR.. Van
Schaick and other members Of the
board in conferences before and after
the meeting.