New-York tribune., 1913-11-23
Churchill Calls Liars Any
Who Insinuate That
There Is.
ALL HIGH-MINDEDN
MEN, HE DECLARES
Tells Hunter Association They
Fear No Danger, for They
Know No Sin.

ANY one who insinuates that politics
exists in the Board Of Education Is a
downright. deliberate liar" said Thomas
W. Churchill, president of the board. in a
speech before the Thomas Hunter Asso-
ciation of Graduates Of Public School 35
in the Hotel Astor last night Mayor
Gaynor made eleven changes In the board
that is. he added that many new MEM
bers-yet some say that the body has de-
Perforated. I say that you can't pick one
of it's members that isn't a high minded.
public spirited citizen. yet We have been
damned uphill and down for being po-
litical heelers."
President Churchill went on to say that
to his knowledge there never had been
any politics in the citys education until
the last few weeks. He defended the bill
giving the board the right to nominate
the additional district superintendents
without the recommendation Of the asso-
ciate superintendents. Advocacy OF the
bill, he said. brought storm OF abuse
and condemnation on the heads of the
commissioners
That was the only indication OF poll
tics imaginable. and there wasn't grain
OF II at the bottom OF our attitude. we
feared no danger, because we knew no
SIM" he said
Mr.. Churchill said that when he went
to the Board Of Education he found the
course Of study "humbug." Arithmetic
that plumbers could use and profit by
had been pushed out and replaced by alb
struse "stuff that was of no use at all.
The commissioners, ne said, apparently
were there to pass on lead pencils and
steam heaters but under no circum-
stances we're they to touch the course
OF study.
Mr. Churchill said the board revitalized
the classrooms. emancipated the teacn-
ers and gave the right OF free speech
10 ALL" The monopoly in that respect
ne said, had been taken away from any
particular one" The result OF 1t all, ne
said, was that the dead and case-har-
dened" course of study had been changed
81 am not here to defend the Board OF
Education" ne said, after ten minutes oil
talk abolng hits line, but heaven knows
the board needs defenders badly enough
We don't want any conflict and we don
|, care tust yet TO rush to the newspapers 10
defand ourselves The time may come
however, when we shall have TO adopt
that undignihed course"
Other speakers at the dinner to Dr
Hunter were Marcus NJ. Marks, Presi'
dent-elect OF the Borough OF Manhattan
who touched on "Humors OF a Pohtica
Campaign; Frank Moss, Assistant DIS
trict Attorney, on "Chivalry and Ro'
nance To-day" and the Rev. Warren '"
Giles, OF East Orange, n. j.
The dinner is an annual affair. The old
desk which DR.. Hunter used In NO 81
stood in front OF the dais to give atmos-
phere. DR. Hunter, who is eighty-two
wears old is president emeritus or the
Normal College. Every time his name
was mentioned the boys" cheered Justify
His Greetings from Old No. 30 was
given in a voice that was heard In every
corner OF the big dining room. Those on
the dais with him were:
Francis NJ. Scott, the Rev. DR.. Charles
p. Fagnani. Alrick II. Man. OF the Board
~ Education: George s. Davis, President
Churchill, William w. MCEtHuie"S' 'c'i %
w. Fortmeyer. one Of the Oldest OF the
Boys" and Assistant District Attorney
Moss
Among those present were: Irving r.
Fisher, David c. Link, Senator George w.
Simpson, the Rev. DR.. Daniel H. Martin.
De Witt ]. Seligman. Clarkson Cowl,
David NJ. Newberger DR.. John d. Quack-
enbos, A. NJ. Hudnut, DR.. o. r. Blanch-
ard. Charles Strauss. president OF the
water board DR.. John Dorning. Justice
Barlow s. Weeks. Henry w. Van De-
yenter, William Mabon.
Judge Joseph F. Mulqueen, T. c. Reid
DR.. Thomas Darlington. J. Van Vechten
Olcott. DR. T. r. Chambers. Captain
Henry NJ Seeley. Roland S. kursheedt,
Daniel p. Hays, Louis Auerbach, Samuel
Untermyer, James +. Smith. Assistant
District Attorney: Jesse Shulman. Attor-
rey General OF Canada; William y. Pen
ney, clerk of the Supreme Court, crimi-
nal branch, and Sheriff julius Harourger.