Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-12
''CARPETbAGGER,"
RESOLUTION CALLS
DR.. VAN SCHA|CK
Citizens Association Mem
bers Urge Drastic Action
at Stormy Meeting.

at Stormy Meeting.
Resolutions condemning the arbitrary
action" Of the school board OF the Dis
trict in falling to re-elect Ernest L.
Thurston as superintendent OF schools
protesting that Rev. Dr.. John Van
Schaick. jr.. was not eligible to vote as
the fact that he had been prevented by
the Senate from becoming District Com
missioner and referring to him as car
petbagger." were adopted by the
Briehtwood Citizens Association last
night.
Jesse L. Ergood started the discussion
OF District school affairs by stating that
he would call a meeting Of his commit
tee to draft resolutions to be presented
to the District officials. John Clagett
Proctor then introduced a resolution
which said:
We emphatically condemn the action
OF the school board In failing to reap
point Ernest L. Thursson as superin-
tendent of schools. Such action. after
the report Of the special Senate inves-
tigaung committee and after a ma jority
of the citizens of WASHINGTON in va
rlous public meetings had requested Mr.
Thurston's retention. shows that certain
members of the board will let nothing
stand in their way to satisfy their per-
sonal spite against a loyal and efficient
public servant.
Action of Judges Attacked.
We feel that no truly honorable
and capable man would, under the
circumstances and with view of the
probable action Of the Forthcoming
Congress. accept under such a biased
and narrow minded body the office
OF superintendent. and we trust that
the board may by public sentiment
be forced to reappoint Supt. Thurston
We do not feel that the Judges
of the Supreme Court Of the District
acted wisely in Responding two of
the members of said school board
after their knowledge of the adverse
will of Congress and Of the citizens of
the District"
be sent to DR.. Van Schaick. '.presi-
dent of the school board and of
Cobleskill, n. Y" and to the judges
of the Supreme Court of the District.
DIR. Starr Parsons who for more than
twenty years has been chairman of
east Citizens Association. addressed
the meeting on the invitation of the
president, Charles W. Ray. He said
that he believed Mr. Thurston had
been very badly treated" The only
criticism he had heard from DR.. Van
ScndlCk was tnat lHuTston idcheu
push" and DR.. Parsons suggested
that 'it would be just as well If DR..
Van Schaick didn't have quite so
much push" Several voices chimed
in, "Or pull"
Action .slap in Face
DR.. Parsons said that the action of
the school board was slap in the
face" at the Senate committee. and
that the board would find 1T is not
of
pupils" He said he was present at
the school board meeting. when it was
decided not to re-elect Mr.. Thurston.
and that the Others obeyed when DR..
Van Schaick whistled." He declared
that DR. Van Schaick was not a legal
law when elected to the school board,
and that by his own testimony before
the Senate committee he has since
voted in Cobleskill. n. Y. The fact
his vote null and void, especially in
the Thurston case" said DR.. Parsons.
Charles C. Lancaster said: IF our
citizens sit by and allow this man to
dominate we are all towards. We've
done some work in preventing him
But the work is not finished. We must
prevent this man from giving his time
to the service of the schools. He
seems TO have too much idle time in
which to get into mischief. He should
try 10 get himself some small job
that he might be able to FILL"
Would Await Report.
Mr.. Ergood advised that the asso-
citation should await a report from its
committee on schools. President Ray
replied: THE citizens are not going
TO be content-what are we going
to do?' Then there were cries of Tar
and feather him.
z Wol1 OF
should go in" Mr.. Lancaster urged
action on a resolution framed by Dr.
Parsons which demanded the expul-
sion of DR.. Van Schaick from the
school board, Albert s. Galley empha-
sized the point of DR.. Van Schaicks
disqualification as important in
changing the vote of the hoard which
refused to reappoint Mr. Thurston
F. III. Cleary said: The man we
want to get is Van Schaick. and get
urged petition to the Supreme Court
with documentary proof of Dr. Van
Schaick's ineligibility. mo one would
be more ready than ! to help to tar
and feather him." said Mr.. Cleary.
Mr.. Lancaster said the resolution
was in protest against this high
handed proceeding. 1t is their death
knen." he said. TT is only a short
time till this school board will get all
that is coming to them" He said
school board was purely political"
DR.. Parsons said that after Dr. Van
Schaick had known Mr.. Thurston only
three months. during the period when
the schools were not in session, and
he had no opportunity of seeing him
at work, DR.. Van Schaick had told
him. the speaker said. Il intend to get
rid of that man Thurston.'' DR.. Par
sons said he knew the name of DR.
Van Schaick's friend for whom he in
tended to get Thurston's job
Co-Operation Urged.
Mr.. Lancaster urged cooperation
with other citizens associations In
making a formidable presentation OF
the wishes of the citizens of the Ma.
tional Capital.
sons. offered by Mr.. Lancaster anc
unanimously adopted demanded the
resignation of DR.. Van Schaick. 1,
said he lis not eligible for the office
having voted in New York state BY
his own admission in 1915 and Other
times The vote of Dr. Van schaicl
IN the Thurston case should be null
and void and contrary to law. he no,
being legally qualified to perform the
duties and functions of a member Of
the board"
Mr.. Lancaster also introduced q
resolution expressing appreciation OF
the citizens for the action of tn.
Senate committee and planning fol
a public testimonial.
Revised Code Asked.
A resolution was also offered by Mr.
Lancaster urging the passage Of bill.
to correct the revised code of the
District so as to restore the old rate
of interest at per cent instead O,
the newly authorized rata Of & na,