The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1904-12-28
TEACHERS IN
POLITICS
Resolution Disclaiming the
Anti Stokes Circular
Raises a Row at the
Teachers Golden
Jubilee.
MISS ALIENS AMENDMENT
Nearly 200 Members of the
Association Gather in the
Auditorium at Tren.
ton.
MISS ALIENS AMENDMl lNT
ton.
lspeeial to ..The Jersey city News.,.)

Special to ''The Jersey City News.'')
TRENTON, Dec. %, 1SO4-The
golden anniversary of the New Jer-
sey State Teachers association is be-
ing observed at the annual meeting of the
association, which opened yesterday af-
ternoon in the auditorium of the State
Normal school. The addresses of the first
session We're rather listless, but there was
lively debate over the attempt to intro
duce political matters into the affairs of
the association.
Thomas Bissell, principal of Newark
school, introduced resolution setting
forth that the Hon. Edward G.. Stokes
had been 'maligned' during the political
campaign by circulars sent out calling at
tention to the public records of Stokes
and Charles C. Black Democratic Guber-
natorial candidate, on the matters per-
tanning to the public schools and the
teachers; that the association desired to
disclaim all part in the circulars and de-
nounced the authors.
Mr.. Bissell, who took the floor after
President w. Cullom Cook of Mt Holly,
had vainly tried to keep the programme
stated that rumors had been flying over
the state and that the association would
have to do something to clear it's skirts,
as it would soon go to this ''maligned''
Stokes TO ask favors
The resolution was looked upon as an
attack on the retirement fund and the
friends of the fund Immediately rallied
to its support. Miss Elizabeth Allen. it's
general secretary, offered as an amend
ment that portion of the constitutions
of the United States and the State of
New Jersey guaranteeing the right of
free speech, and that membership in the
State Teachers association carried with
it no abridgement of this privilege.
Miss Lydia K. Ennis, of Jersey City,
tried to talk upon the matter, but was
told that she was out of order; that there
was motion before the house. Miss En-
mis-, who desired to defend the retirement
fund, pluckily replied:
II am an American and 1 have the
right to say what want in this matter,
and | am just going to talk"
Three times Bissell took the floor and
made an effort to have the resolution
adopted. Several votes were called for
on both the amendment and resolution,
but so many members wanted to have
their say that the vote could not be
counted.
Mrs. Susan c. Marvin, of Jersey City,
president of the retirement fund depart
ment, previous to BisselI's introduction
of the resolution, had been given the floor
to make statement concerning the
rumors. She said the fund had nothing
whatever to do with the circulars gotten
out by either party during the campaign.
The rumor also had it that money from
the retirement fund to the amount of
$4,000 had been used to distribute the
circulars. This was also emphatically
denied by Mrs. Marvin.
Miss Margaret Louise Van Winkle, of
Jersey City, in a speech deprecating the
dragging of politics into the association.
said:
Il come from Republican family and
saw the circular, but, it seems to me that
it is not matter for the association.
The other side sent out circulars, on
much finer paper with fancy gold bor-
der, but nothing is said of that. / think
Mr. Stokes has proved himself well able
to take care of himself, and so have our
Democratic friends. l have not heard
of the Republicans making any whine.
s'We come here in the holiday season
and should have the spirit of that season.
It is a poor time and poor place to
take up matter that does not concern
the association
Cries Of Question. Who's presiding
over this convention?' @can the roll,
were intermingled with more calls upon
theschair for recognition. a motion to re-