Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1923-10-12
The Governor Replies To School
Charges.

Gov. Richie wound up the last weeks
campaien with a double bill Saturday night.
He spoke at Silver Spring and Bethesda.
The Governors speeches Saturday night
were largely in rebuttal Of the assertion OF
Alexander Armstrong. his Republican OPP
ponent, that appointments on the scnool
boards have been made for political con-
siderations.
Having enumerated number of women
appointed on the county school boards
Governor Richie stated that the Arm
strong charge is direct affront to them.
ION their behalf, no less than on my
own, resent the imputation, he declared
at is not true and it is something that the
exieencies Of the campaign cannot justify
II an apology is not offered to these women
at least hope that we will not hear this
charge again"
One of the speakers at the Silver Spring
meeting was Blair Lee, former United States
Senator. Jos. B. Cissel presided. John A.
Garrett spoke at both the Silver Spring
and Bethesda meetings, and Preston b
Ray at the latter.
After pointing out alleged insincerities
in the Republican platform and outlining
the work the State administration is do
ine. especially in education, health ano
welfare activities, the Governor proceeded
with his rebuttal of the Armstrong dictum
of politics in the school boards.
"If there is one thing for which this ad-
ministration has been conspicuous, he
said, "it is for the development of the
State public school system. After shor
three years, Maryland is conceded by thost
who know to present the most promising
type of effective school administration ant
supervision in the whole country.
Then what does Mt. Armstrong meal
by saying that. instead of picking quail
fed men and women for the county schoC
boards have picked them for politica
purposes and used them as political agen
ciesS
at is in all conscience a hard-enougl
task to induce qualified persons to serve
but when Mr.. Armstrong says this, he i
not bringing charge against me alone
He is bringing charge against the integ
rity and the good faith Of the men anc
the women who are serving on the schoC
boards of the State.
HE is charging them with willingness
to put political considerations first and tn
welfare Of the children second, because
could not use the school boards for politi
cal purposes unless those on them sub
mitted to be used in that way.
what does he mean. and. above all
whom does he mean? He includes womer
in his indictment. have appointed ,
number Of women on the county schoo
boards.
''In Anne Arundel county. there are Miss
Katharine Watkins and Mrs. Edna E. Per
RE in Caroline, Mrs. Blanche Stowell Ia
Carroll, Mrs. Mary S. Forlines; in Cecil
Mrs. E. j. Moore; in Dorchester. Mrs. Mary
Y. Fletcher. in Hartford, Mrs. Helene A. B.
Lee; in Montgomery, Mrs. j. Dawson Trun-
die; in Prince Georges, Mrs. Susie R. She
eosue; in St. Mary's, Mrs. Lillian John
son, and in Talbot, Mrs. Mary L. H
Wright.
"Mr. Armstrone's charge is a direct
affront to every one Of these women. who
are giving their time and their labor to
the Greatest of all tasks-the education of
the young. When Mr.. Armstrong says that,
instead of selecting qualified women. |
have packed the boards for political pur-
poses. he is saying that not only these
women are not qualified, but that in
task as sacred as education they would
let themselves be used for political ends"