The San Francisco call., 1896-06-28
OENOUNCE The CHARTER.
The American Women's Liberal
League Replies to ]. Rich
ard Freud.
Resolutions Condemning 1t as Reac.
tionary, Biyoted, Illiberal and
Unjust.

AT a meeting of the American Women's s
Liberal League, held yesterday at their
headquarters, Nucleus building, the fol-
lowing resolutions were unanimously
adopted:
WHEREAS, j. Richard Freud, secretary of the
Merchants Association, has 'no intention OF
discouraging the ladies of the American
Women's Liberal League in their commend
able enthusiasm in the public welfare; and
whereas, all enthusiasm commendable or
otherwise in the public welfare is dampened
by finding public men defending public meas
ures by misrepresC ntation and N ESTATE ements +;
and whereas, ]. Richard Freud defends the
clause in the charter requiring teachers in the
primary classes OF our public schools to be
educated in the school system OF this State
by saying that it refers only to teach
ers to be engaged hereafter, etc.; and
whereas, the real objection to this
feature is an objection OF principle,
namely in the first place that every mother
knows that the requirements for teachers IN
the primary and grammar classes are far
higher, far more exacting than the require
ments for teachers in more advanced grades,
because not only is the schooling of the vast
majority of children confined to those grades,
but also because the management of children
at the age they frequent those grades demands
the highest teaching ability; and in the Sec
ond place that 1t is the right OF American
parents to secure the best teachers, no matter
where educated, for their children; and in
citizens from other States and other schools
to brand them with mark OF inferiority in
our school system; and in the fourth place
that this clause was inserted to carry out the
ends of the A. P. A., which (like the coward
who inserted this clause in the cbarter) is
afraid to say out before the people what it
really wants; and whereas, j. Richard Freud
states that this is a principle OF patronizin g
home production; and whereas, there is no
monopoly in brains and no tariff in learning;
and whereas, the schools OF the people should
be open to all the children of the people,
whether as teachers or scholars; and whereas,
it is un-American, barbarous and absurd to
recognize in teaching any test but moral and
intellectual fitness; and whereas, ]. Richard
Freud states that ii this principle is not found
a desirable feature 1T can be amended; and
whereas, the charter can be amended only
within not less than two years and by three
fifths vote of the electors and with the ap-
proval of both houses OF the State Legislature; ;
and whereas, 1t would be under these circum-
stances about as easy to amend the charter q S
for Mr.. Freud to look graceful in strait
jacket; and whereas, it is dishonest to speak
of amending a charter which in all human
probability can never be amended and where
as, it only BELTS babes and sucklings to build
up a structure in order to pull it down at once /;
and whereas, sensible men, and women, too
have learned to decline Grecian gifts OF Trojan
horses and to have a reasonable dresd of
Chinese charters; therefore be it
ResolUed, That we condemn Richard j.
Freud's letter as impertinent in its inception,
superclious in its tone, fallacious in its
ing, sophistical in its deductions, misleading
in its insinuations and vitiated with untruth );
and be it further
ResoLred, That the women of the American
Liberal League do not intend to allow them
selves to be discouraged in their enthusiasm
in the public welfare by the structures or rodo-
montade of any mere man; and be 1t further
Resolved That we are indignant to find the
Merchants Association OF this City permitting
its secretary to defend bad clause in a worse
charter by Misrepresentation ana misstate-
ment; and be it further
Resolved, That it is no defense to narrow,
bigoted, malicious and unjustifable measure
to say that it only acts on future teachers, or
on the teachers in the primary or grammar
grades; and be 1t further
RESOLVED, That these grades require the best
and most scapable teachers wherever such