The San Francisco call., 1909-07-09
TFACHFRSLAUGH
AT CALIFORNIA
WOMAN
Miss Mary Shirley Boldly
Champions Cause of Suffrage
at Denver Meeting
San Francisco Is Chosen as the
Place for Holding 1910
Convention
Especial Dispatch 10 The Call


fornia woman who dared TO voice her
views on the woman suffrage question
today in the convention Of the National
education association, when some of
the leaders sought to bring questions
OF national policy into their delibera-
tions. This woman was Miss Mary
Shirley of California. who, if she is
not militant suffragette. is at least
woman suffragist.
Now if there is going to be any
freedom advocated here" she said, II
want to make another amendment. If
the savages of Porto Rico and of the
Philippines are going to get support
here I want the voice of this associa-
tion to be raised in behalf of those
who deserve it most-the women of the
United States"
And the assembled men educators
were ungallant enough to laugh bois-
terously at the delegates earnest
protest.
BLOW AT BOOK TRUST
1t all happened when James Yadkin
Joyner, superintendenr of public in
struction of North Carolina was
elected as president of the association,
which led up to a series of parlia-
mentary situations which threatened
for time to rend the inner circle Of
the association.
Joyner was elected on the second
ballot and his rise to the presidency
was the cause for qualification by the
enemies of the so called book trust.
Joyner all along had been the avowed
candidate OF the snti-octopusites and
when his election over Benjamin Blew
! EFT, head of the ST. Louis schools and
DR.. ]. II. Phillips of Birmingham. Ala.
was announced there was much re-
! Joicing in the ranks of the antis
Immediately afterward the resoIu-
1 uons committee appeared with quiet
/ enough Arrangement of resolves and
thank yous.' Innocent indeed except
In one essential and this referred to
the democracy of the schools. The
clause dealing with the subject main
tanned that democracy is absolutely
necessary. After setting forth elab-
orately the committees views the reso-
luton explained that to make this
democracy stand out in the true light
of Jeffersonian simplicity II would be
the disagreeable duty of the preceptors
to smite the fraternity evil in the high
schools OF the land.
PUT BAN ON HIGH SCHOOL FRATs
Instantly there was commotion in
the outskirts of the meeting of elect
ors. But IL did not last long. for the
resolutions committee evidently knew
what it was about and the anti-frater-
nifty clause went through without
amendment.
Henceforth, therefore, the fraternity
will meet with official frowns in the
high school. But the fraternity clause
did more than stir up dscord in this
| respect. II brought out more resolu-
tions, each of which proved a burr un-
der the saddle of the pedagogic equine.
First of all there was a clause about
slmplif1ed spelling. 1t recited that
this might not be a propitious occasion
for the renewal of the Roosevelt
Matthews innovation, yet the matter
might bear inspection and for that
reason the resolution was adopted.
Protest against this brought forth the
! explanation that the resolution was
merely for the purpose of investigation
and did not bind the association to
amputated English.
Then the militant spirits of indie
pendence burst forth. 1t was instigated
by Edwin G. Dexter, commissioner of
education for Porto Rico Dexter Of
fered a resolution urging that con-
gress be asked to confer citizenship
upon the people of Porto Rico. He
said this would be a great aid to the
teacher in the islands as 1t would be
a glowing reward of merit to hold
before the eyes of the Porto Rican to
tell him he would one day become a
citizen Of the great United States.
WANTS FREEDOM FOR FIIIPINOS
But Dexter emphasized too strongly
the word citizenship, for Immediately
. A
proposed to tack on little suggestion
about freedom for the Filipinos. He
said they had been nurtured by the
eagle of freedom going on 10 years
now and thus far the only civilizin q
Influence they had felt was the water
cure.
Several immoderste 'ha hahs" met
this proposition, but it did not deter
another exponent of freedom from Of
fering straw of relief to what she
termed "downtrodden" element. This
was the protest of Miss Shirley, and 1t
was jeeringly received by the dele
gates
When the Porto Rico resolution came
out it was at least taken seriously.
When the Filipino clause was added
1t brought smile. but the votes for
women proposition caused a roar OF
laughter, which was the signal for ire
/
National educational association is con-
cerned, there is to be no liberty in this
respect.
The election altogether was more
peaceful than was expected, though
the two ballots taken were close. Ir
win Shepherd of Winona. Mimi. was
reelected secretary, a life honor al
ready conferred. A. H. Chamberlain
of California was reelected ts:>asurer
and Lorenzo ID. Harvey the retiring
president, was elected first vice presi-
dent.
The report of the tres~9 II showed
expenditures of $4,000 a-2 a balance
of ss,SO9
In the afternoon the departments of
music, science, art, state schools. In
dian education, elementary, child study
and home economies held sessions,
Thomas j. Kirk of Oakland, Cal. spoke
before the department of business edu
cation.
WHY BOYS DEGENERATE
AT COLLEGE
why is it that a young man degen-
crates within six months after he en-
ters college?"
Charles Fordyce, dean of the Univer-
sity of Nebraska, who spoke before the