New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-06
SCHOOL REFORMS
REST ON ELECTION
Continued from page I

ter attack Of the director OF the Pub
lie Education Association, Howard W
Nudd.
Opposition Of the New York Fedora
ton of Labor TO the election Of Will
lam G. Wilcox and John Whalen, and
u the reappointment Of District super
intendent Taylor, which will follow
the success of the progressive faction,
developed Friday. A resolution thel
adopted by the Central Federated Union
was followed yesterday. by an open
letter signed by James 7. Holland,
president. 70 Mayor Mitchell and the
members of the Board Of Education
ulging them 90 vote for the Churchill
nominee. This opposition is the result
Of a letter from Abraham FleXner, a
member of the board and an advocate
OF Mr.. Wilcox, TO Commissioner Win
throp.
Rockefeller Influence Seen.
The federation said in the letter that
the election Of the progressive candi-
dates threatened to throw the control
of the city schools into the hands Of
the Rockefeller interests. IN his letter
to Mayor Mitchell yesterday Mr.. Hol-
land says: Il have seen the letter Of
Commissioner Of Education FleXner TO
Commissioner Winthrop. which shows
very clearly that Commissioners FleX-
ner and Fosdick are trying TO secure
control Of public education for the
Rockefeller crowd, and the State Fed
Grafton of Labor joins with the labor
movement of the City of New York IN
requesting you 10 ask for the res gna-
items of Commissioners Flexner and
Fosdick. In view OF the uncovering Of
this conspiracy to get control OF our
educational system, organized labor's
suspicious Of the underhand methods
of the Rockefeller interests are fully
confirmed
In his letter to the commissioners Of
the Board Of Education Mr.. Holland
says that he has knowledge Of secret
meetings" to place the Rockefeller in
terests in control Of the schools.
What influence this attack will have
on the opponents Of President Church
ills candidate is subject OF much
speculation. 1t is expected that 1t viii
ALLEVIATE three or more wavering com
missioners II was said yesterday that
this weakening of the progressive ranks
would be more than counteracted by
the awakening OF public Indignation
against the rejection Of District Super
intendent Taylor and by President
Churchill's attack against Mayor
Mitchell yesterday.
Wednesdays action against Mr. Tay-
Tor has brought the feud TO climax.
1t has stlfened and united the pro-
gressives and has Tired up the public
in its favor. II is considered that that
action was a high handed proceeding by
the Churchill group In last effort TO
remove from the board the man who
was responsible for the attempt to re-
adjust the school system. IL is the
first time IN six years that a candidate
supported by the board Of supcrintend-
ents for election has been rejected.
A person in position 10 know said
the contest on Monday resolves itself
into a fight between Pres dent Church
ills organized group and band of re-
formers. who are numerically stronger
There can be little doubt II was
said. that the country at large and
particularly ncighborng states are
kceuiy interested IN the result Of Mon
days election. The interest of the pub
lie in the Gary, plan and the Montessori
system has brought the system OF pub
lie education into the throes of recon
struction. II the progressives who IA
vor the election of Mr. Wilcox and
Mr. Whalen and the reappointment OF
District superintendent Taylor lose
the attempt 10 modernize the schools
of New York must be indefinitely set
aside"