Henderson daily dispatch., 1936-03-23

political leaders are supporting either
Hoey or Graham, very large num-
Der Of the rank and file of the voters
are sticking with Mcdonald, even
though he is regarded by some as
nothing more than a smart-alec col
lege professor from Illinois who is
now trying to tell the people of North
Carolina how their State should be
run.
Teachers for Mcdonald.
Most of those who spent their time
sounding out sentiment among the g.
900 or more teachers, principals and
superintendent here last week at
tending the North Carolina Education
Association meeting agree that Nc
Donald had far more supporters a.
mong the classroom teachers than any
of the other candidates, despite the
fact that the State superintendent of
public instruction, most of the big
wigs in the education association in
ner circle and of the superintendent
are openly and militantly supporting
Hoey. A surprising amount of sup
port for Graham was also found, how
ever, both among the teachers and a.
mong some of the more independent
superintendent who object to being
dictated to by the State superinten-
dent and the officers of the educa-
ton association. But there was no
doubt about the convention being Nc
Donald's show and that the Mcdonald
forces could have elected one Of their
faction president if they had SO de-
sired. AS it was, they elected Miss
Oma Claire Lafferty, a strong Nc
Donald supporter, as vice president OF
the association, who, if President Ray
Funderburk, of Wilmington, is not
able to carry out the strenuous duties
of the office for the entire year, will
become president in his stead.
Following Will-o-the-Wsp.
The Hoey supporters point out, how
ever, that many of the teachers are
still misinformed and do not realize
that in following Mcdonald, they are
following a political will-o-the-wisp
who is taking them on nothing more
than an educational snipe hunt. They
further maintain that both in politi-
cal sagacity and influence the super
intendents are far superior to the
teachers and that by the time June d
rolls around, most of the teachers will
be found in line back of Hoey. The
Graham supporters, while in agree
ment with the Hoeyites that Melon
aid is promising the teachers far more
than he can ever hope to deliver
should he become governor, maintain
that both Hoey and Mcdonald are
scattering star dust in the eyes of the
teachers and that both are promisinv
more than they can deliver likewise
that Hoey is basing his appeal to the
superintendent and department of
education officials by promising to
abolish the State School Commission
and turn over the spending of the
State school appropriation of $20,000,-
900 year or more to the State super
intendent of public instruction and his
functionaries. They maintain that
Graham has presented the only COM
nonsense and plausible school pro
gram for the next four years and that
many of the teachers and superinten-
dents are now BEGINNING to realize
this.
There are some, however, who Won
der if the tendency of so many teach
ers to favor Mcdonald is not based
on their closer contacts with the peo-
pie of the State, through their chill
dren in the schools, rather than be-
cause Of any direct appeal of MIC
Donald.