Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-25
OuR LETTER BOZ

Mr.. Darfdson-s Apology Vet Accepted.
OMAHA Sept. E-To the Editor Of The
Bee: ] received a note 81 the moment of
this writing or the case q alleged "disci-
pline- q an unruly bog in TIE Train school.
which says.
II ever your pen was called upon TO DE-
hodied women. unworthy of the name Il
certainly is called upon nov. III this is not
.cruelty 70 animals never knew a case.
Of teachers. and should BE dismissed
And this from one Of the most prominent
citizens and merchants. whose children were
! born in Omaha and educated in the public
schools in the days when this kind Of brute
/ force in them had been driven out after
hard and continuous battle against II by the
/ Omaha Herald. Of which / was then the
editor. II gives me no pleasure, bat sincere
regret. TO interpose in a matter 50 serious.
I Superintendent Davidson Is reported as
having said.
Insofar as ! have investigated the case.
I 81 seems to be that q very unruly boy. who
! was bent on fighting and resisting his
J teacher. and who received a very hard pun
1 ishment
4 / am led to believe by the investigation
that the statement Of the teachers that the
/ boys bruises are due, not only 70 the pun
| ishment the teachers gave him. but largely
throwing himself wildly on the hoor and
over desks and chairs. Is true.
| The very fact that the teacher was forced
20 call three others 20 her assistance Is suf-
hcient evidence OF the violence With which
Z abe had 10 contend in enforcing discipline
| 1 respectfully say that Mr.. Davidson's
1 apology for the violence and cruelty that
was practioed upon this le-year-old boy is
not accepted The attempt TO account for
the bruises marks Of which were found
upon his person, by saying that he gave
them to himself By throwing himself
wildly on the floor and over desks and
chairs" Is 80 utterly ridiculous that It
will not bear q moments serious considera-
ton
/ an truly sorry 70 know that corporal
punishment has been creeping back into
the public schools by a kind Of stealth
that has left the fact largely unnouced-
II required just such case as the one
the people are now considering to again
arouse public opinion against e. ] do not
blame the teachers in this instance. or in
any other instance. as I DO the principle
Of corporal punishment as a measure Of
discipline. Not one teacher in a thousand.
under strong proyocation. can control her
temper against dangerous and cruel abuse
of this kind Of authority, and all expert
ence proves st. The great city Of New
York, the home Of the vicious and the vile
after great agitation. recently condemned
, II by a crushinsav1k5ority, and send with
this respectful appeal 20 the honorable
the Board Of Education, TO abolish il ut
, terry in the public schools Of Omaha.
I an quite familiar with the pleas and
arguments in support OF brute force 10 en-.
, force obedience 10 teachers IN the schools
answered them all more than twenty
years ago 10 the satisfaction Of an intelH
gent public opinion. have many valued
/ 81 90
a competent and worthy I would not will
: ingiy wound their feelings but I say Il
2 them. and ! say TO others, and 20 all whit
. are in authority, that the bludgeon must b.
E made 70 give way 10 that holy law Of kind
:. ness which should ever rule over tn
s vicious and the disobedient In our publi
, schools. GEORGE L. MILLER.
A Point of international Law.
OMAHA. Sept 2L-To the Editor Of Tn
q Bee: As a subscriber and wellw1sher 70
. your efforts for good government beg 4
v say your editorial OF yesterday was mis-
: leading The line Of oemArkation as be
. tween United States waters and iCanadis-
n waters is governed by international Law
/. which means the three mile limit and II
4 small bays three miles from headiand I
: headlAnd
II has been the practice Of United State
= / fishermen on the north shores Of the grea
: lakes 10 assume they had all the right
: OF fishermen Of the deep or outside or
|, binary lines OF international law which Ia
: been a handicap 70 those Canadians pay
ing license TO the Canadian government 70
the privilege Of fishing in protected waters
In the past the government Of Canad
Z has had a few old tubs 10 do revenue vorl
n unable 70 punish systematic poachers bu
now light seems to have dawned on tn
spirit OF their dream and some Of III
n poachers viii get hurt II they continu
II their work
l. The writer has seen fishing tugs fror
d Cleveland, sanduslzy or Toledo, Ohio, c
n from Erie, Pa. come TO the north sbo,
u OF Lake Erie and cast four. FIVE, six and U
d 70 nine miles OF gill nets within one mil
n Of the shore. knowing they were evadin
the Law but taking chances on the result
No international question lie involved an
y. none viii arise
The French shore fishers on the Ehor,
N Of Newfoundland have given some troub
in the past but they were protected /
N treaty with Great Britain.
The fisheries on the shores Of the nortl
y ern lakes viii not involve any one
!, trouble for behind the question are u
fs diplomats OF two sensible nations
H. A PATTERSON.
CT Note-The Bee does not understand IN,
ID the rule Of international law as 10 the htr
h, seas applies TO inland waters such as n
5s great lakes.
=, EIINnc E0p Tur 1Irt1I 1880,