Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-13
SCHOOL DIRECTORS
REFUTE CHARGES
Made No Pledges Before or
After Appointment, Board
Members Say.

Members of the Board Of Education
today categorically denied they had
made any pledges concerning their
conduct on this body either before
they were appointed or since that
time.
Statements obtained from members
in answer to charges made before the
Gibson subcommittee yesterday that
prospective board members are
sounded out" before their APPOINT
ment and have been forced to fall in
line with a so-called clique show that
they never sought the positions on the
hoard and some of them received first
intimation that they were to De. ap-
pointed through newspapers.
Simultaneous with the testimony
regarding school board matters be-
fore the subcommittee yesterday,
Chief Justice Walter l. Mccoy form
ally announced that Edwin c. Ora
ham, president of the board. had sub
mitted his resignation under date or
December 20, to take effect at the
pleasure of the justices. 1t is ex'
pected the resignation will be form
ally aCCSpI6O as ScOAl az O SoNSSS7"A
for Mr. Graham has been chosen.
Other Duties Given as Reason.
1t has been known for some time
that Mr.. Graham expected to request
that he be relieved of the school board
duties at the completion of his term
next June, but it was not expected
that he desired to retire before that
date. Mr.. Graham explained, in his
letter of resignation, that the pres
sure of civic duties since he was
elected president of the Washington
Board of Trade, together with his
personal business, makes the step
necessary at once.
Absolutely false" declared DR.. j.
Hayden Johnson today in denying
the Gibson subcommittee charges.
"There is absolutely no truth in the
charges so far as am concerned. l am
in nv eleventh year on the board. hav.
ing had four appointments, and
have never been asked to make
pledges of any character. l have al
WAYS followed my own convictions.
"The charges certainly are not
true" declared Mrs. Marie w. Hodg.
kins. THE first intination l had OF
nv appointment on the board was
telephone call asking If | would
accept. This was on the same day
that The Star carried the news OF
my appointment. / never had an
audience with the Judges concerning
my appointment. / never even nave
had the opportunity of thanking them
for the honor they conferred upon
me-"
Henry Gilligan stated his appoint
ment on the board came ''as a great
surprise" He said he assumed his
duties without obligation to anybody.
He said at one time the North Capitol
Citizens Association, of which he is
president, recommended him for ap-
pointment on the board, but at the
time there was no vacancy.
Untrue, Says Mrs. Heron.
Absolutely untrue" chorused Mrs.
Lillian Y. Heron. The charges are
false in nv case and I know mine Is
no exception"
1.-THE FIRST knowledge had Of my
appointment on the board was
through a Star reporter" said Rev.
r. /. A. Bennett, another board mem
Der. ST had never sought the post
and it came as q complete surprise.
do not know today who was respon-
sible for my appointment and have
never been Influenced by anybody"
Denying tnaJ she nau Deen re"
quested at any time to give hint of
how she might meet educational
issues, Mrs. Mary A. Mcneil, who
succeeded Mrs. Coralie F. Cook. de-
clared today that appointment came
quite as a surprise" She says it
was not sought.
Denied by Carusi.
Charles F. Carusi. vice president
of the board. and who naturally will
succeed to the presidency upon the
retirement of Mr.. Graham. in deny
ing the subcommittee charges said:
"I never directly or indirectly
divulged to anyone how / would
function as a member of the board,
nor was / asked to. When l was
sworn in as a member of the board
/ did not know a single member, al.
though one of the members recalled
that our sons had been friends some
years before. ! am astonished at the
charges made, which crtainly are not
true
Mr.. Graham and DIR. H. Barrett
Learned were both out of the city
today.