The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-18
UNION. OF TEACHERS
School Board Members and Labor
-: %. Folk Think the Idea Is
Not Bad.
They Agree That Organization to
Secure Better Salaries Would
Be Commemorate.

The action of the Chicago teachers
toward joining the American Federation
Of Labor has been variously character
lied as anarchy, progressiveness and just
plain, undisguised seeking for political
preferment and STEADY jobs Robert
Pratt, member of the board of education,
sees the matter in somewhat different
light.
whether it is a thing to be approved
or disapproved,' he said to-day, "de-
ponds on the motive of the teachers. If
their object is to benefit the school chill
dren, for whom all will agree the schools
exist, we'll and good; If, on the other
hand, the movement means an attempt
to get political influence and a benefit
that works against the public interest.
then it is all wrong. Again If the action
were for the purpose Of increasing sal
aries I should consider it wholly justi
fable, for better salaries tend to q higher
standard of qualifications, but should 1t
have the result of keeping teachers for
an indefinite time in positions they might
be unified for, then again I should say
the movement was an unfortunate one.
Personally, I don't think any organiza-
ton that would benefit the teachers and
do no harm to the school system could in
the least antagonize the public interest,
and if the teachers of the twin cities
choose to enter the Federation of Labor
or any other organization on those
grounds, no one would have a right to
object, and probably nobody would. Per-
sonally would have no objection
Being a down-eas Yankee, I might
make a wild guess on the subject" said
DR.. Quinby, president Of the school board.
But I might guess wrong, so I think I
will rather evince that other eastern
n q a n orr
that if the practical workings of this
movement prove successful it's all right,
for I stand for whatever makes for the
improvement Of the public school system. "
A prominent labor leader said: IT am
most heartily in favor of it, and see moth
ing against the success Of the, undertake
ing. The first result would be to get the
teachers better acquainted, and to bring
them together when they could find out
just what their conditions were and what
to- work for. 1t will enable them eyentu-
ally to raise their salaries and in tn twin
| cities that would be An excellent thing.
The proposed objection that sympathetic
strikes might interfere with the work is
| nonsense; as a matter of fact such q
strike has not occurred for years, and If a
case should arise, the teachers would be
called upon only for moral and financial
support. The dressmakers' union, started
here about three years ago, has done 8
tremendous amount of good toward help
ing it's members in securing reasonable
hours Of work, While the teachers would
not have that to contend for, organization
would help them in a multitude of ways"
Andrew Henderson, former president OF
the Trades Council, said: II believe in or
ganization, but can scarcely say whether
labor organization would be the thing for
the teachers. I will say, however, that If
this movement brings increased salaries,
then the plan would be eminently wise,
especially among the teachers in the twin
cities, whose salaries are lower than in
any other city Of equal size in the vest