The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-09-04
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1llOVO vi
Mention was made in the Irish
Standard last week of the bieot sen.
timent that ruled the convention of
the National Educational Association
at Oakland, California. The facts
which have been brought to light, as
well as the circumstances connected
with the defeat of Miss Grace stra-
chan for the presidency of the as
sociation; it is conclusive evidence
that an Anti-Cathoiic campaign
against Miss strachan was far-reach-
Ing and we'll carried out. That one of
the most active in the campaign
against Miss Strachan was one of her
own sex, Mrs. Ella F1agg Young of
Chicago. Miss Strachan has placed
her side of the case to the public
through Rev. Father Yorke. editor of
the San Francisco Leader. from which
We acknowledge the following:
San Francisco. Cal. August "A.
To the Editor of The Leader:
The following is sworn statement
as to the reasons for her resignation
from the National Education Associa-
tien. by Miss Grace Strachan of New
York:
Neither l, myself, nor any of the
members of the committee of New
York City teachers supporting my can
didacy, did by word or act attempt to
attack the opposing candidate, or to
tmpugn his fitness for the Office which
he sought, except to express our sin
cers belief that since upwards of IS
per cent Of the pupils represented by
the members of the association are in
the elementary schools. and since up
wards of IS per cent of said members
are engaged in elementary school
work, it is not right or wise that
three presidents in succession should
be selected from so decided minority
representation as college presidents.
There is proof that was made the
subject Of outrageous attacks and un-
worthy tactics on account of my be-
ing member of the Catholic Church.
Under date Of May z, 1916, Mrs.
Ella Flagg Young of Chicago wrote
Miss Katherine Devereaux Blake of
New York letter, from which the
following are excerpts: when In
Springfield I met number of school
masters. Strange objections came up
that in California, as we'll as in Chi
cago, at present, there was decided
bias against Catholics. To my
great surprise, the men said that it
was not the day for a Catholic to
come forward in California, which
would cast the majority of votes" ("
Mrs. Ella Flagg Young of Chicago
said to group of California women
who asked her why she was opposing
Miss Strachan, that it was because
her Church (meaning the Catholic
Church) was opposed to the teaching
of sex hygiene.
A California teacher-a man-en-
gagged as member of the local commit
tee assisting in the National Educa-
tion Headquarters in the Chamber Of
Commerce, Oakland, abused his posi-
tion as such assistant by telling appli-
cants for membership that Miss Stra-
chan had come here with a Catholic
contingency to work for her election.
My committee, being representative
of the teachers in the City of New
York, includes in the membership
Catholics, Jews, Episcopalians, Pres
byterians, Baptists, Christian scien-
fists, Methodists and other sects. The
chairman is not Catholic.
A libelous story circulated against
me was to the effect that I turned
over to parochial schools five per cent
of the money won to increase teach
ers' salaries.
To this l submit: (1) That is it
wholly false. (2) That it is absurd,
because among the $4,000 members of
our teaching and supervising force are
representatives Of all religions, and
because in New York City each teach
er receives her salary in the form of
a check from the Department of FL
nance, made out in the name of the
teacher and payable only to that
teacher.
Another libelous story circulated
against me was that had sought leg.
islation which would initiate against
public schools and favor parochial
schools.
To this submit: () That it is
wholly false. (2) That Thomas E.
Finnegan "a Presbyterian, it may sur.
prise some to know, First Deputy
Commission of Education of the
State of New York;, who has worked
with me before the Legislature and
the Governor for the past ten years
will attest its falsity. (3) That to
aid in the dissemination Of these libel
GUS attacks, anti-Catholic publications
so filled with falsehoods that they dc
not find place on any public news
stand in the country, were used. (4)
That am now plaintiff in a libel suit
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