The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-09-18

7THEY SUSTAINED THE ACTION
or THE SCHOOL TRUSTEES
WHO DISMISSED MISS MURPHY
BECAUSE OF HER RELIGION.
The current issue of ''The Morning
Star" of New Orleans reproduces an
article from the Miami, Florida, Her
aid, of August Is, giving an account
of the mass meeting held by the
citizens of Fort Lauderdale, Fla, for
the purpose of sustaining or reject
ing the action Of the local school
board which had rescinded the
appointment of a Miss, Murphy as a
teacher in the public schools by Pro-
lessor H. E. Hall, Superintendent of
Public Instruction.
BY vote of 181 to it was over
whelmingly decided to sustain the
action of the school trustees in refus-
ing to allow Miss Murphy to teach in
the public school.
The meeting was called to order
by Robert J. Reed, President of Fort
Lauderville Board of Trade, after
which George Matthews, editor of the
Seminal, was elected permanent
chairman and H. v. Colver, editor of
the Herald. was elected secretary. The
chairman announced that the purpose
of the meeting was to sustain or reject
the action of the school trustees who
had refused to ratify the appointment
of Miss Murphy by the Superintendent
of Public Instruction.
The general attitude of the voters
on the question was shown when F..
w. Danes, an architect, who voiced
his approval of Professor Halls
appointment was Kissed from the floor,
and ruled out of order by the chair
man. Another speaker who at
tempted to discourage discrimination
was DR.. D. T. Firor of Lemon City.
He, too, was Kissed.
However Mr.. Danes was allowed
to voice his sentiments shortly after
the opening of the meeting, when he
said: my reasons for objecting to
the letter signed by the trustees and
the citizens of Fort Lauderdale, and
discriminating against Catholic girl
to teach in our schools, was because
/ considered it un-American and con-
trary to the principles and spirit of
our constitution.
Il would not sign my name to a
similar letter discriminating against
any other denomination, either Prot
estant or Jew, for all the money in
the minis of the world, nor for all the
world itself.
1.-THE Catholics pay $50,000,000 annu.
ally for the support of our public
schools, and that is one reason why
feel it's an injustice to tax them
and then discriminate against them"
Mr.. Danes remarks were received
with Kisses of "Sit down." Get out
of here!' "Get out of here!" I'VE
don't want Catholics!"
Although G. D. Kittridge, G. E.
Rickard, J. w. Cosner and s. ]. Clark,
who compose the Fort Lauderdale
school board were present at the
meeting, not one of them took part in
the discussion.
After the meeting, Prof Richard
said that Professor Hall, superin.
tendent of public instruction for Dade
county, had insisted on hiring the
Catholic girl to teach, in spite of oh,
jections of the trustees.
sAs / understand it," Mr.. Richard
stated, Miss Murphy taught in the
public schools of Nebraska and Colo.
RADIO before coming to Miami. She
is a very fine woman But local
people came to the trustees after
Prof. Hall had verbally contracted to
employ her, and. protested, and sent
us petitions in which they protested
vigorously against employing Catholic
teachers in our schools. Before the
trustees had learned of Prof. Halls
appointment officially, the taxpayers
came to us and then sent commune
cation in which they insisted on the
appointee being removed.
Then we decided that if there was
any doubt in our action in resembling
Prof. Halls appointment this should
be brought before the people, with the
result that the mass meeting was
called"
When informed of the action taken
at the mass meeting, Prof. r. E. Hall
stated that Miss Murphy had appeared
at the June examinations and had
been granted certificate to teach
in the public schools of Dade County.
Il recommended Miss Murphy to the
Fort Lauderdale trustees, for the
second grade school, Mr. Hall stated,
and introduced her to Prof. Richard,
who expressed himself satisfied with
the applicant and presumed she had
been officially appointed, and that
everything was satisfactory. / never
have asked any of the applicants for
teachers positions what church they
are affiliated with.
This manifestation of religious
intolerance has aroused the indfgna-
ton of the Catholics Of Florida and
other southern states; and Fort
Lauerdale has advertised herself to
the country in manner which reflects
no credit on its citizens.