The Washington times., 1920-04-19
-Reu. Van Schaick
Oyster Asserts School Head
Was Vehement In Opposition
to Thurston.
CRITICIZED COMMISSIONERS
Witness Asserts There Was Con-
slant Friction Between Board
and District Chiefs.


posta.lated Nth DR.. John Van
Schaick about the attempt to remove
Superintendent of Schools Thurston
in 1917, the latter replied:
"The public can be damned"
This aoas the Gilman of brief, but
sensational testimony given by Cap
tain Oyster before the Senate tnuesti-
gating subcommittee today.
Declines Appointment.
"Van Schaick came to me in 1917"
said Oyster, land wanted me to go
back on the Board of Education to
succeed Larner. Declined positively,
and we got into a discussion of edu-
cational matters.
ivan Schaick said he was going to
put Thurston out. / demonstrated
bit, pointed out that he had been on
probation but a short time. and Van
Schaick admitted that he was show
ing improvement.
"Then," I said, "if he Is improving,
don't you think the fact that he is
local man and that the people here
like him should influence you?"
1.-The public can be damned Van
Schaick replied. Il have the courage
Of my convictions. I know what
am doing, and / propose to exercise
my rights.
InSsires sf Lineup.
Captain Oyster then stated that he
inquired about the lineup of the
Board Of Education members on the
question.
Van Schaick replied. according to
Oyster. az have Ave, all I need"
Captain Oyster then volunteered to
tell Van Schaick the Ave members
who would stand against Thurston.
naming Mrs. Rhodes, the three colored
members of the board, and Van
Schaick.
Captain Oyster also made an attack
upon the present Board of District
Commissioners.
Opposed Commissioners.
The Commissioners do not care
anything for our people," he said.
"They are not interested in us, and
are not willing to accept suggestions.
Il am fond of Commissioner Brown
low personally, but the people here
do not know him. have always felt
that former Commissioner Newman
did not have the interest of the local
people at heart"
Captain Oyster stated that there
was constant friction between the
Board of Education and the District
Commissioners during his term of
service as president of the board.
I'VE were constantly quarreling
with the Commissioners and had hard
work asserting our rights" he said.
I'VE were refused cooperation Of any
sort, and, finally, we appealed to the
Attorney General, with the result that
Govrnment lawyer was appointed
to act as counsel for US"
Thurston Reelected.
The following day. Captain Oyster
said, he had an another conversation
with DR.. Van Schaick, in which the
latter reiterated his determination
that Thurston should go.
"I have a request to make of you"
oyster said he stated to Van Schaick.
Promise me that you won't say any,
thing to these board members about
Thurston until the meeting hour.
"Dr Van Schaick said that he would
make the promise, and then turned
around to him and said: Then I'm
ready to congratulate Thurston on his
reelection"
Captain oyster added, with a smile,
that Thurston was reelected at that
time.
Captain oyster had no other testi-
| mony to offer, except that while he
was president of the Board of Educa.
ton in 1910. a lengthy Investigation
| of assistant Superintendent Bruce was
| conducted. resulting in the vindlcation
of Bruce. He said that there was
ct.
tween the superintendent and the
board except with Superintendent
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