The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-12
LADIES GET EXCITED
CLOSING SESSION OF THE wOMEN'S
COUNCIL is A LIVELY
ONE.
TEACHERS MAKE A PROTEST
AGAINST INDIGNITIES THEY CLAIM
TO HAVE BEEN SUB
JECTED TO.
COUNCIL IN TWO FACTIONS.
Even Adjournment Couldn't Shut
OF the Discussion-NeWs OF
Minneapolis.

lions was dispelled in one short hour,
and when the meeting broke up at 6
! o'clock, the groups of women that left
| the auditorium were eXcitedly talking,
as the entire body Of women had been
| talking in open parliament. The cause
of the commotion was Mrs. William
G.. Fosters paper on THE Relation of
the School to the Home which she
| presented Monday afternoon in the
opening session Of the congress. That
| paper was practically an arraignment
of the teachers as a class, and incor-
''don'ts" to which they took
violent exception The resume of
/ the paper presented in the daily news
papers attracted the entire working
/ body of school teachers; those who had
not heard it read in meeting, read ex-
! tracts Of it in the press, and to say
they were indignant, conveys a very
faint idea Of the spirit in which Mrs.
Fosters 'dOn'ts" were received. The
paper was presented as one in the aft
ernoon series, was largely theoretical
like the most, but went straight to the
bottom of things. and in plain Ian
guage laid down rules for the observ-
ance of etiquette, laws of personal
cleanliness and directions for social de-
pertinent. At the time the paper was
originally presented it was received
with show Of enthusiasm, and was
greeted with applause by those in at
tendance on the council.
Yesterday afternoon, at the conclu-
sion of the formal literary programme
Miss Grace Williams, as the chosen
representative of the Central High
school, presented a formal protest in
writing, and the matter was irnmedi-
ate1y taken up by the house. A large
number Of the teachers were present
ana there was much warm discussion
on both sides. No formal action was
taken. 1t was rather a forum, in which
opinions We're expressed than a tribu-
nal Of justice. Teachers, members of
the council and visitors from out Of
town, We're among the speakers; there
were even some from ST Paul, and the
session was altogether the liveliest in
the history of the Woman's council. In
point of excitement, it discounted anv
previous meeting.
In the early part of the programme
MRS. Leach, who was presiding. stated
that request had been forwarded
10 her for the reading of a protest
against paper which had been pre-
sented to the council in the Monday
afternoon session. Mrs A. e. Hiebee
MADE a motion from the floor of the
mouse, that the council would be clad
10 near the paper; Mrs. w. w. Rich
seconded the notion and the vote car
ried. Mrs. Leach then stated that the
reading must follow the designated
programme, as the papers could NOT
be waived
When the last paper had been given
the protest was called for, and Miss
WlIllams came forward with her pa
per. In substance, this contained the
representation of the teachers of the
central High school, who entered a
pupllc protest against public arraign-
ment Of the teachers of MinneapOlis
on that platform. It referred to the
general and widespread indignation on
the matter, and stated that all the
teachers of the city as well as MANY
private individuals, would have Joined
IN the protest, had there been time for
concerted action. 1t stated that the
teachers were grossly maligned, and
as the body of teachers represent the
! highest interest, they should not be in
suited with impunity When Miss
Williams finished her reading, there
was an outburst of applause and y
buzz of comment. The paper was Short
and scathing, and it was like the ex-
plosion Of a bomb. There were women
making ready to speak, when Mrs. IT
b. Walker rose. She said it seemed
quite out Of order for the teachers 10
present such a protest in such fimo
and place, as the council in no wav
pretended to indorse the papers that
| were given in its meeting. 1t afforded
| the opportunity for all to speak. and
did not commit itself to any course
of action thereby Mrs Walker had
hardly taken her seat before Mrs. Ade-
laide Rosalind Kirschner Dutton. of
New York. came to the platform and
! expressed her opinion as visitor and
as friendly to the sentiment of the
original paper. She said: 81 am in
terested in woman's work, and glad
to hear them discuss their different
interests If we never know each 9TH
er's opinions, we will become narrow,
however proficient in studies we may
be, we lose something, if we do not
associate with people of the world.
from whom we learn many things. 1
| wish to say few words in defense
| of the reprimand so delicately given
| and so gently expressed, that no wom-
| an here could take exception, if it were
! expressed to her. A teacher is a grand
woman, who takes the place of a
mother to many little ones. If she is
not to teach by example and personal
| appearance, who CAM" 1t is better
| to be told of our faults and faiIings
as it has been done gently and kindly.
If we cannot help one another, how
can we be helped?"
Miss Fannie Forester, teacher III Central
high school, was on her feet in an instant to
make reply to Mrs. Dutton. She said: There
is no doubt we can help each other and are
| ready to receive kindly suggestion, but the
teachers of Minneapolis are representatives of
the most cultured class and many of them
have taken part in this council, giving some
| of the most noteworthy papers, and are ladies
| capable of occupying positions in best of So
ciety. Is it necessary to tell such women to
| go and wash?"
At this point. Miss Ava Sumbardo, of St
| Paul, requested from the audience that Mrs
| Fosters paper be re-read, as many of those
| present had not heard it. A motion was made
| and carried by q rising vote. Mrs. Foster
came forward Immediately and read the OBJ
| jectionable document, 'Don'ts" and all, eX-
cept that portion which is was discovered
| The reading was received with impartial APP
| plause and the excitement broke out afresh
There was promise OF fresh discussion.
| Mrs. w. w. Rich attempted to pour oil on
! the troubled waters by admitting that all
pereons had faults, that her children had,
that she had been a teacher, and she knew
she had faults. Other teachers talked. Much
was said on both sides. Miss Wetherel spoke
earnestly and felt that something was to
be admitted for each. She thought teachers
should be considered as part of humanity,
not as a class by themselves, singled out for
reproach and reprimand, any more than
persons of other professions. She held her
position between both sides when she further
said that she was sure Mrs. Fosters paper
had been written with q view to passing
! through the body of the council, before which
! it was read, to the broad, wide circles be-
yond, whom it might influence and benefit.
The discussion showed no signs of abatement
as the afternoon waned, but the hour of
the sixth annual congress of the Woman S
Council came to close in an unprecedented
| hnttnr of aYcitement naner had haen nre-