Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-13
THURSTON ACCUSED
BY BRUCE TODAY
Continued from First Page.)

been for the colored schools, and that
during the last five years the esti-
mates of the board Of education and
of the Commissioners and the appro-
priations by Congress had provided
substantially less for the colored
schools than the proportion Of colored
students justified.
He said that the president of the
board of Commissioners in 1918 said
that the Commissioners did not at
tempt to apportion the estimates for
the schools on the basis Of the ratio
Of the colored and the white schols.
Quotes Former COnEressmen.
Mr.. Bruce quoted from statements
made by former Representatives
Washington Gardiner and Olcott. in
which the assistant superintendent
of colored schools was praised for the
aid he had given them in securing in
formation relating to the colored
schools. He mentioned the late Sen
ator Gallinger. Senator Curtis and
of Congress who have in the past
done much to secure equitable treat
ment of the colored schools. This
was a matter. he said. which should
not be left to individual initiative.
but should be cared for by law.
The witness said he had been as
sistant superintendent Of colored
schools here since September. 1907,
serving under Supts. Chancellor
Stuart. Davidson and Thurston. He
said he waE graduated from Har-
ward in 1902. and was appointed
Tuskegee by Booker r. Washington.
He came to Washington and took
position in the colored schools as
supervisor Of the tenth division. With
out any solicitation on his part. he
said. he was appointed assistant su-
frfo N nj l..
gomery who was reduced.
The witness said that he had gotten
along without friction under three
superintendent of schools and added:
II regret to say that recurrent fric-
ton has developed under the present
administration. Mr.. Thurston has in
terpreted the law in an altogether
different way"
Taking up various cases in which
he and Supt. Thurston have differed.
Mr.. Bruce directed the attention of
the committee to the appointment Of
NJ. f. Weatherly as a member Of the
board of examiners for colored
schools in place of A. H Glenn. He
said that Weatherly had been substi-
tuted on"the recommendation of Mr..
Thurston after the board Of exami-
ners had failed to pass Miss E. Pey-
ton. daughter of Fountain Peyton.
a member Of the board of education.
teacher in 1916.
IN the fall Of that year Mr.. Glenn
was summoned by the superintendent
and asked to resign. The superin-
tendent gave no reason other than
that he had decided to make a change.
Glenn's integrity or efficiency. Mr..
Bruce said. He went to Mr.. Thurs
ton to demonstrate. But the change
went through.
MIR. Peyton's View Upheld.
In reply to a question Mr.. Bruce
said that the board OF examiners 10
appointed by the board OF education
and that the action Of the board. he
thought had been unanimous in this
case.
He said that Mr.. Peyton complained
OF the experience Of his daughter and
argued that graduates Of the normal
school should not have to take such
examinations The superintendent
DO you think that the action of
Mr.. Thurston in recommending the
removal of Glenn from the board OF
examiners was due to the influence
of Mr. Peyton?" asked Senator Har-
rison.
THAT is my opinion" was the reply.
DO you think that the law was vio-
lated?" asked Senator Capper.
mot the letter Of the law. but tho
spirit"
You think that a member of the
board injected himself into a matter
he should not?" asked Senator Har-
rison.
unfortunate. He added that acting un-
der the new view adopted by the board
the rating of Miss Peyton and her
competitors was changed ana she was
Mr. Bruce declared that this new
ruling should not have been made
retroactive in any event.
Action of Board Unanimous.
WAS DR.. Van Schaick a member Of
the board at this time. and was the
action of the board unanimous?" asked
The witness replied in the affirma-
"Dr. Van Schaick and Peyton
seemed to have been acting pretty
well together at that time. suggested
Senator Harrison.
Mr.. Bruce then took up the case of
the "bouncing young widow" alluded
TO by Mr.. Peyton when he was wit
ness. who was appointed teacher in
a dressmaking school, MI. Bruce said
ranted. and that her appointment had
been justified.
The witness took up the case Of the
selection of a principal for the Ran
dali School. when MIR. Thurston in
sisted upon the appointment OF Miss
w. e. Wilson. although protests were
made by the principals in various COL
ored high schools and by himself.
Mr.. Bruce declared that he had sug--
pested a number OF other names OF
nrincinals who should have been ap-
pointed rather than Miss Wilson. but
that the superintendent had refused
TO recommend any one but Miss Will
son.
Il signed the recommendation under
protest" he said.