The morning call., 1893-04-15
Elisha Brooks Opens the Meeting

names. The girls OF the Denman Grammar
School had loaded the stage and the piano
on 1t with p0ppes. roses and ferns, and
that gave touch Of gayety to the scene.
Those whom the teachers were delighted
to honor took seats on the platform, with
the exception of Messrs. Reichert and
Boruck. who made a hot campaign for the
bill ct Sacramento. They sent nice letters
OF regret, which were read just after the
proceedings were begun by Elisha Brooks,
president OF the association and principal
OF the Girls High School.
There were no resolutions of thanks
passed at the meeting. The meeting itself
was allowed to symbolic the appreciation
which 1t was Inc main purpose Of the gath
ering to express.
Mrs. Prag of the Girls High School, who
was chairman OF the legislative commit
tee, told Of the hard work done for the bill
and praised the Oakland teachers for their
zeal. She had found that the reason most
OF the legislators had opposed the bill was
because they did not understand it.
our boys were with us, though" she
said, land worked Loyalty for what they
felt to be our rights. In the Senate the San
Francisco delegation stood for and 1
against, and in the Assembly IA for and
against the bill"
Fred Nj. Campbell, formerly State Super
intendent of Schools, told the teachers not
to be discouraged, as the strength they mad
exhibited In their fight against heavy odds
tually.
Prepare list of concise answers to all
the objections raised against the bill" he
concluded, see that they are properly cir
culated, and the next time you will win"
Mr.. Conroy talked too, and said soma
nice, encouraging things, and SO did Max
Pepper. the chairman Of the Democratic
State Central Committee. Mr.. Pepper
deprecated the refusal of the Speaker OF
the Assembly to allow a call Of the house.
to which action he attributed the defeat Of
the measure. In glowing terms he de-
serlbed the energy of the committee of
teachers sent to push the bill. and de-
clared that he had yet to meet q company Of
lobbylsts who were their equal.
Mr.. Brooks then introduced General w.
ID. l.. Barnes, saying that he had helped the
pension bill greatly by writing an open
letter advocating Its passage.
General Barnes was very happy In his
remarks. Referring to the statement that
was made that teachers were highly re-
warded laborers, he said: "Why, 1 would
not argue a case about package Of brooms
in Justices Court for what they receive
as their princely monthly remuneration"
He said that the pension bin would not be
gilt, but merely the paying of hard
earned wage. 1t was but the interest of a
debt, the principal of which no State could
repay. lie spoke encouragingly of the
future and complimented Mrs. Prag and
her fell0w-lobbyists highly for the work
they had performed. He could not see, he
said, amid general laughter, how so few
women, untortifed with the highest leglsla-
tlye argument. could do so much. No man
could have achieved the same results with
the music Of his chin"
You've done 1t once" he concluded; ''go
back TO Sacramento and you can do 1t
again."
Professor Albin Putzker of the Uniyer r
sity OF California was the next speaker. He
had read ana thought about tho matter IN
an unselfish spirit and having made up his
mind that the principle was right. he had
decided TO help all ne could.
After recess Ii was stated that the ex-
penses Of the campaign had left deficit of
about $3.50 in the treasury.
The association will take six months
rest and then begin campaign Of educa-
non preparatory to pushing the pension
bill before the next Legis lature.