The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-30
Incidents Marking Closing Day of Teachers Institute
LITTLE POLITICS NOT
HARMFUL TO ANY ONE
School Teachers Keenly Inter-
ested in Campaign for AssO-
citation Presidency.

II any one thinks for the brlefest frac
tion of minute that a lot OF schoo!
teachers do not enjoy fling at the lit
tic game of politics. that one is sadly
mistaken. And If any one thinks for an
other brief fraction OF that same minute
that your Uncle Johnny Wclch is not a
politician. that one is sadly mistaken
also
Professor Wclch pulled off as neat a
coup In the associations closing session
as Dick Croker ever dreamed OF. Mr..
Welch is the supervisor OF grammar grade
schools In this city. He has all manner
OF friends, and a good many of these
friends got together and boosted WelCh
for the presidency. His chief opponent
his only one. in fact-was Prof. Joseph
+. Merrill of the school OF mines OF the
University of Utah. MIR, Merrill had
many friends, too.
Last Tuesday night it became apparent
that his friend, the enemy, was about TO
put one over on Johnny, and railroad
Or. Merrill through on motorcycle
That didn't strike Mr.. Welch as being
nj all satisfactory. He did not Ike the
appearance of things so far as the light
niue flash was concerned that was likely
TO strike him, but he had great and
good friend. and, Ike the good politician
that he proved himself to be, Mr. Welch
said To himself, said he: III my chances
my friend
Up 10 the time OF the meeting We'd
nesday afternoon, the very large part OF
the people Interested were Of tile opinion
that there were only two in the race-Dr.
Merrill and Mr.. Welch.
The Psychological Moment.
When the business order was reached,
f. d, Keelcr. principal OF the Webster
school. moved that the convention pro-
ceed TO elect president, The motion
carried.
Then it was that Professor Welch arose
and caught that convention in It's pyscho-
logical solar plexus. He made a speech
that, while II may not have eNcellcd the
famous "cross of gold speech OF Mir
Bryan. was just as effective for the pur-
pose and more effective in the end, for
Mr.. WelCh succeeded in gaining his ulti-
mate point. and Mr., Bryan didn't.
Mr. President, and Fellow Teachers,
said Mr.. Wclch when he mounted the
stand ten years ago ! came to this city
would know no one. That was true in
every particular, save one, | did know
one man. and that man such a one as
any one might know with credit TO the
mountaineering.
II owe much TO the man I have in
mind and when / shall present his name
to you for your consideration for this i'm
portant office, [ want you To bear In
mind that he is well qualified and
equipped for the place.
ITO begin with, he is member OF the
4,
tural college. He is college bred and a gen
tlcman OF distinguished attainment As
trustee he has always shown himself the
staunch friend of the teachers, and he Is
one who takes a never-flagginS interest
in the teachers work have no hesi-
fancy In saying that he knows every de-
tail-from the smallest TO the largest
of the school work in tins city
What the Vote Said.
And Mr.. Wclch proceeded TO eNtoll the
virtues OF his candidate. until It was
clearly to be seen that he had his audi
ence going" And when he pronounced
the name Of Mathonihah Thomas. there
was a roar OF applause not easily to be
distinguished from the roll OF thunder
One who has seen the all-important
psychological moment srasped in political
conventions could see instantly that
Welch had hit the spike on the head with
n sixteen pound hammer and II had been
driven home.
Parker h. Pratt of Granite made fin
ished speech in nominating DR.. Merrill.
The viva vocc vote was all TO Thomas.
but a division was demanded, and the
demandcr got t. Fully ree-fourths OF
the convention rose in casting their vote
for Thomas and he was then declared
the unanimous choice Of the convention.
In the political phases OF the campaign
for the office there was not the faintest
shadow OF ill-nature. That much should
be thoroughly understood IL was a
friendly rivalry and no sign of bitter
ness was allowed TO creep into Il. Ii was
little diversion that did all concerned
a lot OF good and nobody any harm
Unquestionably the teachers will find
Mr.. Thomas an excellent president. lie
is. Mr. Welch said. heart and soul I'm
the welfare of the schools. and he de-
votes much time 10 his duties as a board
member lie is a graduate OF the Uni
verSity Of Michigan. OF the class OF 1900.
lie has been a member of the board OF
education for five years He is mem
Der of the faculty Of the State Agricul-
tural college at Logan, on the livestock
study.
NICiD lrJl EiNES