Evening star., 1920-03-11

expression. and I do not believe you
Understand what I mean."
"Oh, yes" said DR.. Van Setback, In
the laugh that followed. 81 get you.
No. we never stacked any cards"
Were there any members OF the
board who, prior to the investigation,
man Tor assistant superintendent OF
schools?"
mo such statement was made that
l can recall"
Did this controversy arise out of
the Moens 0cASe?"
Not exactly. But the orEaniza,
tion Of the Parents League followed
that case"
Don't you think the authority of
law giving the superintendent power
to remove the assistant superintend-
ent and appoint his successor re-
Quired that the superintendent be pres
ent at these hearings"
Unless a very complete report of
the hearings were laid before him,
yes" said the witness. Through
some omission Mr.. Thurston was not
given copy of the proceedings. l
do not believe he asked for it,
Don't you think the superintendent
was the one who should have pressed
these charges?'
The attitude of Mr.. Thurston
the Bruce case. and / believe
the action of the boards committee
was justified under the circum-
stances" answered DR.. Van Schaick.
Mr. Thurston didn't like to take hold
of things"
Did you believe Bruce proper
man for the placer"
Af,a0vx,0I nd
believe him to be a man of superior
What appealed to the board
as the best argument for his dismi ssal
was the statement of the attorney for
the Parents League. Mr.. jackson Fl.
Ralston. who held that when Il school
or church official incurred the oppo-
sition of a large number in a commu-
nifty his usefulness was at an end.
But while the board WAS still talk
ing about it and considering that
course there began on the part of the
League such deeds of Vio-
lence. picketing, noise and clamor that
the board felt it should not sacrifice
J. competent official to satisfy such u
Enthusiasm Retained Bruce.
, so this enthusiasm on the part of
those opposed to Bruce is what kept
him in the schools?'
thusiasm we might have encouraged
Mr. Bruces own suggestion, made in
formally. that he resign. AS il was,
we felt it better to wait, for a time, at
least
DO you think that was right?"
II do. A board should consider
the common good and it should
weigh carefully the consequences of
it's actions. We felt the action of the
Parents League was open to much
criticism in this case. Mr. Hamilton
created them with every consIdera-
tion. He almost begged them 10 get
the case down out of the air and
present their charges and accusations
i'll writing. Yet there was only one
man in all the group who dared step
forward and sign his name to the
charges which had been made behind
Mfr. Bruces hack, and 1 understand
he is not very high in the councils
OF the league at present on that ac-
Asked why all of the copies of the
Bruce hearings. save one, had been
The hearings were confidential and
witnesses had been encouraged to
speak freely on the promise that their
testimony would be kept secret.
Toward the close of the days hear
Ing the president of the board was
t0SSSiOAACL CiOScIy s1S 10 uIS
toward teachers unions. Asked
he approved teachers be-
longing to an organization affiliated
with the American Federation of
Labor. DR.. Van 'Schaick said he
neither approved nor disapproved it
and that in general he believed
teachers organizations were, Very
beneficial to the schools.
II approve of a rnle of absolute
liberty Is to what teachers shall do
and what they shall join outside Of
school hours" he added-S Il do not
believe the board oe 'ednnation should
take any action in the matter unless
nome cases arose where the teachers
bath of Office and their pledge to
their organization were in conflict,
and then tie action should depend on.
the circumstances"
Never Heard Strike Threat.
He said further that he never knew
Df threat Of the teachers to strike,
but that he did not know whether
there was an anti-strike clause in
Ehe1r union agreement or not AT
tEfs .p03nt Mrs. Gerry. member of
The board. d..interrnpted to say that she
knew there was such a clause in the
union pledge.
What about the report that the
threatened to striker" asked Senator
II WAS told that was an utter false
hood" said Mrs. Gerry. The denial
was never 8iven the circulation that
the false rnmor received"
-''Do you believe that a teacher should
be allowed to join a union affiliated
with the American Federation of
I.ahor?' asked the chairman.
II cannot answer that directly" said
Mrs. Gerry MY mind is not fully
made up about It."
The hearings will be resumed to-
morning at 10 o'clock, at
which time Senator Harrison has an
nounced he will take up the relations
between community centers and the
schools.
SENATOR WALSH Is ADDED
TO SCHOOL MQUlSIT0RS
Senator David l. Walsh Of Massa-
fo0vnor Oauaonnp of fhat