The San Francisco call., 1897-07-27
WANTS PLACES
FOR FRIENDS
So School Director Ham
mond Is Quoted as
Remarking.
Why Mrs. E. M. Young Was
Not Elected an Evening
Substitute.
The Shadow of Scandal That Causes
the Board of Education Much
Perturbation.

Across the turmoil in the Board of Edu-
cation over the making of places for the
friends Of the Directors has been thrown
the shadow OF a scandal, and there is
much perturbation among the memb bers
of the solid nine over the matter.
When the names of eight applicants for
places on the evening substitute list were
ted few days ago Director Ham
mond vehemently opposed the name of
one, Mrs. e. M. Young. and said that if
her Eame was insisted On he would tell
how she had offered him consideration
for place.
This, OF course, took the committee that
presented the names. which consisted of
Messrs. Drucker, Gallagher, Waller and
Darlington, all aback, and the name was
withdrawn. Then Mrs. Young was sent
for and she explained why she had spoken
to Director Ha m mond and what was said
on both sides.
According to her story she had not Of
fered any consideration for position, but
after receiving Director Hammond's re-
fusal to aid her had asked him If there
was no consideration that would cause
him to change his mind. Here is Mrs.
Young's explanation.
II called on Director Hammond to see
whether he was favorable to my chances
OF getting place. After had explained
my qualifications and added something
about my ability he said:
This is not question of ability or
qualifications. They don't count. We
want these places for friends.
~ never talked to so extraordinary q
man, it seems to me, when | think over
ll
qualifications that would help me to
Teachers position and seemed to resent
nv being from Oregon. He said that he
thought that all the places should be
given to California girls.
Then [ thought | would see what he
meant by saying that the places we're
wanted for friends. / asked him whether
any consideration of infiuen ce or anything
else would cause him to change his mind.
l suppose he construed this into an offer
on my part, but nothing was further from
my intention, and | could not have offered
anything had desired 10, for am not in
a finar cial state to warrant an expenditure
for position.
81 was never more astonished in my
life than when l learned from Mr. Bar
rington that Mr.. Hammond had said that
| had offered him consideration for a
position"
President Darlington OF the board, who
had Mrs. Young's name placed on the list
of evening substitutes TO be elected, said
that he had done so at the sollcita ation of
q newspaper proprietor, and that he was
not acquainted with Mrs. Young until she
came to him with letter of introduction
from that person.
Il put her on the list because | thought
her qualifications sufficient" said Mr..
Darlington, land because l was asked to
do so by particular friends, who assured
me that she was deserving, proper per-
son, and that it was in reality an act OF
charity TO help her.
Hammond some times says things in a
quick, abrupt way that is strange TO most
people.
II was very much astonished when he
stated that Mrs. Young had offered him
consideration to get the place, and with.
drew her name at once, so that u further
Investigation could be made. Since then
Director Hammond has modified h is state
ments materially, and | think in the light
of Mrs. Young's statement that there is
really very little in the matter"
Director Hammond positively declines
to be interviewed about the matter, saying
that he has nothing to affirm Or deny and
that he does not care to get into contro-
versy of any kind.