The Washington herald., 1920-11-18
BRUCE FIGHT
FLARES AGAIN
Colored Citizens Represent
atiye Raises Ruction at
School Board Session.
TODD WANTS ACTION
Officials Unable to Stem His
Rapid Flow Of Spirited
Oratory.
TODD WANTS ACTION

Opposition of colored citizens TO
the retention in office OF Roscoe C.
Bruce. colored assistant superin-
tendent of schools. nared up at a
meeting of the Board of Education
in the Franklin School yesterday
afternoon. despite efforts Of board
members to prevent anti-Bruce ut
terances.
c. Vaughn Todd. colored. repre-
senting the Central Northwest Citi-
zens' Association. led the attack on
Bruce. ignoring repeated protests by
DR.. Henry B. Learned, presiding OFF,
Ger, that he was out of order.
Todd preceded his talk about
Bruce by commenting on remarks
by Mrs. Giles Scott Rafter. concern
ing poor lighting In several school
houses. Having made general re-
marks on school lighting. he sud
denly changed the subject and de-
manded that the board tell him
what IL had done in the Bruce case
Bruce had been accused of malad-
ministration and his case, which was
Investigated by a committee OF
school board members several
months ago. is in the hands of DR.
Frank w. Ballou, school superin-
tendent.
Todd Talks On.
DR.. Learned told Todd the policy
of the school board was not to dis
euss the character of its employees
in public. and asked Tosd to submit
in writing any facts relative to the
case. He asked Todd to resume hi:
seat.
But Todd talked on. BEATING
down Learneds frequent calls 10
order with a swift flow of words
stopped for breath, Learned regis
tered protest. Todd contended the
meeting was public and that the
people he represented wanted tc
know what the board had done in
the Bruce case. which has been in
Dr. Ballou's hands since last sum-
mer.
When the wrangle became more
intense. DR.. Ballou slipped out OF
the room. returning a moment later
George c. Cook. another coIored
representative of the Northwest
Central Citizens Association, join-
ed forceS with Todd. He asked the
board what had Eeen done in the
case of two school teachers whose
characters recently had been ques-
toned.
More Verbal Fireworks.
DR.. Ballou rose and acknowledged
receipt of general information from
Cook concerning the teachers.
Il then wrote to you." he told
Cook. 'and asked you to give me
Ia6. n
to substantiate your charges. 1
have not received a reply"
Todd again came into the battle.
Then, Mr.. superintendent" he
said. 'if this man will not substan-
tiste his charges. you should brand
him as a liar-'
During the IuII that followed this
expression. Mrs. Coralie F. Cook,
colored member of the board
moved adjournment. Before the
motion could be seconded Todd wa:
speaking again. DR.. Learned finally
subdued him. and the board voted
to adjourn.
Onicinls Turn Backs.
As the members of the board filed
out of the room into Superintendent
Ballou's Office. which adjoihs thu
board room. they were beset BY
Todd and Smith. who engaged
Learned and Ballou. respectively, in
argument. The school officials re-
fused to carry on the verbal battle
and. turning their backs upon Todd
Smith and a number or colored peo-
pie who had attended the meeting
passed into the superintendent:
once.
The question of school lightins
which was used as a blind for the
controversy. was discoursed upon
by Mrs. Rafter. who reported de-
pIorable conditions in some of the
schools. On dark days lighting ia
eilities are so inadequate children
are subjected TO excessive eye
strain, she said
Teachers Appointed.
The following teachers appoint
ments were approved by the board
Mrs. j. E. Lundy, r. C. Burns, A
J. Greenless. A. r. Hammond, E
w Matthews. NJ. A. Beller. NJ. NJ
Donovan. Airline DuFour, X. Y. Cow
ling. G. G. Meyer. Cora McCarty. G
NJ S. McClintock. c. E. Christiani
Zoe Malcolm. WilheImina Rhode
Miss r. E. Wilson, Miss c. E. Jones
Mrs. A NJ. Cobb, Miss L. L. Run
Marie Gschwind. Miss II. ID. Brown.