Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-10-24
FAIR PLAY
why the Catholics of New York
Nominated an Independent
Ticket.
Teachers and Pupils Were Dis
eliminated Against I'm Pub
lie Schools.
Taught Politicians That CathO-
lie Vote Had to BE Reckon
ed With.
BISHOP HUGHES HARD CONTEST
BISHOP HUGHES HARD CONTEST
BY James A. Rooney, Ii. D.

Disseminated against in the public
school system of the country; when
Catholic teachers formed a negligi-
BILE quantity in numbers and influ-
ence in that system, and when
falsehoods about the church and her
history, misstatements of her doc
trine and transformation about her
practices we're SO many recommended
tons for text books seeking admis-
sion for use in that system. Happily
great deal of this has long since
been corrected through the educated
public sentiment of fair play, largely
brought home to the public con-
science through the foundation,
gradual but certain growth and the
present firm establishment of the
parochial school system, though at
an enormous expense, willingly
borne by the great Catholic body.
Invitations to Catholic educators
to enter the public school system and
the expurgation from the text books
of matter Objectionable to Catholics
kept pace with the spread and in
fluence of the parochial school sys-
tenn, until now the text books con-
TAIN llllAC W NhANh SothOAlNo OOJCNS
and Catholic teachers, principals,
lecturers and instructors in the sys-
tenn stand on an equal footing with
their associates of other beliefs and
of no beliefs, and vie with them in
numbers and efficiency.
1t is almost incredible in such a
country as ours that this was not
always so. Perhaps Catholics have
become so used to the present condi-
ton of public school affairs that
they can hardly realize that not so
very long ago Catholic children were
compelled to use text. books in which
history was falsified to the prejudice
of the church and Catholic teachers
were excluded from the schools to
such an extent that in 1910 in New
York City there were only six Cath
Ollie teachers out of 100. The
Protestant Bible was read and COM
mented on and all this because the
schools of the city were controlled
by sectarian society made up
largely of Presbyterians, known as
the Public School Society. n
This society disbursed about
$4,000 to the various schools of
the city, though nominally the
Board of Aldermen designated the
schools to which the public money
should be apportioned. None of 10
of course was allotted to the poor
Catholic schools and when they APP
piled for their share of these public
school moneys this Presbyterian
Public School Society said no. Then
they applied to the Board of Alder
men and they. too, refused. This
took place while Bishop Hughes was
absent in Europe. When he re-
turned he assumed personal charge
OF the matter and drew up a new
petition, which was presented to the
Aldermen. To this the sectarians
filed remonstrance and there was
a two days public hearin~, in which
Bishop Hughes appeared as the
champion Of his people and spoke in
their defense and in favor of the
petition. But agaN justice was de-
MED them.
The Bishop called public meetings
In the basement of st. James
church and in Carroll Hall, and II
was decided to appeal to the Legis-
lature. All this time the Bishop
was made the object of campaign
OF abuse from the Protestant pulpits
and in the public press, particularly
the New York Herald, which de-
scended to bitter personal in
yective. The agitation reached its
height in the municipal campaign of
the fall OF 1912. Candidates of both
political parties were pledged to
vote against the Catholics and the
people were urged to support candi-
dates opposed to the Catholic de-
| mands. The Bishop saw that there
was but one thing to do, namely to
nominate an Independent ticket, and
this was done.
The Catholics held their convenI
ton in Carroll Hall on October 29,
and then nominated a ticket which
Bishop Hughes approved. He urged
them all to stand by II, not in the
hope OF winning, but to demonstrates
that they We're in earnest, and to
teach the politicians OF both parties
that the Catholic vote was some-
thing that would have to be
reckoned with later.
The Independent ticket, as was
expected, was defeated, but though
Il was only presented to the people
four days before the election, the
Catholics polled 1900 votes. One OF
IT'S objects, however. was success
fully attained. for when the law
makers at Albany recognized the
statesmanship OF the Bishops mas
ter-stroke they legislated out OF
existence the Public School Society.
This was accomplished by a bill
introduced by Mr.. Maclay, who was
supported by Thurlow Weed and
Horace Greeley. and which was
known as a bill to extend 10 the
city and county of New York the
provisions of the general act in rela-
ton TO common schools" II pro-
yided for the election OF commits
sioners, inspectors and trustees In
each ward to constitute the Board
OF Education OF the City OF New
York. The bill passed the Assembly
by a vote OF sixty-five to sixteen.
SO ended Bishop Hughes famous
contest with the Public school So
ciety after a two years contentiony
II was only partial victory, for