The New York herald., 1921-09-30
REPUBLICANS OPEN
Fight IN BROOKLYN
Curran, Lockwood and Gil
roy Speak at the Union
League Club.
SCHOOLS LEADING ISSUE
Candidate for Mayor Points
Out Complete Breakdown
of Hylan Pledges.

OF Hylan Pledges.
The Coalition city cam
paign got under way with rush last
night at big meeting at the Union
League Club of Brooklyn. III Kenmore
place, Flatbush. at which Henry H.
Curran. candidate for Mayor: Charles
c. Lockwood. candidate for Comp
troller, and Vincent Gilroy, candidate
for President of the Board of Alder
men. were the principal speakers.
There was an enthusiastic demonstra-
ton for all three. Major Curran and
Senator Lockwood made the failure
OF the Hylan administration to build
schools their principal topic. while
Mr.. Gilroy attacked the leadership of
Tammany Hall.
Candidates on the judicial, Brooklyn
borough and Kings county tickets
were also present. Senator Calder.
County Judge Reuben l.. Haskell and
William NJ. Bennett were among the
guests at the dinner which preceded
the speaking. About 1000 men and
women crowded the clubhouse beyond
its capacity, and it was necessary to
organize an overflow meeting outside.
Speaking OF school conditions. Major
Curran said:
1T Is well for us not to be deceived
by the talk and excuses the present
administration is making. The facts
are all there. The figures OF the over
crowding came from DR.. Ettinger. The
facts OF the fire dangers came from
Superintendent Snyder and Engineer
Deutsch of the Board of Education. The
fact that almost half OF all of the pu-
pills are making slow progress and that
about half OF these are over age for the
grade in which they are receiving in
struction comes from the Bureau of
Reference of the Board of Education
This latter means that only half the
pupils have made normal progress for
their grades and that only half OF these
are OF normal age for their grades.
Conditions in Brooklyn.
1T would take a long time for me
in Brooklyn where the pupils are
jammed into overcrowdcd rooms and
where part time and double sessions are
the order of the day. These things
ln
no amount of attacks by Mayor Hylan
upon the newspapers, which are only
printing the facts of the failures of his
administration is going to becloud these
things.
when I came back from few days
vacation the other day I noticed that all
sorts of excuses were being offered by
the Mayor and his spokesman for his
failure to make good his promises. And
don't forget that the matter Of the
schools was never brought into politics
until Mr.. Hylan went forth four years
ago and began promising everybody that
he would get seat for every child
Just to show you that after all the edu-
cation of our children is being carried
forward by earnest. far-thinking off,
cials. as work of the first Importance
In other cities. allow me to read you
little clipping from the Boston TrGns-
cript of Thursday. September the 18th.
The clipping was sent to me by father
who thinks that distinguished educa-
tor abroad touched the keynote OF edu-
cation to-day when he said:
That nation which. after the way
employs the best teachers with the high
est pay and, as part OF the best school
system. will be the best governed and
therefore the greatest nation
Rscf fnf, -ssxk ,Is a..
headed, Open with 10000 Pupils and
eub-caption adds, Boston Schools
have record attendance and are COM
pletely outfitted with books and sup
plies for the first time In years. Then
the story goes on to say:
Nearly 10000 more pupils were en-
rolled on the opening day of the public
schools of Boston yesterday than ever
before, the total reaching about 10000.
There are about 3.Sno teachers and ESQ
permanent school buildings. 210 porta-
bles and 10 private dwellings, rented by
the School House Commission.
Boston Fully Equipped.
There are 10 per cent. more pupils
In the high schools than last year, and
every one found seat ready for him or
her. For the first time in years Boston
schools are completely equipped with
text books and supplies as a result Of
an increased appropriation by the Lcgis-
lature.
Boston opens her school year, one
Of the leading educational centres of the
country. said Superintendent Thompson.
better equipped in every respect than at
any period of her educational history.
And what comment are we to make
on this? Noti;ir seems to have stopped
the Boston Board of Education from GO
ing right ahead and doing its full duty
by the children of Boston.
II imagine that this school official
must have squared back his shoulders
ano looked every parent right in the
eye with a whole lot OF satisfaction, that
he had done his full duty.
New York surrenders to nobody in its
care for its children. II Is our first and
cur solemn duty to them and 10 our city
and TO our country AS well. There can
be no excuses where the children are
concerned. for we know they are not
able TO help themselves and they must
take what We give them.
And when they are backward and too
big for the classes they are In. the blame
should not he shouldered on the chill
dren. How can any child study his
lessons snl get fair amount Of atten-
fion from his teacher when things are
the way we see them to-day?
New York Is just as able to take
care Of her children as any other city,
and until quite recently we have always
done SO. But the Hyinn administration