The Washington times., 1919-05-16
PARENTS Join
IN BATTLE TO
GUST BRUCE.
Plan Series of Mass Meetings to
Demand immediate Action by
Education Board.

Because OF the failure Of the Board
OF Education to take action on the
petitions signed by $4,000 colored
people OF Washington requesting the
removal of Roscoe L. Bruce, colored
assistant superintendent Of schools,
three mass meetings of protest have
been called by. the Parents League Of
the District for next week.
The anti-Bruce petitions were pre-
sented by a delegation from the Par
ents' League. including the Rev. DR..
Tanner, the Rev. DR.. Pinn, the Rev.
DR.. Waldron, and A. U. Craig, execu.
tive secretary OF the Parents League,
over a week ago.
Action having been put off. by the
board. and the colored people be-
lievinE the necessity for inyestiga-
ton of the charges - immediate, SEN
timent against the ceiay has become
widespread in the Parents League.
First Meeting Monday Night
The first of the series Of three
meetings OF protest will be held Mon
day night at the Garfield Heights
Church, east of Anacostia- The second
and third meetings will be held in
the John Wesley Church. Fourteenth
and Corcoran streets northwest, and
Hillsdale c. NJ. E. Church, respective
ly. on Tuesday night
The petitions Of the Parents League
to the board indicate the belief OF
the members that Mr.. Bruce has lost
the respect and confidence of the pub
lie and that he has outlived his use
fulness."
There are more than $4,000 members
of the Parents League, the children
of all these parents attending the
public schools OF the District. Officers
Of the league state that, IL necessary,
q membership OF $4,000 will be OBJ
tanned for the purpose of showing
the antagonism Of the colored parents
OF Washington to Mr.. Bruce's continu-
ance in office"
Twelve Meetings Have Been Held.
Twelve mass meetings have been
held so far by the Parents League
to demand Mr.. Bruce's removal The
twelve meetings were attended by a
total OF 2O,15O people, while 1000
were addressed at overflow meet
ings, according to Mr.. Craig, the ex-
ecutive secretary of the league.
Rest cannot be restored in the
colored schools of the city until Mr..
Bruce has been removed from office
either by the Board of Education or
by the courts" said Mrs. F. S. Tan
ner, president OF the Parents League,
today. II am surprised that the
Board of Education has not taken
some action in the case, inasmuch as
the colored population OF Washington
Is practically solidly behind the Par
ents' League in the fight to have Mr..
Bruce replaced by some other man.
Politics does not enter into the
The Parents League
has no candidate to replace Mr..
Bruce. The members desire only to
have the colored schools governed in
such a way. that their children may
be assured of receiving a proper edu-
cation"
Analysis of Situation.
THE situation might be analysed
under the following remarks:
u. 1t seems that the efforts OF the
ColOred assistant lack frankness and
candor.
go. That his present employees are
from two widely separated bases Of
standards.
Is. That the citizens are presenting
= united front in demanding Mr..
Bruces removal.
Il. That they are stating their case
openly, and refuse to be distracted
from the fight against Mr.. Bruce's ad
ministration.
Endorsed By Many Bodies.
The following organizations have
Endorsed the purposes of the league.
Home School Association of Garfield
Heights; Young Women's Protective
League; Northeast Boundary Citizens
Association; Christian Church: Cen
trail Northeast Citizens Association;
the Barry Farm Citizens Association;
Columbia Relief Association of the
District; Colored Y. w. e. A; Julia
McHenry Auxiliary, Garrison No. -;
the Peoples Seventh Day Adventist
Church; Rising Sun Lodge No. 1865:
HiIlsdale Citizens Association; Pub
lie Interest Association of East
Washington. and the Civic Alliance"
1T is hoped that the Board OF Edu-
cation will decide to investigate tho
charges against Mr.. Bruce within the
near future. because only through the
removal of the assistant superintcnd-
ent can the spirit of unrest in Thy
colorcd schools OF Washington b
quoted"