Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-30
HOW HE CRAWLED OUT OF A FIGHT
OVER THE TEXTBOOK LAW.
ADOPTED THE CAR REED PLAN
FOLLOWED AN ARBITRARY PRO
GRAMME OF HIS OWN.
Found He lacked a Majority and
Stcered Clear of the Question:
John Macdonald to be Pres
ident of Teachers As
ISOLATION.

Topeka, Kas., Dec. aa.-(Special.) The
threatened fight in the state teacher con-
Vention over the new text book law did
not take place. 1t was billed to come up
this afternoon at the meeting OF county
superintendent. In fact. it was put on
| the programme. but Superintendent
| Strykcr, who presided over the meeting.
| counted noses and found it was dangerous
for his side to spring il. so he arbitrarily
| passed over that portion of the programme.
The other side did not object, however.
1t was in position to make a big night.
and would probably have won. but 1t did
not care to take the lead. The question
threatens to come up tomorrow, but con-
sentative memberS of each side are to-
night counseling against it, and what
promised to be the sensation OF the conVen-
ton may pass off quietly.
When the county superintendent met
this afternoon. State Superintendent
Stryker said that it would probably be
better to call the roll the first thing. This
was done by the secretary. Mr.. Stryker
had u printed list of county Superlntend-
cnts. and as they answered he checked
them with reference to their politics. When
the secretary finished the roll. the superin-
tendent figured up and found that there
was 4 majority of four Republicans in the
meeting. When The New Text Book Law
was reached on the programme, he con-
cluded that it would be humiliating for
him to open the fight and be whipped. 1t
was his original intention to have himself
commended and the law Endorsed under
this heading. but he was afraid to run the
risk and disposed of ii by saying that the
hour was getting late, and that he would
omit calling for discussion on some OF the
subjects. He skipped the important one
the first thing. The superintendent were
somewhat surprised. but they did not in
sist on opening up the fight and some other
subject was taken up.
Tie following officers of the association
for the ensuing year were selected by the
nominating committee at a caucus tonight,
and the selection will he ratified by the con-
| vention Tomorrow: President. John Mac
Donald. Topeka; first vice president, Frank
Baker. Norton; second vice president. IS.
Is. Bone. Howard third vice president. r.
D. Van Ostrand. Marion. These officers will
select the secretary and treasurer.
The convention opened this morning with
| a lecture by Professor n. w. Mailman, SUI
| pervisor of the United States Indian
| schools. on Primary and kindergarten
| Work" This led up to a spirited discus
sion. The Relation of Kindergarten to
| Primary Work. Defective Eyesight ir
Children and Psychology of Number
were other subjects discussed. The dele
| gates from the various congressional dis
tricts got together in different corners and
selected their representative on the COM
| mittce TO nominate officers. Each district
was entitled to one delegate. The follow
ing were chosen: First. ". IL. WATSON.
Topeka: Second, Superintendent Stillwell.
Neosho county: Third. Superintendent
| johnson of Elk: Fourth. Superintendent l..
NJ. Knowles. of Peabody; Fifth. Miss Lucy
Howard. Belleville: Sixth. J. NJ. Tadlock, of
Phillips county: Seventh. Superintendent f.
Il. Dyer, of Wichita. This will
make known its choice for president and
! other officers at IL o'clock tomorrow.
This afternoon the convention divided up
and each department held I, meeting and
discussed questions OF interest to the teach
crs in their particular departments. The
various university graduates also held their
reunions this afternoon Tonight the dele
gates all attended a lecture by DIR. David
Starr Jordon. of Leland. Stanford univer-
Sity, California.
DIR. Joseph Denison. e Topeka. has at
ers' Association since il was organized at
Leavenworth thirty-tive years ago. He is
the only man present at this meeting who
was at the time of the first organization
| present. DIR. Denison has since been promi-
nent in Kansas educational affairs. having
been president of the state agricultural COL
lege from 1863 to 1874. when he was succeed
gresham from the Fifth district. He was
one of the founders of the college. DIR.
DeniSon is now 80 years of age and lives in
retirement in Oakland.