The Washington times., 1915-04-08
SCHOOL BOARD SURE
OF LIVELY ELECTION
Rule As, Mothers Congress, and
Parent Teachers Bodies All
, Involved.

"Rulo 49," the District Branch of
Mothers Congress and the forty
parent-teacher associations 1t controls,
hundreds of Washington's best known
club women and wives of several Con-
gressmen, are Involved in one Of the
iivelest campaigns ever seen in the
Capital over the vacancy which will be
created in the Board OF Education by
the expiration of the term of Mrs Susie
Root Rhodes. on June 90.
Because of the candidacy Of Mrs.
Giles Scott Rafter, now president of
the District branch of the Mothers
Congress, the rght will be carried into
the coming election OF the Mothers
Congress on April ~.
Prominent members of that body as
sert that Mrs. Rafter has used her in
fuence as head of the congress to fur
ther her aspirations to become a men,
her of the Education Board Mrs.
Rhodes, at present member Of the
Board Of Education. also Is q member
of the Mothers Congress, and a strong
faction of that organization is desirous
OF her re-ccction.
Three To Retire In June.
Mrs. Rhodes is only one of three
members who will retire from the
board on June 20. The others are John
B. Larner and Dr. Charles ". Marshall.
"hule A5'' was under consideration or
a committee of which Mr.. Larner is
chairman. Though Mrs. Rhodes Is
strongly opposed to barring married
teachers from the schools, she did not
wish to cause any friction among board
members by openly opposing the rec
ommendaton of the committee when
the matter last came up and was
hE Silly disposed or.
have strongly indorscd the movement
to repeal the rule which virtually bars
married teachers from the grades. and
they are using Mrs. Rhodes inaction in
the matter as campaign material to
push Mrs. Rafter's reelection as head
OF the Mothers Congress, which they
felt would be a strong factor in OBJ
tanning her appointment as member
Of the Board OF Education in June.
Other members of the Mothers Con-
gress assert that the organization can
do more effective work only If it keeps
out of any partisan StTlIc, ana NOThS
with all members Of the school system
on strictly neutral basis. They as
sert that Mrs. Rafter violated this
principle in her active efforts to obtain
a place or the Board of Educati
when Mrs. Rhodes was appointed three
years ago. aud again in openly cndeaN-
oring TO obtain the appointment this
year.
Forty Parents Societies.
Much OF the work of the Mothers
Congress is done through the parent
teacher organizations. of which there
are more than forty. Each OF these
is made up Of parents Of children
from various schools, and some OF
them, like the Parents League, in
clude groups of schools in large areas
All the activities of these aSsOcia
tions are directed through the Moth
ers' Congress-.
Efforts to obtain Il candidate to op
pose Mrs. Rafter at the election thI!
month have been conducted quietly
The opposition's candidate. it is un
derstood. has been secured, but ha
not been announced. She will be
dark horse" 1t was intimated. ON
having strong backing has beer
Mrs. A. A. Birncy, former president
now national secretary of the Moth
ers' Congress. and one who has takel
no part in the factiOnal disputes.