Evening star., 1920-01-12
ASK VAN SCHA|CK
| Be NOT CONFIRMED
Protests Against Him as
Commissioner Laid Before
Senate D. c. Committee.

Protests against the confirmation of
DR.. John Van Schaick. jr., to be a
member of the board of District Com
missioners were laid before the SEN
ate District committee at an open
hearing today. Chairman Sherman
ruled that those opposing the appoint
ment of DR.. Van Schaick would be
heard first and then those who sup
ported the. appointment.
The reasons given for opposing Dr.
Van Schaick today included the fact
that he has been a clergyman and
that it is a mistake to have any con-
nection between state and church in
,,4hH hHgoyeEnment; that he has not been
q Resident of the District continuous
" for the last three yearsya.s required
by law; that he has not had the husi-
ness experience requisite, and that
during his term of Office as president
of the school board there has been
much friction.
c. c. Lancaster, representing the
Brightwood CitizenA Association. was
the first witness heard. He presented
written protest signed by himself
and Charles w. Ray, president of the
Brightwood Citizens Association
Warner Stutler, president Of the Ben
ming Citizens Association, and Full
ton r. Gordon.
Read by Mr. Lancaster.
This statement, which was read by
Mr.. Lancaster, in part, is as follows:
I'VE charge that Rev. John Van
Schaick. jr., is a regular ordained
minister of religious denomination
and creed known as Universtlists. and
has been for many years the pastor
of the Church of Our Father, anu is
still unofficially connected with such
church and creed. By reason of this
well known fact, we protest against
/ his confirmation. not because, of in
because of his official connection with
said religious denomination and
church.
1--WE further charge that the NOM
ination of said Rev. Van Schaick is
! a fragrant violation of a well known
and established principle of American
civil policy against the dangerous
| union of church and state, in the ad-
ministration of state and national
civil affairs.
1--WE further charge that by reason
! of his sacredotal and ministerial hab-
| it's and training and his total lack OF
| experience in the ordinary affairs OF
! commercial activities. the said Van
! Schaick is wholly disqualified to dig
! charge the important civil admins
| trative duties of Commissioner OF
the District of Columbia to the salts
IaCIlOu Ol lie pcOplS VI lhio oASei ~ II
who want and by every right of JUS
! tice and fair dealing. should have a
man of we'll known business expe-
rience. in whom the entire people have
| confidence to fill this official position.
| and we have a creditable number OF
men who can meet all the require
| ments of the office.
! Political Principles.
1--WE charge that the said Rev. Van
| :o1x &c. ooif q
! democrat, and not even bull moose
| hut. SO far as we have been able to
| ascertain from his public utterances
and affiliations he leans toward the
! vagaries of the socialist and single
i taxer. In other words, he is a man
| with no, fixed political principles OF
either of the two great political
| narties. and such a record is antag-
onistic to the spirit of the act of 1878
and the unbroken custom of the ex-
| one republican to be Commissioners.
! We contend that a man who has no
! fixed political principles cannot be
| safely intrusted with public office
| particularly the Office of Commits;
I'VE also charge and SO represent
| that the said Rev. Van Schaick, as
| president of the school board, by his
visionary, impracticable and domi-
Ineering conduct has created factions
among the teachers and instructors
and has greatly demoralized the teach
! ing force and greatly impaired its
efficiency. In other words. his ap-
pointment on the school board was a
i fatal mistake and he should be re-
moved therefrom.
I'VE have been informed that the
said Rev. Van Schaick in a recent
written copmunication to a special
! committee of the school board used
scurrilous and insulting language re-
fecting upon the Colored Parents
League and colored patrons of the
public schools. a copy of which is on
file with your committee and will
! be brought to your attention by a
committee of the Colored Parents
League.
| Asserts NOn-Residence.
1--WE further charge and so represent
i that the said Rev. Van Schaick is le-
gafly disqualified from holding said
office of Commissioner, as he has not
been an actual resident of the Dis
trict of Columbia for three years prior
to his appointment, as required by the
act of 1873. The record of the school
board shows that Rev. Van Schaick
was absent from June 6. 1917, to June
1919, about two years. and we are re.
| tliably informed that during that Pc
! (continued on Second Page.y