Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-28
H|BERN|ANS READY
TO CHAMPION FAITH
tcontinued from First Pase.)


present at the meeting also expressed
their opinions regarding the state
ments in question.
The action of Mayor. Brock in re-
fusing to allow to become public
the contests of letter sent by him
to Kearny Council No.. 400, Knights
of Columbus, of West Hudson, caused
some talk in Kearny today. The
mayor had been asked by the Knights
of Columbus to investigate the state
ments made by the school board
members.
The letter from the mayor was read
at a meeting last night of the knights
of Columbus When Mr.. Brock was
asked whether or not he objected to
having the contents made public, he
said he did object and gave as this
reason. 1--WE do not want any more
public discussion in the newspapers.
Mayor Brooks Opinion.
1t is understood Mayor Brock in his
lletter pointed out he thought nothing
| was meant by the members who
voiced their opinions. The Mayor
also stated, it is said, that some of
the statements attributed to members
of the board were unfoAlnded. Re-
garding the removal from office OF
any of the school board members, the
Mayor is said to have written he did
not believe he had such power, even
if conditions justified such action.
Although irrelevant to the issue, the
Mayor is said to have referred in his
hot q o.
Town Council is not prejudiced in
carrying out it's official duties, and
the Mayor wrote further. it is said,
he believed the school board conduct
ed its business along similar lines.
knights of Columbus Act.
That the answer of the Kearny
executive was not a satisfactory one
is shown by the fact that last night
the Knights of Columbus appointed a.
committee consisting of Edward ].
Gaffney, Thomas Halpin and John
Fogarty, all of Kearny, to delve
deeply into the matter and take what
ever steps thought necessary.
Several instances of official doings
tending to show an existing prejudice
were recited, and it was decided to
leave nothing undone in endeavor to
place the blame where it belongs. II
necessary the committee will seek re-
course in the highest tribunal of the
State.
The first public statement to be
made by a lay citizen of the town
since the School Board meeting was
given out last night by Fred A. Hart
| lev. a produce dealer and a prominent
member of Kearny Lodge No. 1850,
B. P. o. Elks. of Kearny. The state
ment follows:
"Although | am a non-Catholic,
believe it is my duty as a citizen and
taxpayer to make a public protest
against the statements of members
of the Kearny Board of Education.
who at a meeting week ago de-
cIared openly their preference for
Protestant school teachers in our
public schools.
Wrong to Taxpayers.
1.-THE superintendent of our schools
told these members he believed merit
alone should count in appointing
teachers. He also told them some of
his best teachers are Catholics. If
the ideas of these seemingly narrow
minded members were carried out,
would our town not be deprived of
the services of these teachers, and
can these men by any stretch of
| Imagination believe this would be a
square deal to the taxpayers of the
town?
MIR. Alexander, a member Of the
board, stated he believed the Bible
| should be taught in the schools. I
would like to know how it could con-
sistently be done. The public schools
are not conducted for any one reli-
gion in particular, they are for the
general public regardless of creed
and the general public regardless of
creed is called upon to maintain
| them.
when Mayor Brock appointed this
board 1 am quite sure he believed
| the members capable of handling the
school affairs. The action of the
members in question, however. would
lead one to believe he made a mis-
take. / believe our town would be
better off If the offending commits
sioners were removed.
What We want is men who will
manage our schools in a broad mind
4 ed and sensible manner
NEWARKERs IN LOCAL THEATRE