Evening star., 1920-04-08

lection that DIR. Learned deemed it
would be better to wait until after ac-
tion of the court in the Moens case
Influenced Mr. Hamiltos.
That influenced the board to hold up
the case from December 80 until
March?" asked Senator Harrison.
That was what Influenced me-" re-
members should speak for themselves. :"
What did supt. Thurston think
about the case?"
He talked over with me several
times regarding the necessity Of taking
some action. He told me that Assistant
superintendent Bruce had been in
censed over Moens action in the schools
and had sought to have II stopped.
The whole matter was held in
allegiance because of the Department OF
Justice views?" said Senator Harrison.
That is my recollection OF the mat
ter" sH-a
Mr.. Hamilton said that Miss Hunter
asked to be heard by the board in
executive session after the trial OF
Moens. He said he was not sure
whether it was before the board asked
her to resign or not
toned. for the most part by pr.
Learned. who was familiar with the
whole case. She made a strong I'M
preston on all the board. My i'm
preston was that she had been under
mental infatuation. 1 thought 1t
was a mental obsession on her part
that he was seeking to do some
thing to better the conditions Of her
race.
Talked Matter Over I'm Board.
I'VE talked the matter over in the
board DR.. Learned said that Miss
Hunter had been represented by ]. I.
Michener, widely known attorney
here. Mr.. Larner knew him well. and
it was suggestsd to S him ,,1na that ne ne
advisability Of Miss Hunters resig-
nation"
Was the board unanimous in that
action?"
There was no opposition as I re-
call"
who made the suggestion%
"Tn all probability I made it."
Mr. Hamilton said that this action
was taken after the school in which
eted and Miss Hunter had withdrawn
from the school and the picketipg had
ceased.
Miss Hunter did resign and her
resignation was accepted by the
board" continued Mr.. Hamilton.
"T don't think so," said Mr.. Ham
ilton. 1T seemed the most desirable
way of getting rid of a difficult sit
uation. If we had gone into tria!
of Miss Hunter we would have had
to bring before the public again all
+ Defends ConErntulntory Letter.
Mr.. Hamilton defended the action Of
the board in sending commendatory
letter to Miss Hunter. after her res
ignation had been accepted. by say
ing that he believed that she had
learned very painful lesson and
should not be prevented from going
somewhere else where she might do
good work.
The witness said that outside duties
and inability to give proper atten-
tion to school matters was his prin-
cipal reason for leaving the schoo!
board. He repeated his statement Of
Yesterday. however. that q ietter OF
DR.. Van Schaick to other members OF
the board had put him (the Witness)
in an awkward position. =, =
answer to a question by Senator Har-
rison. II did not feel the same TO.
ward Dr. Van Schaick as / had 1eit
before. thought he had exhfpiteo a
very positive attitude OF hostiifty 20,
ward Mr. Thurston. ,and that also hao
something to do with 1t.
Asked for recommendations as to
changes in the school system. MT;
Hamilton said the schools requfreo
more attention than Congress mao
given them, and that the low salaries
paid school teachers had had mucn 10
do with recent unrest.
''It fs not right that while the teach
ers are straining every nerve TO IN,
struct our children and make good
citizens Of them they should be M
ed with anxiety beca use of not hav-
ing enough to live on" said Mr.. Ham
ilton. II think suoh conditions have
been the cause of much Of the recent
agitation. The teachers are disturbed
and are going to9outside organizations
to get aid and to arouse public senti-
mAnt in their behalf.