New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-21
Mr. mCLELLANS MISREPRESENTATION.

Mr.. Mcclellan made several speeches on Mon
day evening, and talked freely about schools,
but nowhere did he have the manliness TO re-
tract his false statement that there were eighty
seven thousand children denied the inherent
fright of an elementary education" when it
has been shown TO him that not one child OF six
years or over has applied for admission who is
not In school receiving regular instruction for
the greater part of the day. Instead, he sought,
in a manner far from creditable to the son of an
officer and gentleman, TO sneak away from the
issue he had raised. He tried TO cover up the
untruth of his former statement with a new
one making different charges about the schools.
Thus he showed by the careful alteration in bis
charges that he knew that what he had said
before was untrue, but he was not brave enough
TO acknowledge his own errors Ike gentleman
and treat his opponent fairly. On the other
hand, his new charges were more deliberately
intended to deceive than was his first BADLY in
correct statement, which il was supposed he
had made in simple ignorance.
Mr.. Mcclellan this time talked about S9316
children on half time, as ii is called" thus de-
lberately shielding himself with that 'as it Is
called" from a charge Of falsehood while re-
framing from telling his hearers that that half
time" is three and one-half hours against five
hours full time and that the hour and a half of
freedom is given only to the smaller children
whose requirements are not seriously impaired
by the shorter hours. Indeed, in some cities
where there is plenty OF room the little children
are dismissed early. on the ground that they have
applied their minds to books In one session as
much as is good for them, and might better be
out playing In such places as the Low admins
tration has provided for them here In Seward
Park. That more school room is needed how
ever. nobody Will deny, but IL MHo Mcclellan
wanted TO be honest while ne complained about
the half timers" he would have explained also
that In September, 1901, under Mayor Van
Wyck. there were not merely the $1,000 "half
timers OF which he spoke, but 5,269 children
altogether excluded from school who have now
been provided for.
MI Mcclellan knows. If he knows anything,
that the present condition of the schools is not
due TO Mayor Low, but TO Mayor Van Wyck.
When he insinuates-he does not make manly
statements like soldier-that the trouble is
due TO large appropriations for school fads at
the expense of buildings, he insnuates what he
knows is not true. The administration has
made amply liberal appropriations for school
houses II was the Van Wyck administration
which held up needed appropriations and so
failed 20 keep pace with the growth OF popula-
ton. The buildings Ven Wyek begun are those
10 which LOW must look lOE lilt accommodation
OF the children now. Those he himself has
planned are not yet ready. 1t is impossible in
a year and nine months 10 select sites, condemn
them, make appropriations, get designs, let con-
tracts and have them completed. especially In
the face Of long tieup in the building trades
Nothing that Mr.. Low could do would transform
projects and appropriations into completed
buildings I'm the time which he has had and Mr.
Mcclellan knows il just as wen as anybody else.
His attempt 10 make false issue with figures
about evening school and other appropriations
Is of piece with his man Delany's lies about
Mr.. Cutting giving dinner to Senator PIatt
and Governor 0del having a conference with
Devery
Turning from schools Mr. Mcclellan discussed
REQ lights. the existence OF which be had not
discovered two years ago. Then he had mo
apologies to offer" even for Deyery. on whom
he now blames all the vice and graft" But
he knows well enough that the departure Of
Devery did not carry all that LOAD o. ..u into