New-York tribune., 1922-12-14
$4,000 School
Post Given to
Miss McCOOey
Democratic Leaders Sister
Elected by Board as an
neutrality-suspicious.;
None Other L. Nominated
No Endorsements Offered
Selection Made Previously,
Is IniimaliOn: 80 Years
in Educational Service

Niys Marvarct \ MyCoocy, prime pal
q Pablie school a., Rr0oklyn. vas
elected un associate superintendent Of
.ehools b. the Board Of Education yes
tsrdsv afternoou. Miss McCoOcy, who
.a sister of Jotu IT, McCooey. Demo
crntic icader ir Brooklyn. fills the place
,aadc vacant by iht death of MS.
Grace Straehan Fo-zythe last sumner.
The salar, IS ss.2o9, aud The term SIX
ears
No other names were r'acec m romi-
nation r.ber the board net al O'Clock.
Comrissioner Arthur s. Somers PLACED
uiss MeCoocy's name before his COZ.
leagues with the remark thst the board
already had thoroughly canvasscd tne
Qualifications OF persons VINO might Dt
.eleeted and had decided Informally %
select q woman 90 ON Hrs. forsytho
plsee. he proposed Misc McCooey OF
the strength Of her untarnifhed rceoIa
and her thirty years Of active super
risory work.
Il do not tale any stock in the OBJ
i.ction that she is related 20 politi'
can" said Mr. Somcrs, adding tnai
though he himself WIS no, related 10
fks politician in question, &c nag
known him for forty years c1d "ooio
hs proud 20 he related 30 hiu. "Aro
we 70 proelsin that any one is going
% b. excluded from promotion IN our
school system bccauSo Of q rclation-
ahipl" he asked.
Admission was made b. Mr. SomeTs
that no Inducements Of any kind had
bssn received for Miss McCooey from
cive organisations or other similar
5dies. though many had reached tne
board in favor o. another woman
prom nently mentioned as a candidate
This Sc understood 20 be Miss Olive
r. Jcres, principal Of Public School
i2o. who had the backing Of more than
forty women's organizations in the
city.
Mr.. somers made this statement
while arguing that the election Of Miss
HeCooey, a principal, instead Of dis
triet superintendent. as usual. should
not BE taken as q departure By the
board from the customary practice Of
promoting those in immediate line Of
succession, since Miss McCOoey's chief
opponent, Who was herself q principal
bad received such . large measure "
public approval.
Election Settled Previously?
commissioner Samuel Stern seconded
ne nomination with the statement taat
ne could vouch personally for Miss Nc
Cooeys eRpability. and Commissioner
tohn A. Ferguson moved that further
nominations be closed, after saying
hat he had known Mr.. McCooey. the
sominee's brother. for twenty-five
rears snd believed him incapable Of
lsing bis political influence 20 further
he promotion Of bis friends or rela-
lives. DR.. Ferguson also took occasion
- denounce certain newspapers" for
ntimAting that the election o. certain
Individuals would be a shocking dem
,'astration Of political power IN the
schools."
Commissioner Harry B. Chambers
ben virtually confessed that yester-
day'e election had been settled pre-.
rlously and was merely a matter OF
'orm BY saying that the consensus Of
opinion AZ a caucus Of the board had
Jren that Miss McCooey should be
lected.
The board then proceeded with other
.4Atters, among which was a letter
rom Comptroller Craig asking what
etion the board wished him 20 take
n the matter Of dispcsBessing the ten
nts Of two houses in East 1O8d Street,
N the sitee Of which II is planned 20
5uild an extension TO relieve the seri-
ouS overcrowding in P. s. i2l. Comp
roller Craig pointe1 out that the
lection Of these people, who had been
lnable % End other places 70 live, would
rork q serious hardship on them AZ
his time Of year.
About seventy OF the occupants Of
ie houses were present In the board
oom, together with q representative
? Congressman-eleet La Cusrdia, and
board voted 70 grant them an eI-
.nsion until February 1. although Mr.
Jan demurred or the ground that the
scality was a congested one and the