Evening journal., 1921-05-02
PASS ON SCHOOL
BOARD nominees
teonLlnued dom lrst pagel


on the Citizens ticket will not de-
bar the doctor from running as an
Independent candidate. For any
person to become candidate it
merely requires signatures Of fifty
electors to nominating petition
which must be filed.
Ii was reiterated today that un-
less the various organizations Of col
ored voters can agree on some one
candidate acceptable to the nomi-
mating committee. no colored per-
son whatever will be recommended
\ tonight
The Rev. Dr. Henry r. Arnett,
pastor OF Bethel African Methodist
Episcopal Church, today set forth
his position as an advocate OF Dr.
Conwell Banton for Negro member
OF the new School Board. DR.. Ar
nett said:
"As my name has several times ap-
peared in the public press in con-
nection with the campaign incident
to the forthcoming election Of the
seven member School Board kindly
give me space for the following
statement concerning my personal
attitude and the attitude, as l sec IT,
Of those whom / have been accused
OF representing.
First. For about three years I
have been associated with the people
who stood for and who stand for a
small school board as against the old
ward system. I was with them when
most Of the Negroes of Wilmington
who are now opposed to DIR. Banton
were opposed to the small board
idea and went to Dover and worked
against us, /, therefore am no new
conner in the ranks of the progress
sives.
II stood for progressive school leg
islation and today I stand for pro-
gressive methods in the administra-
ltion Of school affairs by seven
member board and shall continue to
support the progressive program, as
far as possible.
Second. have been and am
now "A supporter Of DR.. Banton as a
member of the present and the new
seven member school board.
Third. / have personal knowl-
edge tha tower twentw Negro organ
izations in the city, representing
over 1000 Negro voters have given
endorsement to resolutions request
ing DR.. Banton to stand for re-
election and promising to him their
support and votes have not
heard Of a single Negro organization
endorsing any one else.
THE representatives Of many Of
: those organizations said to me that
II / led the fight for DR.. Banton
q they would follow and support me
in my efforts. 1 have therefore
often spoken personally and oftimes
in a representative capacity strictly
confining my expressions to the
principal having been endorsed by
the representatives OF the many or
y, ganizations with whom I was iden-
a tined. l have held many confer
ences with representatives Of the
! Citizens Committee and may hold
more; but il was always known by
10 me and by them that l was strictly
.- a 'Bantonite, presenting his case
80 and Il was equally, well known that
l. those with whom l conferred more
d dead set against Dr. Banton, but
n each side was trying to convert the
.s other to its way OF thinking. No
II harm in that other matters. OF an
II irrelevant nature. often came into
n our conferences and many varied
G differences of opinion resulted in
n many nislnterpretations of attitude
10 on various subjects; but was always
- known that I stood. personally and
representatively. for DR.. Banton.
and that the citizens committeeman
C and another faction OF Negroes
e representing. in my opinion, about
II one-tenth OF the Negroes Of Will
mington) were against DIR. Banton.
J. But conferences went merrily on.
Permit me to say, the press Of
the city was misinformed when IL
was told that the 'Banton faction
~ bolted' a meeting last Friday night.
:, THE facts are that Mr.. Morris,
~ chairman of the nomination COM
=, mittee OF the Citizens Committee
requested a conference with me and
N Charles H. Colburn and an equal
q number OF our associates or fac
e ton. We agreed to name fifteen
Is each and have Mr.. Morris come and
10 address them. it being the origina
re purpose TO have conference OF the
two factions; my friends declined e
rs to respectfully hear what Mr.. Morris
r had TO say and let that end IL. Mr.
Sc Morris was by me so informed an,
e. agreed. Now when Mr. Morris (bc
re ing unexpectedly preceded ~ Mr.
an Pyle) had finished his remarks Il
he the joint meeting. according to un
p derstanding ] and my friends with
drew II that's bolting, then let
ne so be-"
ID Dr. Arnett gave many reasons VIII
e. he Is advocating DR.. Banton, anon
e. which are:
2 Or Banton il a man OF characte
p Of accepted standing and has nc
s- been otherwise designated by IN
l. community In which for 20 years h
e has lived, reared a family and prac
ticed his profession.
"Dr. Banton is the best prepare
- Negro in the city to represent VIII
D.. mington on any school board. II
y may have peers in point OF capabil
y ity, but he certainly has no super
, iors-but he has what no other Negr
y, has. /. e., four years OF practical ex
perience on the job: therefore. equa
n capability plus experience makes hin
N the best Negro for membership oi
~ the school board.
ID He has been the most progress
"a i've member on the school board
ne His motions have been carried by tn
lg combined vote OF the new guard an
the old rrttarTf f,~.,,-,