The sun., 1916-02-07
RIVALS CONFIDENT
IN SCHOOL ELECTION
President Churchill Recalls
How Many Meetings FlcX-
ncr Failed to Attend.
DENIES ALL THE CHARGES

That neither Of the attacks made on
leaders Of the rival parties in the Board
OF Education will have any effect on
the election Of a president to succeed
Thomas W. Churchill. which will he held
to-day. was the opinion expressed by
leaders Of both parties yesterday. ana
each faction is confident OF n victory.
When asked for his views on the at
tack made by Abraham Flexner. leader
~ the Mayors party In the board. Presi-
dent Churchill gave out a carefully pre-
pared statement which makes n general
denial Of all the allegations presented
by MIR Flexner The discussion then
became more personal and President
Churchill asked that Mr. F'lexner pre-
pare bill Of particulars in which he
would give in detail any proof that he
may be possessed OF to bear out his
charges that the president used his
office as a means Of furthering hts per-
sonal interests" President Churchill
made the following statement:
"Mr. Flexner's ignorance OF the boards
current history Is not to be wondered
at. II IL common for Mr.. Flsxner TO be
absent From January 1, 1914. when he
took office, to February 4. 1916, there
have been fifty-two meetings Of the
Board Of Education. Mr. FleNner was
present at thirty-two. Mr.. FleNner is a
member OF the committee OH vocational
schools and industrial training. lie was
present at five VI the fourteen meetings
of that committee. Mr. Flcxner is At
member of the committee on studies and
textbooks. which has held thirteen meet
ings Mr. FleNner was present AT three.
"a. was "a member Of the executive com
nittee on Hunter College. which held
five meetings Mr.. f'leNner was present
AT two.
Ills attack will not. In my opinion.
max. any difference in the final outcome
Of tn. election. | will not give out any
lineup ~ ,hose whom / expect to support
Mr.. Gillespie as my successor. won't
even say how many votes We count on.
because IL the commissioners Of cduca-
ton ar. guided by their oaths rather
than by loose and Idle talk in corners
the vote will be unanimous for Mr..
Gillespie"
Arthur =. Somers. vicc-pre~i ~idcnt OF
the board and candidate on the ticket
with George j. Gillespie. to succeed him
forces would rriumph over the Mitchell
faction.
"lt will certainly be a close contest.
Mr. Somers said. and think The iinai
outcome will he decided by one or two
votes. certainly believe Mr.. Gillespie
and ! will be elected
DO YOU think the recent statements
Of Mr.. Flexner are an attack on rTesi-
dent Churchill or tn. party. and Will
they AFFECT the outcome OF to-morrow's
election" he was asked
when NJ. FleNner first mad. an out
cry" replied Mr.. Somers. ''it was thought
there might be something Of great com
Germ and of public interest As soon as
! discovered what his charges were they
amused me. | never saw such an ex.
hibition Of weakness. President Churchill
has always conducted all his affairs as
president OF the board in an open man
ner and his three years ~ head OF th"
board have been above reproaCh
William q. Wilcox of Staten Island.
candidate ot the Mitchell forces TO op-
pose NJ. Gillespie. was confident Of VIZ
tory When interviewed yesterdhy, but
would make no statement concerning tle
counter attacks that hav" been mad-
against leading members of the factions
The demand made by -hc Conference
o. ol-di.ZsNi LABOR OH INDUSTRIAL f.Ql-
cation of the Mayor that commi s,oners
FleNner and Raymond i. Fosdick BE- re-
moved from ofiic" as a result of the pub
lication OF a letter regarding the Rookie
feller Foundation. written by Mr. Flcx-
ner to Eger,ur L. Winthrop. Jr, is not
expected to influence the vote "a, the
election. The leaders OF the Mitchell fac
ton do not take the demand as a cam
paisn issue OF the Churchill forces. but
merely an attempt on the part OF the
labor interests to force out Of the board
any persons fhey consider to be in any
way Influenced by tho Rockefeller