The Monmouth inquirer., 1923-06-07
Pearse Says Naming Of Democrat
Vice Republican Does Not
Change Party Line-Up.
ATTACK ON BOARDS LEGALITY
State Board Of Education Acts After
July I to Be Questioned = b.
Partisan Makeup Issue--No
Amendment TO Bylaws.

will be challenged as Illegal by the
State Federation OF District Boards
of Education and attacked by its coun-
sci in the courts. This decision was
reached at a meeting of the fedora
ton here and is based upon the ap.
pointment of Mrs Bertha s. Irving, Of
Haddonfield, Democrat, by Govern
or Silzer, to succeed Thomas w. Syn
mott, a Republican. 1t is claimed,
therefore, that the board, which is re-
CURED by the statue to be bipartisan,
will stand six Democrats and four Re-
publicans.
1t was after the meeting at the state
house had been temporarily adjourned
and the delegates had proceeded to
the Stacy Trent Hotel for luncheon
that the situation brought about by
the appointment OF another woman TO
the state board, was called to the at
tention of the federation by President
Wilbur Zimmerman. of Ventnor. He
told the diners that he had commu-
nicated the entire situation to Gov
ernor Silzer and in his letter had out
lined the politics of the various mem
mers that had been appointed to the
board.
Governors Secretary Explains
President Zimmerman also stated
that he informed the Governor that
the acts of the state board would be
illegal after the new appointee took
her place and suggested that the mat
ter be adjusted. In response to this
communication Mr.. Zimmerman re-
ceived letter signed by Frederic M.
P. Pearse, the Governors secretary,
which said in part as follows:
"You are correct in your assump-
ton that Mrs. Irving is a Democrat,
but you are incorrect in your state
ment that the board now contains six
Democrats and four Republicans. The
present political leanings of the mem
bers were ascertained before Mrs.
Irving was nominated"
II had hoped" said Mr.. thinner
mer in his reply addressed to Govern
! or Silzer, that you would be willing
to adjust this matter before Mrs. Irv-
ing took her place on the state board,
thereby making it unnecessary to
challenge in the courts the legal
standing of the acts of the State
Board Of Education after July II,
1928"
After reading these communications
to the federation Mr. Zimmerman ex-
pressed the belief that he had gone
far enough without further authorize
ton. 1t was then that the resolu-
ton was adopted instructing the OH
GERS to employ counsel for the pur-
pose of attacking the state board acts
after July /.
Quo Warranto Proceedings Possible
1t was said here that the federation
would make no progress in its pro-
posed litigation against the state
board for the reason that after Mrs.
Irving took her place the board would
be de facto body and as such their
acts would be legal. 1t was pointed
out that the only way in which their
acts could be challenged would be
in quo warranto proceedings to deter
mine Mrs. Irving's politics, and in that
event all Of the members would be
called as witnesses for the purpose of
divulging their politics.
Although no one would stand spon-
sor for the statement, it is understood
that prior to the appointment of Mrs.
Irving there had been conference In
the Governors Office, at which was
discussed more particularly the poll
tics of the various members Of the
state board 1t has been rumored that
the question. of John P. Murray's poll
tics was the main topic for discus
sion Some of those present, 1t is
said, insisted that Mr.. Murray could
no longer be classed as Democrat
because of his open espousal Of the
cause of Joseph S. Frelinghuysen in
his contest for reelection as United
States Senator.
Mr. Murray. who resides in Jersey
City, has served a number of terms on
the state board aad on each. occasion
was appointed as Democrat. 1t Is
known, however, that by reason of his
intimate association with Mr.. Freling-
AuycCUp RdA tAS01dtAy QuAAAG bAC AANCS-
tigation of school affairs, he has been
an ardent advocate Of the former
United States Senator and has made
no attempt to conceal that fact.
No Amendment to Bylaws
Efforts failed to amend the bylaws
of the State Federation of District
Boards of Education to give more fiex-
ibility to the organization by having
individual members of the executive
committee chosen by Board of Educa-
ton OF the several counties, instead
of appointed by the president, and
also to have a majority, instead of
two-thirds of the delegates competent
to amend the bylaws.
In the showdown this was a rebuff
to the progressive element in the fed
Grafton, of which Mrs. Seymour L.
Cromwell a .lember of the State
Board of Education, is leader, which
has been trying to break the alleged
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