The New York herald., 1922-02-19

Fonal and private character had been
besmirched.
Il have been a candidate for promo
ton TO associate superintendent since
1907 or 1908; in fact. every time there
has been a vacancy" she said. 1T was
surprise to me that the City Superin-
tendent made his recent attack, which
besmirches my character In public, pri-
vate and professional life. Possibly l
would be better to-day If It were not for
this attack. l want an open investiga-
tion OF my work, and II IL is found that
my work is not equal to that of the other
superintendents then the only thing to
/ now fill or to clear the way for re-
traction. The work OF all district SUPER
intendents since July. 1900. should be
compared.
'They say I did not visit the schools.
I visited them many times, but when
i did I did not write my name in the
visitors book. My talks with the teach
ers seemed to make that formaiity un-
necessary. Ever since the Board of Ed
ucation decided against granting the
investigation I asked for one teacher
that 1 know Of has been sent for and
questioned in an effort to find some
thing to besmirch my character. Com
missioner Copeland told me two weeks
ago. when he saw the X-Ray pictures
of my back, that l should have been In
bed a long time ago.
Another charge that has been
brought against my election Is that a
woman of my type does not lend dig
nity to the Board of Superintendents.
Perhaps they prefer thin, blond type.
l want to know what was back of that
statement, and 1 think I am entitled
to know" Here the audience burst into
applause. Therefore, that means an
open investigation of all the superin-
tendents since l was made a supern-
tendent, and comparison OF my work
with that OF a.; the other members Of
the board. My books were sent for, and
want every member Of the board to
be treated likewise.
Religion Enters Controversy.
Still another charge made against
mo is that I am Catholic. ! am a
Catholic When the New York City
Federation OF Women's Clubs held its
convention this month-and I will re-
mind you that the Interborough Teach
ers' Association. of which / am presi-
dent. Is one Of the federated clubs and
the federation had passed resolution
approving the election OF woman as
associate superintendent some one
tried to present resolution expressing
satisfaction at my election. The reso-
luton met with indifferent support from
many quarters and 1 overheard one
woman say, 'Oh, but we wanted a
Protestant!
Another charge brought against me
is that / am not a college graduate. I
have no letters after my name. It's
rather a long name without that.
must acknowledge that there have been
many fine people who haven't held
degrees. There's Al Smith, he hasn't
any degree Lincoln didn't have :. de-
gree, Napoleon didn't have a degree.
and don't believe George Washing
ton had a degree. I'm not putting my
self in their class but I want to prove
to you that degrees do not make great
ness.
II have thousands Of hours OF post
graduate work to my credit. but II
didn't seem important that should ask
what these amounted to. l have trav-
eled In every State but three. have been
to Panama and to Europe three times.
1 don't know but that's better than run
ming up to Columbia University on a
warm day and listening to some one
talk to whom you could tell things.
II am telling you all these things be-
cause some OF you have had courage to
come here to-day in the face of the an
tagonism on The part of some superln-
tendents. Maybe you will be marked.
That's why we didn't call on any one