Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-19
LYING PROPAGANDA
COURTS REBELLION,
SAYS VAN SCHA|CK
Writes D. J. Callahan of Ro-
tary Club Regarding School
Situation.

Charges that lying propagandists'
are attempting to set up rule of re-
bellton as the standard of conduct in
the public schools ITO the utter ex-
tinction of the principles of law and
oToer were made today by DR.. John
van Schaick, jr., president of the
board of education in letter to D.
). Callahan, chairman of special
committee of the Rotary Club which
recommended the retention of Super
intendent of Schools Thurston. DR.
Van Schaick's letter also intimated
that the school board would not re-
elect Mr.. Thurston.
DR.. Van Schaick said in the letter
that the school governing body did
not dismiss Mr.. Thurston. 1t merely
decided. he declared, it was not
pieased with him and "decently gave
MIN advance notice in order that he
might prepare for other work, ad-
vance notice that he would not be re-
eiected when his present term ex-
pred Then he raised the red flag of
rebellion against constituted author
lty and challenged every principle of
orderly direction of government
Letter to Mr.. Callahan.
The letter to Mr. Callahan reads:
since your name is attached to a
report of committee of the Rotary
Club dealing with the school situa-
tlon. which report has been published
in the press, ! take this opportunity
or expressing to you my deep regret
that your committee found it 'inex-
pedlent' to call upon members of the
board Of education.
trust I may be permitted also
to express surprise that a committee
named presumably to report upon a
matter about which there was con-
troversy should have found it "inex-
pedlent' to interview the only per-
sons who have legal authority to deal
with the situation, but my regret
that the committee did not seek an
interview with members of the board
OF education is not based upon that
surprise. but upon the fact that such
an interview would have prevented
your committee from basing it's re-
port upon an utterly false statement
EVloently your committee was de-
ceived by the campaign of malicious
lying that has been carried ON by
those who would substitute intimida-
tion for calm consideration in mat
ters of public policy.
your committee states in the sec
ond paragraph of it's report: Fur
thermore, his (Mr. Thurston's) work
has been commended by the report OF
the senate committee after a full in
vestlgaIlon of the local school sftua.
tion.' That statement is false, and
i! am forced to believe that not only
did your committee find it inexpedient
to call upon members of the school
board. but that you also found it in
expedient to read the report of the
Senate committee. I am inclosing for
n of
You VIII find when you come to read
II that 1t says, on page 4, Your COM
mittee wishes it to be thoroughly un-
derstood that nothing in this report
Is to be construed as condemning or
commencing the superintendent of
schools or his administration of the
office which he holds
Acted Upon Misinformation.
This alone must be enough to con-
vince you that your committee acted
upon misinformation You did NOT
read the report of the Senate com.
mittee upon which you rely, and YOU
did not deem it expedient to call upon
the members of the board of educa-
tion, the persons under the law made
responsible for the conduct of the af-
fairs of the schools. It seems that
you, as nave been many other per-
sons, were taken in entirely by the
campaign Of the lying propagandists
who would set up the rule Of rebel
lion as the standard of conduct in
the schools, to the utter extinction of
the principles of law and order.
Your committee appears to have
overlooked the fact that the report of
the Senate committee recomme ended
that Mr.. Thurston be retained only
pending a survey, and that when the
report of the committee was later re-
pudiated by Congress and the survey
not provided for the only reason
advanced for the temporary retention
OF Mr. Thurston was destroyed. Then.
too, the board of education has NO
power to make temporary appoint
ment. 1t must elect a superintendent
for full term of three years,
Advice Of Board Overlooked.
Il trust you will pardon me if /
again express my regret that the
members Of your committee did not
interview the members of the boa rd
OF education. Such an interview or
interviews would have given YOU men
who have done such splendid work
Tor the community in your splendid
organization an opportunity to know
the facts. Too evidently, you have
been wholly deceiFed by the wicked
campaign of Misrepresentation that
has been carried on in behalf of Mr..
Thurston and against the board. This
campaign has ended his usefulness
with all those who desire to see the
children served more than to have
any board vindicated or any man
keep job. And you must remember
the truth eventually will be known
After all the facts are simple. The
Board of Education did not dismiss Mr.
Thurston 1t merely decided that it was
not pleased with him and decently gave
him advance notice in order that he
might prepare for other work, advance
notice that he would not he re-alacte.5
when his present term expired. Then
he raised the red flag of rebellion
against constituted authority and chaI-
lenged every principle Of orderly direc-
ton of government. Afterward in his
behalf, was begun this campaign OF false
propaganda, which, as you now see. has
succeeded even in deceiving your com
mittee.
Says. Ronrd Will Not BE Deferred.
1.-THE Board of Education stands for
the supremacy of constitutional govern
ment. 1t will do its duty 1t will not
be deferred by intimidation, nor in
fluenced by propaganda.
assuring you and other members
of the Rotary Club that / and other
members of the board of education
will be glad to talk with you. and
again regretting that your commit :
tee found it inexpedient' to call upon
those who are the responsible officers
before expressing your views. conf
dent that you will correct the mis-
statement made in your report con-
cerning the action of the Senate
committee. and assuring you of my
warm personal regard"
ATLANTA FUGITIvES CAUGHT.