The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-20

freJudleed Against Home Talent
Heated COlloquy Between Board
Members on Religious Questions.
The board Of education committee on
teachers and school work undertook
last evening to ascertain what merit
there is in the imputations Of unfair
dealing on the part of members of the
board. as set forth in a set Of resolu-
tons offered by Mrs. Alice Merrill
horne and adopted at the Third pre-
cinct mass n0minat ng convention three
weeks ago, but the investigation, So
called. was a dismal failure.
From the start 1t was apparent that
the committee was angling for evidence
relating 10 the accusations in Mrs.
Horne resolutions. Last evenings pre-
liminary inquiry, for such it was, ended
without reaching any tangible results.
1t is expected that at this evenings
session OF the board a movement Will
be started to hold a searching inVesti-
cation.
Mrs. Horne preserved her equanimity
in commendable degree. Throughout
the inCuisition she seemed not the
least disturbed. She stood the cross
fire Of questions with remarkable selt-
COHlDoSuIe, anu answered. all Queries
in frank manner At no time was 1t
even minated that the purpose which
animated her resolutions was other
than lofty, and for the welfare of Salt
Lake City's educational system.
The objectionable matter concerning
= which Mrs. Horne was called to ac-
count. was the following resolution, Of
fered by the offending teacher, and
adopted at the Third precinct conven-
ton, at which w. j. Newman was re-
nominated for election, held on Nov. 80:
Be it resolved, that the sense of this
mass convention of the Third precinct is
that
We are opposed to the spirit of preju-
dice that has possessed some of the board
Of education, when they have refused to
accept Utah applicants for positions, and
nave persisted IN giving to eastern people
positions which could have been as ably
filled by people in our own state. We
commend those members of the board of
education who have, through untiring
efforts, been the means OF introducing
this year a system of drawing which viii
greatly raise our standard of education,
and insure to our children a better art
influence: and he it further
Resolved, that we, without regard to
politics, elect a, member to the board of
education VINO will work for the interests
of higher standard of education and the
employment of Utah teachers. when they
are as Wen fitted. or better fitted, than
nonresident competitors;
And who will remove from our schools
those persons afflicted with consumption,
who seek our climate for their health
and jeopardize the physical well-being of
our children.
QUESTIONED BY NELDEN.
Chairman Nelden commenced the in
QUESTION by asking Mrs. Horne what
her object was in introducing these
resolutions at such a public meeting.
1t was several minutes before Mrs.
Horne was permitted to answer the
question Nj. Moyle interposed by
asking the object of the investigation.
THE resolutions cast reflection on
members of the board of education
replied Mr.. Nelden. AS for myself,
he continued, I want to know who
the members Of the board are who are
prejudiced against the employment of
Utah teachers; and 1 want to know,
too, from Mrs. Horne, if there are any
consumptives teaching in our schools.
I'm the former case, l know that home
talent has been and is employed for
teachers up to the very limit of capa-
bjlity and availability, and in the latter
case 1 want to say that no person who
has consumption viii be employed to
teach so long as my vote can prevent
it. This, 1 believe, is the sentiment of
my brother members. If there is any
prejudice, as alleged, we want to know
it. Certainly there is none so far as I
am concerned"
4 want to say" said Mr. Moyle,
that I voted for Mrs. Hornes resolu-
ton, and am in sympathy with it.
Mr.. Nelden. then asked. Mrs. Horne
are You the author of this resolution"
I presented it" was the reply.
The same question was repeated, and
the same reply was received.
Turning to Mr.. Moyle, who had OBJ
jected to the line of questioning, claim
ing it was an act of intimidation,
Chairman Nelden asked: DO you not
think it is necessary to investigate this
matter, Mr.. Moyle, after you, early
last spring, offered, and had adopted in
this board, a resolution against en-
ploying any teacher affected with pull
monary troubles, and directing the su-
perintendent accordingly"
Mr.. Moyle's reply was in the affirma-
tive.
Then Mr.. Moyle said every member
of the board who voted against J. T.
Harwood for supervisor of drawing,
showed his prejudice against home
talent.
The chairman retorted with a declar-
alton that Mr.. HARDWOOD never applied
for the position of drawing teacher,
but for that of art director in the High
school, to which place he was elected,
and where he is now serving.
.rI am being investigated as much as
yAirs. Horne is was Mr.. Moyles OBJ
Jservation. by way of rejoinder
Mr.. Nelden then asked Mrs. Horne
what members Of the board she had in
mind who were actuated by prejudice.
The question was objected to by Mr..
Moyle in true legal fashion
Mr.. Critchlow suggested that the in
quiry proceed in an orderly manner.
He submitted that it was q proper
question and to refuse to answer it
would lead to acts of INSTRUMENTATION
on the part Of the teachers. There
may, of course" he added, "be some
good reason for not answering. but this
board viii be lacking in self-resDect If
we do not probe this matter to the
bottom"
I encourage criticism of the board
by teachers in public" exclaimed Mr..
Moyle. 1T brings better results. Mrs.
Horne is to be commended for her in
terest in this matter
At this point Mr.. Nelden induced
Mrs. Horne to admit that she had
never acquainted Superintendent Mills
paugh nor any member of the board.
except Messrs. Moyle and Newman, the
members from her precinct, with the
alleged abuses.
By way of particularizing. Mrs.
Horne stated that she. two years ago.
had taken the place of a teacher at
the Oquirrh school who after a weeks
sickness went home to die of consump-
ticn. At another time a teacher at the
Washington school resigned and died
of the same malady within six weeks.
If give you names of teachers who
are suspected Of having consumption
viii you adopt q rule requiring physi-
raj a,ro,uiDa+ior of teachers 2'' .Slya1