New-York tribune., 1918-05-01
Board Expected to Con.
firm Superintendent. An.
pointment To-day
Predicted Somers
VIII Retire Som
Educators Generally Ex.
press Disappointment At
Choice of School Head

The Board Of Education will CON.
verse to-day in executive session and
make official its elevation of DR.. win,
liam L. Ettinger to the city school an.
perintendency and the $4,000 salary
which accompanies that post.
In educational circles the hope wa,
expressed freely last night that soma
eleventh hour miracle might intervene
to change the decision and relieve tha
schools of the charge that they, too.
have succumbed to the political die.
tates of the City Hall. But every Re-.
liable indication is that the Ettinser
contingent will stand firm and carrv
| through its appointment as announced
after the committee Of the who.e
meeting last Monday.
What seems equally certain, though.
is that the dissenting members of the
board will withhold the CUSTOMARY
courtesy of yielding to the majority
at the end in order to make the final
vote unanimous. President Somsrs.
for one, announced last night that be
did not believe he could bring himself
to go on record as deeming DR.. Et-
finger the best man to stand guardian
over the destinies of the children Of
New York.
Predict Somers Will Retire
AS a result of the situation that has
developed, educators and politicians
were a unit yesterday in predicting
the resignation &C NJ. Somers from
the presidency of the board
"This split has been foreordained all
along" said one. president Somers
| is a conscientious and competent Of
fetal, and that is not the kind that is
wanted. His board now. IN the show.
down, has openly bolted his leadership.
He will not be able to stand the press
ure much longer"
President Somers, on the other hand,
declared that he puts the interests Of
the scnool children above all else, and
intends to stick just as long as he be-
lieves he can be of any service to
them.
Yesterday he discussed the whole
situation with great frankness.
Until the present breach arose." he
said, "the board has always deferred
to my judgment, treating me with
great courtesy, and. l might almost
say, affection"
In the present case also, he said,
they had listened attentively to all his
suggestions and arguments. But when
it came to backing his candidates Tor
| the superintendcncy with their votes.
, the majority baked.
Compelled to Give In
1t was Aiming S. Prall, the Staten
Island real estate broker, Mr. Somer5
admitted, who first brought the name
of DR.. Ettinger before the board. Vice
President Wilsey and Mrs. Murray at
once rallied to his support.
II brought up one name after an
other" said President Somers, "ad-
vancing in each case the reasons why
l considered these candidates prefer
able to Dr. Ettinger. In return the
Ettinger supporters adduced no reasons
for their choice. They simply said
they thought he was better man.
So, finally, 1 was compelled to give in.
"At the same time," added Mr.. Somers,
~ am not prepared to make any attack
on the board nor to desert the ship at
| this time. If the majority of the hoard
feels that DR.. Et.inger should be City
Superintendent of Schools, l am pre-
pared to go ahead and see how we
| shall come out"
In other quarters a much less char
! liable view of the boards motives was
taken.
Etiquette" said DR.. William H.
Maxwell, whose unexpired term Ettin-
ger has been chosen to fill, "forbids me
to say what l think of this appoint-
ment."
Principals Disappointed
Half dozen high school principals
! characterized the selection as "dis-
grace to the city"-but begged to hsvs
their names withheld, for fear of the
penalty after DR.. Ettinger assumes Of
! fee.
"a short-sighted decision,r com.
mented Professor frank McMurray, Of
Teachers College, Columbia. "Dr. Et-
finger is man of no reputation, and
! greatly fear the city will rue his ap-
pointment."
Another man who has been in closs
touch with the local district superin-
tendents declared that had a poll been
taken among them, DR.. Ettinger's nans
would have appeared very close to the
bottom of the list. And he expressed
serious doubts as to the new appointss's
ability to work in harmony with them.
son the other hand" said Dean Bal
liet, of New York University, at doei
no good to talk at this stage. The in
cvitable has happened. Competen.
opinion las been advanced and rejected
All that remains is to make the best Of
q bad job"
Meanwhile the champions of DR.. e.
finger were Keeping discrctely undeI
cover. At the Office of George F. Ryan
it was said that the man whose vcts
Monday decided the issue was "out q
town" and would not return until th!
hour for casting his vote at the Boare
of Education meeting this afternoon.