New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-20
Parents Wait on Board of
Education's Meeting
To-day.
CITY'S NEW PLAGUE
CASES SHOW BIG JUMP
DIR. Emerson Not Alarmed
at Increase of Twenty
Over Yesterday.

An increase of twenty in the number
of new cases of infantile paralysis and
an increase Of four in the number oil
deaths was shown in the reports OF the
Department of Health yesterday, as
compared with the reports for Mon
day. The new cases were 90, and the
deaths 10.
Unless a postponement Of the open
ing Of the city's schools is ordered by
the Board of Education ct a special
meeting to be held this afternoon the
League of Parents Association OF the
18th School District will appear IN
court tomorrow to ask for an injunc-
ton against the opening next Monday,
on the ground that the infantile paraly-
sis epidemic has not abated suihclently
TO eliminate all danger. This action
was decided on at meeting last night
in the home of DR.. Irving d. Stein
bardt. of 3l2 West Ninety-ninth Street,
of delegates from the various organiza-
tons embraced within the membership
of the league, and representing the par
ents Of l6,500 school children OF the
upper West Side.
David Rothschild, Of West Ninety
first Street, chairman of the league,
said after the melting that attorneys
for the organization had been prepar-
ing their case for several days, and
hat il an injunction was requested the
courts would be asked TO make the writ
returnable Friday. Mr.. Rothschild was
named as chairman Of a special COM
nittee to handle the fight for the
eague, other members of which are
Dr.. Steinhardt. Frederick Klein, el4
Vest End Avenue; John II. Willets, "a
Wall Street; !. Ferber Goldenhorn, 249
Vest 10th Street, and Charles II. Stu
lin, $40 West Ninety-fourth Street.
The Committees Statement.
This committee issued the following
tatement:
ain view Of the fact that the United
;tates Public Health Service, the State
:oard Of Health and the bulletin Of the
'ew York City Board Of Health are
dvising the children to still refrain
rom playing or congregating, and in
lew of the increase in the number Of
MANTLE paralysis cases reported to-
av over Yesterday and the great fear
f most parents TO permit their chill
rem 20 enter school on Monday next,
ne League Of Parents Association Of
ne 18th School District is convinced
hat the Board of Education is taking
90 great risk in insisting upon open
ny the schools on that date. We de-
ire TO 20 on record as asking the
Board of Health TO defer the opening
# the schools until October 2, at least,
and further postponement II the
number Of cases reported during the
.oming week justifes it.
THE league is awaiting the result OF
my action which the Board Of Educa-
ion may take in respect Of deferrlng
he opening Of the public schools, and
bending the action of the board the
eague has requested the lawyers 10
1e prepared 70 make an application TO
ne courts 10 tulOlu the Optl4i4b VI tlN
chools on Monday. So many requests
ave been received by members Of the
eague's special committee that some
iction be taken that IL is the opinion
e the committee that every parent
Throughout the city Of New York who
incerely believes that the schools
should not be opened on onday next
,hould write a letter 10 William c.
Wilcox, president Of the Board of Edu'
cation, protesting against such open
ing"
To Memorable Education Board.
A copy Of this statement, in the
form OF a resolution officially adopted
by the committee, will be sent TO the
Board OF Education to-day, with re-
quest that IL be considered at this
afternoons meeting. IL is also prob
able that a committee from the league
will attend the meeting and request 9
hearing. DR.. Steinhardt said last night
that he had tried yesterday TO arrange
meeting for to-day between such 4
committee and President Wilcox, but
that Mr.. Wilcox had said he had NJ
time to spare. DR.. Steinhard said that
Dr.. Haven Emerson, Health Commits
sioner, had promised TO grant him a
hearing If an appointment were made
by telephone.
Dir. Rothschild arranged the meeting
In DR.. Steinhardt's home after a con
yersation over the telephone yesterday
afternoon with Health Commissioner
Haven Emerson. Mr.. Rothschild de.
elared that since the publication of the
leagues protest in yesterday mornings
newspapers he had received al least
fifty letters and telephone messages
from parents in all sections OF the city
approving the organizations attempt 70
prevent the opening Of the schools. Re