Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-06-10
BOARD
RESTS IN WAR
AGAINST GRAFT
Efforts to Deprive Superin-
tendent Of Lawful Right
Seem to Have Failed.
GAME OF FAVORITES

Plans of the majority faction of the
board Of school commissioners to strip
E. Z. Graft, superintendent Of schools,
of the right given min by law to ap-
point the teaching ami administrative
force Of the public scnoois, apparently
have failed, for the time being, at least.
After six-Lour session Friday, the
board adjourned without taking action
on the appointment Of three assistant
superlns endents and other positions,
which. il is said, the majority faction
is very anxious to fill with its own
fayorites. Shortly before adjournment,
Superintendent Graft said that he was
ready TO make recommendations for these
positions but Charles l.. Barry, Adolph
Emhardt and DR.. Marie Haslep members
Of the majority faction, apparently were
not ready to take action, and the matter
was passed for the time being. This Is
taken by many persons familiar with the
workings Of school politics to mean that
the superintendent is standing on his
legal rights and has refused to surren-
der his appointive powers to the board,
and that the majority faction has de-
layed action, hoping to bring sufficient
pressure to bear on him to force him to
aecede 10 their wishes.
LAW GIVES
sUPERiNTENDENT POWER.
Under the law the superintendent Is
given the power to appoint all prin-
cipafs, supervisors, assistants and teach
ers. and IL takes four negative votes On
the board 10 override the action Of the
superintendent
From present indications the majority
mem hers are helpless, If Mr.. Graf
stands arm. OF the five members OF the
board Bert S Gadd undoubtedly will
vote to uphold the superintendent, aud,
after " y. Allison virtually had been
called liar by Or. Haslep and Mr. EN-
hardt at the pretraeted meeting yes
terday, 1t is believed doubtful il Com-
missioner W d. Allison will line up VIII
majority faction In the case.
Tie long meeting Friday, one - me
storrnlest among the many stormy = eet-
ings for which the school board IS "a
nous adjourned without having &C
complished anything Of importance ex-
cspt the naming Of teachers for the
school year Of 1922 1923. No fight came
up On this list a. the disputed positions
all are OH the special list
Before the meeting had been under
way an hour every member Of the board,
with the soin exception OF Mr.. Gadi. had
been accused Of being liar by some one.
Right in tile midst OF the melee JEFF Da-
Wis, who calls himself King Of the ho-
hoes put in an appearance and told the
foard Il the work he had been doing
among school children. In closing ha
said that ne had been the cause Of several
ing to he good"
BOARD PLEASED
WITH DAVIS WORK.
DS
pleased with tie work Mr. Davis had
done. but he left the meeting without
hayirg tnculcated any OF the kiss and
make ups spirit" among the board mem
beers, and the wransl.ng was resumed just
where Il had left of when Davis ap-
peared.
Action Of the board In abolisaing the
offices Of the seven district scp"r!n
tendents and other administrative officers
brought down the ire OF large deleEa-
ton or visitors who protested against the
action.
Commissioners Emhardt and Barry
Grated at great length over the changes.
bur did not specifically answer number
Of direct questions asked by members Of
the delegation as 70 the why's ana where
foreS Of the matter. There was a vast
amount said about Towing our dear
storing indianapolis schools 70 the high
position they formerly occupied, "econo-
N.Y. and other kindred topics, but FOR the
most part the orators contented them
selves with gpnerait!es aud did not get
down to individual cases, 4 5 they had
been asked to DO by members Of the dele
cations.
II was very noticeable that although
the question az whether the ma
joritv members Of the board are trying
to usurp tHe legal rights ~ the Super
intendent was raised frequently that
Superintendent Graft sat through the on
tire meeting without denying that such
was tle case.
Another meeting Of the instruction com
Inittee will be held today or Monday to
take up the appointment Of the admins
tratiye and supervisory officers.
The three board members composing
the majority faction are members IF this
committee and 1t is said by friends ~
Superintendent Graft that AT this mectia z
a last desperate effort viii be made TO
force him IL give UP Ills appointive pow
ers to the board.