The Washington times., 1920-05-27
VAN SCHA|CK
FACES DEFEAT
Senate to Act on His Nomina'
ton for D. C. Commissioner,
With Rejection Predicted.

The nomination OF John Van schaick,
jr.. to be Commissioner OF the Dis
trict OF Columbia probably viii be
acted upon by the Senate before tho
week Is out.
The District Committee reported
the nomination favorably months
ago. and Senator Sherman, chairman
compromising foes OF Van Schaick. Is
anxious to have the long pending
question settled.
Defeat IL Predicted.
The anti-VaE Schsick element In
tho senate are entirely confident that
his nomination will be rejected. A
recent poll convinces them that they
have easily sufficient votes TO defeat
him.
Following the speech OF Senator
Pat Harrison in the Senate last
night, Senator sherman served notice
upon the Senate that he would move
that the Senate take action upos Van
Schaick's nomination at the earliest
opportunity.
Senator Harrison spoke for more
than two hourss before a handful Of
subject OF the various delinquencies,
professional. temperamental, and in
tellectual. OF the president OF the
Board OF Education. He reached his
climax in declaring that a wave Of
popular indignation and revolt will
engulf DR.. Van Schaick II he adheres
TO his plan of dismissing Superinten nd
ent of Schools Thurston at the close
OF the fiscal year.
"If the Board OF Education" said
Senator Harrison, SHOULD have the
audacty to haunt in the faces OF
Congress and the people OF the Dis
trict a threat to GUST Superintendent
OF Schools Thurston in spite OF the
recommendations OF the select com
mittee, they would deserve the re-
pudiation OF Congress and the con-
tempt of self-respecting manhood and
womanhood in Washington
Reviews Probe Testimony.
He declared that no educator OF
standing in the country would accept
the superintendency at the hands OF
the present board, knowing the kind
Of troubles that would await him.
Senator Harrison reviewed the tes-
timony given before the select COM
mittee that Investigated the schools.
He portrayed Van Schaick in the now
familiar pigments-as ambitious,
dominating, grasping for political
mower arrogant" He called the
other members of the Board of Edu-
cation mere putty" in his hands.
The only touch to the entire speech
favoring Van Schaick came when
Harrison declared that he believed
that DR.. Van Schaick was man
OF good Intentions, and also or high
motives" but that he was so temper.
amentally constituted that he could
not stand opposition" and insisting
on "bossing" everything he came in
| contact with.
| Senator Harrison declared that II
| Van Schaick became District Com
| M missioner he would have the en-
| tire city "eating out of his hand
Calls Him Dominating.
| "Ind,cat;ve of his dominating
| tendency and his lack Of justice was
his attempt to influence the subcom-
! mittee appointed by him to investi-
| gate charges against Assistant Super
! intendent Of Colored Schools X. C.
| Bruce. other examples of his peculiar
| temperament are shown in his cater
| ing to the power OF the school unions
| in the Wood case; in his going over
| the head OF the superintendent 70
confer with his subordinates: in his
promises to Fountain Peyton, mem
Der of the board, to remove Bruce II
he agreed to certain policies touch
ing the Bruce investigation; his de-
nial to the superintendent of the
testimony. in the Bruce case which
dealt with the fitness of a subordinate
of the superintendent: his character
ization OF part of the colored popula-
ton of Washington as 'one-third
| child. one-third savage, and one-third
| shell game and his complimentary
uttersnces touching the people OF
| Washington to Capt. ]. F. oyster
| president OF the Board of Trade, such
i ~ ,fhn nuhlic damned'v