Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-02-25
IN FAVOR OF PENSIONS.

IN EAVVk Ug rENSAUNS. SemstAint On tho Other Side of the
 Tsachers' Bill.
 This matter Of pensioning the teach- CTS after thirty years service and re- taining the superintendent in office per manently, is beginning to excite the in- terest of the politicians. One of them, who held office under Mayor Kilduff, delivered himself last evening of quite q statement regarding it. This man has no sympathy with the teachers who are trying to convince the public that they have been bulldozed by Su- perintendent Tinker ill favoring the petition to make it appear that all the teachers in the city endorse the propo- sition. He said it was the zenith of nonsense for any teacher to set up the cry that she was compelled either ny inference or otherwise to vote for the bill. If any teacher was so foolish as to sign MT Tinker's petition," said he. thinking that by not doing so she would incur his disfavor and that he would try to make things uncomforta- ble for her in the school, that teacher did not know her business"
 How do you make that Out! the ex-ofiice holder was asked.
 Because she ought to know that it is q republican measure and that the democrats on the board of education were opposed to it. She should have known that she would have the demo- cratic party behind her if she refused to vote for the VII.
 You don't know that the state or grnization of teachers is back of this bill and the teachers guild. whose headquarters are in Norwich. have written scores of letters to Mir Larkin. the author of the bill. to hold it back for time until the teachers through out the whole state are ready for n.'
 You ask any of the principals or teachers if they belong to the state guild of their craft and they wil! tell you they do not. Ask them why. and they will not be able to give satis- factory answer. They are not aware that Mir Larkin is actually leading the state in this matter and that if he had the slightest intimation that any teach CT was coerced either actually or con structively, no matter by whom as d commissioner of the board of education i he would instantly get after that per son. 1 At the outset of this matter MT Larkin said he would not push the Dill if the teachers signitied they did not want it. They took vote on ana | we all know the result They all voted for it. X few of the very young teach CTS did not, but their reasons are too obvious for any consideration at thls stage of the discussion of this Dill.
 Miss Led's inference that intimida- tion was used quietly by MT Tinker Is hardly fair, in view of the strength or her position. I do not think Miss Lea signed the petition, but. but do not think that she told anybody what she ! did about it. It Is certain, however, 1 that she did not speak out at open meeting. for her argument as set out ! in the Democrat is quite new to the l public. It may be that it is now the matter presented itself to her in that view, but surely the majority of the teachers must have seen it in that 1 light before now. So far as under stand. and I believe it. too. the mat ter has been thoroughly explained to all the teachers. But whether or not that Is no reason why any teacher should put up the argument that she 1 signed the petition. but l do nos der silent protest or fear of the super They ought to have known and I believe some of them did, thai they had the democratic party to back them up in what they considered thell rights. 'Tis all bosh to say that any teacher voted for this bill against bel i will. can't believe there is one in town.
 '.rrhe fact that the state teachers guild is heartily in favor of the bill or. I should say. in favor of a pension bill, is q strong argument for 1t. IT other parts of the state the teachers have been trying to have d bill lik' this one passed. but they were not s' fortunate as our teachers. The stat' guild held them back for reasons tha were goo,l and sufficient, suppose from the way they looked at it.
 "But do you think the bill a fai oneT' the ex-official was asked.
 As to its merits or demSrits l don know. l have not read it. The ques ton now before the public is. did an! oe the teachers favor it because the. did not like io oppose the superinten dent or the majority of the board Q education: l can't speak for an. other factory only the one work il
 foreman asking the help 10 sign peti
 foreman asking the hel pto sign petl
 tions, or anything else. is not allowed
 l don't think it is permitted in othe
 factories. Look then at the freedom of action between the teachers and fac
 tory help. and judge which of then
 can be the more independent in ma,
 ter Of a petition.
 II favor this idea of pensioning Q
 faithful employees and wishl it woul'
 bc inaucurated in the factory wher I anu cmplOyed.'