Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-31
MISS FOY WILL
NOT ENTER RACE
Teacher Declines to Be Candi-
date for County Superin-
tendent of Schools
LETTER ON MATTER
Democrats Will Likely Nominate
Woman Educator Despite
Her Refusal

Mary E. Foy, the we'll known teacher
and club leader of Los Angeles, whom
the Democrats have been urging to
become a candidate for the nomination
as county superintendent of schools
against Mark Keppel, incumbent, stat
ed yesterday that she must decline the
offer.
Miss Foy's letter to Albert NJ. Nor
ton, chairman Of the county central
committee, declining to become a can
didate, ELECTED the statement from the
county chairman that the Democrats
would be requested to write her name
in on the ballot at the primary cleo
ton, Notwithstanding her declination.
1--WE believe" said Mr.. Norton, that
If nominated Miss Foy will receive the
Endorsement of the Good Government
organization, and have been advised
that her refusal to become a candidate
is due to her belief that the Good Gov
ernment Endorsement, after the pri-
maries, will go to the incumbent. AS
we do not anticipate this action, we
have decided to write Miss Foy's name
on the primary ballot"
MISS FOY's LETTER
Miss Foy's letter to Mr.. Norton fol-
lows:
Los Angeles, July 20, 1910.
Albert M. Norton, chairman Demo-
cratic County Central Committee,
Los Angeles, Cal.
My dear Mr.. Norton: The very
generous tender to me of the nom
ination for the important office of
county superintendent Of schools
of Los Angeles county by the
Democratic party at the August
primary election has received my
most careful and conscientious con-
sideration. I am sincerely appre-
ciative Of the great honor thus
shown me by the Denocratic CEN
trail committee through you, not
only to myself as an individual,
but to my sex in general and we
rejoice in this expression Of conf
dence in woman's ability and fit
ness to direct the affairs of so i'm
portant an office as county super
intendent of schools. There is no
department of the public service
which more nearly touches the
lives and interests of women than
does the public school. There IS
no department with which women
wish to be more closely identified,
and it is thevone department in
which the constitution and the stat
utes of our great state of Callfor-
MIA expressly give to women rec
ogniton and a place. Therefore,
were It possible, I would gladly ac-
cept the nomination and, If elected
would throw my life and energy
into the work.
But I cannot accept. There are
many reasons-personal and bust
ness-which I cannot state, and
which must prevent my assuming
the important obligations of such
an office at this time; but my pa
triotism and the duty I owe to my
country will ever bind me to the
public school, and in my individual
capacity as a private citizen | snail
always work where the welfare or
so important a branch OF the pup
lie service is involved.
The whole structure of our gov
ernment is the greatest and grand
est on earth Toward it all eyes
are turned. Out upon its bulwarks,
guarding the treasure house of hu-
manity's ideals is the great army
of children, officered and disci-
plined by the teachers. With those
children rests our future hope. They
constitute the most important ele-
ment in the entire structure of our
great govern 4ent. It is they who
are to pass on to generations yet
unborn the grand principles OF
right and justice love of country
and all our precious liberties;
hence it is q proud distinction that
your committee has judged me tit
and worthy to be an officer in such
an army. My regret is indeed deep
that I canont accept the honor. 1t
has afforded me considerable pleas
ure to be thought Of in such con-
nection, and 7 shall ever bear the
same grateful remembrance. Be
lieVe me ever most sincerely yours,
MARY e. FOY.