Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-23
.FLAY EDITOR FOR
ATTACK ON SCHOOL
East Orange Parents and Of
fioials Denounce Aspersiens
on Morality of Pupils.

Residents of East Orange are in
state of heated indignation today at
the reports of alleged immortality
among the pupils of the East Orange
High School published in the East
Orange Record Saturday. The MEM
bers of the executive committee of
the East Orange High School Home
and School Association has prepared
to take decisive action in defense of
the good name of the high school and
its 800 pupils. With this end in view
they have arranged to meet Wednes-
day night in the home Of Mrs. Will
lam Wolfarth. "a New street, to de-
eide on what action to take.
Both the men and women members
of the school association held indigna~
ton meetings yesterday, and discuss
ed the high school scandal in an in
formal way. Women members met
in the home of Mrs. Charles B. Yard
ley, William and Walnut streets, and
the men in the home of John Lenord
Merrill, president, SIT Park avenue.
All have agreed to come together at
Mrs. Wolfarth's home to decide on
definite action.
At both meetings yesterday the
East Orange Record and it's editor,
Linwood c. ellis, were densunced in
no uncertain terms.
The mothers of pupils who Joined
in the meeting at the home of Mrs.
Yardley, who is vice-president of the
association, were most outspoken in
their criticism of the newspaper ar
ticle, which they declared was a base
less fabrication, with no foundation
in fact. The allegations of mat ernity
cases among the young people and
other statements and inuendoes were
denounced.
Outrageous" Says Mrs. Yardley.
1T was simply outrageous said
Mrs. Yardley in discussing the state
ments spread broadcast as a result
of an indiscreet remark of Rev. Rob-
ert Russell Wicks, pastor of the Ar
lington Avenue Presbyterian Church
at a dinner of his mems club last
Thursday night. I'VE have to go
cautiously, of course, but we will de-
fend the good name of our schools
and children against any such I'M
founded stat ements."
Mr.. Merrill was most emphatic in
his denunciation of the published
article, and denounced it as an I'M
warranted outrage not founded on
fact. He said: 81 rejoice to see the
steps our Mayor has taken, and most
heartily indorse his attitude. l will
have more to say later"
Supplementing his formal statement
of Saturday night, Mayor Gregory
last night expressed his regret that
the editor of the Record could bring
himself to so besmirch the name of
his own city. II believe in the ap-
solute freedom of the press at all
I. this
as nothing more than a low, dastardly
attack upon 900 defenseless boys and
girls, as we'll as the East Orange
school system and the Board of Edu-
cation
May Take Legal Action.
Asked whether there was pos
sibility of any action against Mr..
ellis being taken, the Mayor replied
that, as a lawyer, he questioned II
there were any grounds for legal pro-
ceedings. I'm any case" he said,
such action would have to be taken
by City Counsel Borden D. Whiting;
Mayor Gregory also said he felt that
there might have been an indirect at
tack upon his administration IN the
activities of Mr.. Gillis, and quoted the
latter as telling him that he was re-
sponsible for the Board of Education.
in that he had appointed each MEM
Der. The Mayor believed this to be
an attempt to reach him personally.
Rev. Robert Russell Wicks. In the
Arlington Avenue Church. yesterday
repeated his regrets that his state
ments was misconstrued. 81 am sorry
that an unfortunate remark on my
part had been SO greatly exagger-
ated and misinterpreted," said the
pastor at the morning service. he
made no further comment, as his let
ters to the Board of Education and
Mayor Julian A. Gregory were con-
sidered complete explanations or his
talk.
Board Denounces Editor.
An angry group of officials attend
ed the meeting Saturday night OF
the East Orange Board of Educa--
ton and no language was considered
too severe for the editor of the Rec
ord. Ralph E. Files. principal of the
high school, told the board Mr.. ellis
had informed him of his Intention to
print the allegations and the prln-
cipal urged him not to do so. Inc
editor, Mr.. Files said, declared he
wanted, "a scoop" on the other pa
pers, and declared he would print the
article ahead of the other newspa-
pers. Mr.. Files said there was no
foundation Tor tne lnSlnudtlone
agains the school and pupils. and he
was joined by Mrs. Edward F. Cham
berlin, superintendent Edwin c.
Broome, George S. Hubert. who
heard the dinner talks; Rev. Ferdi-
nand Q. Blanchard, president of the
school board, and Hamilton S. Cor
win, who denounced the attack as
unwarranted. The school board then
prepared this formal statement which
was given the newspaper men in or
der that the pupils and their parents
might feel treasured;
'aThe attention of the Board of Edu-
cation has been directed to the at
tack made upon the name of the city,
the reputation of the pupils and the
integrity of the school system in the
issue of the East Orange Record of
February Il. When statements are
thus made in the form of news, even
although partly in the form of in
nuendO, silence may be misunder-
stood.
at is not necessary to consider
separately the points Noted in the
article, Some are untrue; some alto
gether unrelated to the school sys-
TEN, and others so vaguely stated as
to make no definite attack, although
one is obviously intended. The false