Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-02-28
OGDEN SATISFIED
WITH RETRACT|ON
MADE BY HILL
Use of Wife's Name Caused New
York Editor to Demand
Apology.

the publication in Summit
newspapers on Saturday of. an open
letter from President George Hill. of
the Summit Board of Education, which
Included copies of missives from sew
eral citizens condemning and praising
the board for its stand in dismissing
Miss Louise Connolly. Rollo Ogden,
editor of the New York Evening Post.
who sent several letters to Mr.. Hill.
some of which contained rather un-
parliamentary references to MIR. Hills
veracity, expressed himself as satisfied
with Mr., Hills withdrawal of state
ments in connection with the use of
Mrs. Ogden's name at the meeting of
the board on Monday last. Mr.. Ogden
had insisted that President Hill with
draw the, name of Mrs. Ogden, which
was mentioned in the heated discus
sion of Monday last when the board
decided to dismiss Miss Connolly. Mrl
Ogden's letter to President Hill con
tanned the declaration that he would
publicly post Mr.. Hill unless he re-
tracted. The letter Of Mr.. Ogden and
the answer of Mr.. Hill which formed
the interesting features of the open
letter follow:
Feb. %, 1910.
mr.. George Hill:
"Sir-In your harangue at the School
Board meeting on Monday night you
had the indecency to drag In the name
of my wife. You language, moreover,
was as mendacious as it was ruffianly.
No such interview as you allege ever
took place between my wife and a
mother of boys in the public schools.
l therefore demand that you address
to me a prompt withdrawal and
apology. If l do not hear from you
within a reasonable time l shall pub
fish this letter and post you as a
s%landerer of women, who uses against
them when defenseless through the ab-
sence of their husbands the stingless
insults of a coward. Asking your early
attention to this matter, / am, Yours,
ETC., ROLLO OGDEN"
Il regret having mentioned any lady
by name, and If in the course of my
speech / stated anything that was con-
trary to the fact / did it uninten-
tionally, relying upon the information
l had received, and gladly withdraw
any such statement. Yours truly,
GEORGE HILL"
THAT %retraction is exactly what l
desired said Mr.. Ogden, discussing
the publication of his correspondence.
Asked to make a statement concern
ing the publication of the letters, Mr..
said; Gentlemen, as a rule, do
not make public letters marked per-
sonal. If Mr.. Hill finds any comfort
in publishing the opinion of a man
he is a liar he is welcome to 1t"
Mr.. Hill declined to comment on the
open letter. He said the communities
ton to the local editors contained his
statement.
In a review of his official activities
in the Connolly ease President Hill
IT caused a special meeting of the
Board of Education to be called for
April g., 1908, for the very purpose OF
passed a resolution similar to
the resolution passed by the board at
it's regular meeting last Monday night.
II spent a large portion of the months
of January. February and March, 1908,
school matters, and came to
the CONCLUSION lHeu Lndl d CfldilSt Vi
superintendent would be better for the
schools of Summit.
"At that time there were three mem
bers ready TO vote for the change.
II have never changed my mind or
expressed myself otherwise whenever
the question has been brought up for
discussion.
I'm May. 1908, at the suggestion of
the then Mayor J.. Boyd Risk, an
pert named Charles S. Meek was em-
by the board to examine and
on the public school situation
Summit, he having neen econ
.ended by Dean Russell, of the Teach
ers' College. Mr.. Meek was paid $20U
for his services. In his report Mr.. Meek
stated that more exacting supervision
Is demanded and that a course or
study in the hands of teachers ana
more exacting supervision will help
two fundamental weaknesses
Of the entire system and hat "a con-
idea, an organizing principle, a
progressive and connected development
from grade to grade is not apparent.
and methods OF instruction are inferior.
This report only confirmed the opinion
which had previously formed and
which / have ever since maintained,
that it was for the best interest of
the schools in Summit that there should
be q change in the SUPPLEMENTARY.