The Washington herald., 1920-03-11
SELF ANALYSIS
MADE ATPROBE
BYVANSCHAICE
Impulsive, But Inclined &
Lean Rather Than
Shove, He Says.
TELLS OF OLD REBUII
Sent Memorandum on Re
appointment to Distinct
Supreme Court Justices.
TELLS OF OLD REBlJEI

IN severe t1of
lasting more than two hours befor
the special Senatorial committe
yesterday. DR.. John Van Schaick tor
the story Of his opposition 10 En-
nest L Thurston as uperintenden
Of public schols all over again am
then, under almost embarrassini
questonng, grew retrospective. ans
proceeded to give q dissertation q
his own character.
The School Board president w
also forced to admit himself quite
of what under other circumstances
might almost be construed contemp
of court He once submitted hi
views on Thurston's reappointmen
to the District Supreme Court. h
said. He was promptly reprimend
ed by that body, he stated, and ed
mitted he had mae q mistake. Ths
mistake he eclared, was due mere
ly to a zealousness that the cour
might now what was going on
However. he promised never b
do it any more"
Concerning his own character, DE-
Van Schaick didn't agree with re-.
cent charges that he is too strong
minded and inclined to be dicta,
torial." Instead, he said, one Of hii
great faults lies in his inclination
to rely on other stronger minds
Acted for Good of Service.
The school board head reiterated
his denial of the charge that his op
position to Thurston was based OF
other than utilitarian motives. TIL,
good of the service was his sol
consideration, he said, and he denied
knowledge of any outside influence:
brought to bear in the matter.
Practically the entire cross-eX
animation was conducted by Senator
Pat Harrison, of Mississippi, who a
times grew extremely personal IL
his questions. There were one o.
two occasions when the witness wa
embarrassed. Harrison de
MED intention of appearing antago-
nistic, however. 81 wish merely ts
clear up matters that have beei
in the wind" he said
To BE Continued Today.
The cross-examination began will
the opening of teh hearing at 1893
o'clock and continued until IL whel
the committee adjourned to enabk
the members to keep in touch witt
the treaty situation on the Senat
floor. DR.. Van Schaick's testimon:
had not been concluded when ad
journment was reached but will b.
continued this morning at Ii
o'clock.
Superintendent Thurston cam
into the committee room about L
o'clock. He sat at the far end
the committee table, taking occa
sional notes. Beside him sat Will
lam NICK. Clayton and c. c. Ian
caster, both of whom have takeI
an active part in opposing DR.. Val
Schaick for District Commissioner
Lancaster frequently went to tn
other end of the table to promp
Senator Harrison in his questioning
of the witness when ne wished
particular point to be DEVELOPS
along the line of the testimony.
Course Is Resented.
Members of the committee. par
ticularly Senator Harrison, and ale
Dr. Van Schaick. plainly exhibites
resentment at Lancaster's attempt
to influence the course of question
ing. but nothing was said.
DR.. Van Schaick, on the previous
day. when Clayton had attempte'
to interject a question, declared h.
would ask for an attorney If ''out
siders were to be permitted t.
heckle" him. Clayton, at that time
was told by Chairman Sherman tina
he would be allowed to testify Ill
due time"
The small committee room wa
crowded with school teachers. bot
white and colored. and other inter
ested spectators, including a com
mittee appointed by w. b. Westlake
president of the Federation of >Citi
zens' Associations, to assist an'
cooperate in any way possible to
wards developing the facts in th'
investigation"
The committee is composed
William Mex. Clayton, of th'
Brightwood Association, chairman
Jesse c. Suter. of the Petworth AS
sociation: ID. A. Edwards, LincolI
Park; George H. Russell, Parl
land Park.
Quizsed About Court Note.
Senator Harrison questioned tn
witness closely regarding the mem.
orandum sent the Supreme Court
asking him whether it had beer
his intention to influence the Judge
in the re-appointment of three mem
bers of the school board who ha'
been favorable to Thurston anS
whose terms were then due to eX,
pire in a short time. DR.. Val
Schaick said emphatically that
was not.
II did not have a proper sense o:
the judicial position held by tn
justices. and that they should no
be expected to mix up in local mat
frankly. Il would not think o
sending such a memorandum e
them now, I"
Referring to the charges that Di
Van Schaick had attempted to dom
mate the school board, Senate,
Harrison asked IL IL were true tha
he had endeavored to force hi
ideas upon others and carry thing
with a high hand generally.
DIR. Van Schaick smiled as an au'
dible litter ran through the audi
ence. but he concentrated his atten
tion upon an effort of self-analysi;
and said:
Admits Being ImpuIsive.
81 know I am impulsive and tina
| ! speak my mind quickly and direct
ly, but the real defect in my char
acter is that have a tendency t
-.