New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-28
WAR OF FEMALE LOGIC
WOMEN TEACHERS Clash.
".Skamei' "Lie!" and Umbrella AH
4rgunlentS on Pay Bill.

A cyclone struck the Immediate vicinity Of Park
avenue and 6sth street yesterday morning When
two rival factions angry feminine factions many
hundred strong. try 20 hold meetings at the same
time in the spot. things are likely TO happen
They happened yesterday when the lnterooroush
Association of Women Teachers and the Protective
Association Of Teachers below the grade OF 4B
locked horns in the scholastic shades or Normal
College Hoots Kisses and catcalls drowned out
the words of the speakers, the lie was eNchanged
more than once and excited woman broke her
umbrella over the head Of an opponent
The primary teachers called their meeting to pro-
test against the White bill. favored by the Inter
borough people and before the Mayor They
had found that they did not come in for the
equal pay for equal work" provided for women
teachers OF higher grades by this bill. and they
engaged the Normal College assembly hall for II
o'clock sharp to explain their attitude But mean
while the marlborough people were laying plans
In fact Mrs. S. p. Leveridge, chairman Of one
OF the local school boards and leader in the cause
OF the primary teachers. said TO Tribune reporter
by their rough house tactics they made 1t inn
possible for TO voice opposition They were
going TO have a meeting at City College this morn
ing When they heard that 10 meet I'm
Normal College assembly hall at II o'clock they
engaged the hall for 10 o'clock. and then swarmed
down here and kept out"
The lower corridor Of Normal College about Il
o'clock resounded with cries OF This way to the
meeting OF the Interborough Association This
way TO the primary teachers' meeting'" This
ceeded without a hitch. TWO thousand advocates
Of the White bill packed the place and appIauded
Miss Grace Strachan. chairman Of the executive
committee of the marlborough Association she
declared that the primary teachers had been de-
luded and mised by scheming male persons
teaching In the New York schools.
Meantime angry Protectives assaed the
skirts Of the meeting. Finding # impossible 20
eject their enemies they held a council OF war AS
result Mrs. Leveridge stationed herself at the
door of a classroom and called 10 everybody in
hearing 10 come TO meeting in there The Pro-
tectives went The Interboroughs went also In
some way the news had been carried TO the as
seInby hail, and in hot haste the leaders there
deserted their meeting for the new one
Commissioners Stern and Freifeld OF the Board
OF Education and Miss Susan Z. Griffin and Mrs
Fila conway principals. took their places the
platform. with a crowd of other adherents Of the
primary factions. Miss Strachan and Mrs Nora c.
Lenihan. president Of the Interboroughs, hung TO
the edge OF the platform. each with war in her
eye The other Interboroughs made themselves
evident by the Misses which almost drowned Mrs
conway's voice as she said that she had been
asked to preside.
Miss Griffin was the first sneaker She said a,
once and with emphasis that she had not spoken
20 a male teacher in two weeks
me marlborough Association she said asks
US to accept a bill which throws the primary
teachers on the mercy Of the Board Of Education
whom they themselves, the members OF the Inter
borough Association. have declared that they are
afraid TO trust They cali dcserters. It is they
who are deserters. They have left the primary
teachers TO struggle for themselves"
Storms Of NO! No!' and Yes! Yes" from the
audience made IL almost impossible for Miss Grtf-
nm to proceed Above the uproar sounded the deep
and scornful ''TIa: ha! ha," with which Mrs Ieni-
han greeted every remark.
Then Miss Strachan demanded the floor
I'VE don't want yOu!' called the Protectives.
Il am here by invitation" said Miss Strachan.
mt
| called woman in black.
Now is not your time TO speak," Mrs Conway
said 10 the marlborough leader Then Mr. Stern
stepped hastily forward TO pour oil the troubled
waters The waters seethed 10 such an extent for
about ten minutes after he that he might as
wei have been yoicelese. far as making him
sell heard is concerned.
ana inttinedlatey the strife broke out afresh Then
ne unfortunately happened TO remark that he ala
moi represent the BoaId Of Education. and after
&C. i a. eteLg otIer word some marlborough AS
ISOLATION woman reminded him that he had no
Il foresaw that his bill would cause endless mis-
chief Mr.; stern declared. and tho Interboroughs
Missed again ladies' Ia shouted. az lie turned
20 sit down, ladies. in your energy IN your zeal
70 look out for yourselves for Gods sake don't for
That seemed 70 arrest the PETERBOROUGH adherents
H. ea ibe Ly stored kissing % think about
that the White bin did not treat ali tesrIeTs aiiI5
ana they Kissed again. Mrs. Lenhan and Miss
manded 20 speak.
Z want to explain the bin. called Miss strachan
it. TetorteG Mrs con%aE lou look our hail for
some one in the audience moved that every one
VINO WASN'T Invited there he removed by force
some one else said they were violating a bylaw in
having such crowd In the room. Miss Strachan
uebaIreo from speaking, pre-empted corner Of
il. 49, e PENN
But IL remained for Commissioner Freifeld who
spoke against the bill, to raise the biggest tuuult
OF all he used the word wire pulling" and this
was exceedingly Objectionable TO the INTERIOR
oughE. particularly to slim young woman Ia
gray. -
Shame! Shame!" she cried. in a voice surpris-
ingly deep for slim. He called women
wirepullers No. ! won't be STILL He called me
a wirepuller, Shame,"
She struggled 10 the platform. There woman
on the other side lost her temper completely and
MT the girl In gray with her umbrella. Then Mrs
Conway said she would no longer preside over
they-the Primary Teachers Association adjourn
Hear, Heart" said the Interboroughs eE:husias-
tically; and then the Protectives moved away, and
the lnterboroushs triumphanty captured the plat
/ form and proceeded TO talk.
The Protectives tried to hold overflow meet
ing IN the assembly hall after the InterborOughs
left II. but their enemies invaded that, too. At
o'clock the Protectves melting away from
! Normal College in indignant groups while Miss
/ lsen1han proclaimed from the platform of
sembly hall that they deuded and mistaken
The lnterboroughs at their first meeting adopted
n resolution declaring that II "A salary schedule
were made discrminat inR against The teachers be-
the primary teachers until schedule satisfactory
! 10 them made.
But the Protectives took no stock in this resou-
/ ton. Why one OF them said ''as Commissioner
/ Freifelt declared. the Board OF Education would
require superhuman power TO do that now. They
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