Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-11-25
PRAYER ENDS TEACHERS ROW
Dramatic Incident Winds Up Stirring
Scenes at Meeting.
DAVIDSON PICKED AS PRESIDENT
Nominating Committee Reports His
NHme-Teachers as whole TO Vote
ON Meeting PInce-BOOk
Men JOlted.
CFrom a staff CorrespondentO


LINCOLN, Neb., Nov. A.-(special)-
The Nebraska State Teachers association
this morning took an important step in
freeing itself from the control of active
representatives of book concerns, which
for years have used the association TO
forward their own business II adopted an
amendment to the constitution providing
that none but persons engaged actively
in school teaching should be entitled to
vote on any matter of business which
might come before the association. This
was done only after a wrangle Of some
proportions over when to vote on the
propositions.
Another important amendment was that
which provided that no longer shall the
members Of the reading circle draw their
expense money from the book agents who
sell the books recommended by the circle
1t has been customary for years for the
book concerns to put up for the expense
of these meetings, but when the matter
was aired out last year the sentiment Of
the teachers was so crystallized against
II that the practice was killed unanimously
today.
Ne wOfficers Picked.
The nominating committee tonight re-
ported the selection of the following Off
GERS W. M Davidson of Omaha, presi-
dent; Edith Lathrop of Clay Center vice
PRESIDENT John A. Woodland of Havelock,
treasurer Executive committe - First
district, d. W. Hayes of Peru; Sencond
district, f. u Graft of Omaha; Third dis
trct, Charles Arnot of Schuyler and w.
T. stockdale Of Omaha; Fourth district,
A. e. Fisher of Aurora; Fifth district, s.
H. Thompsond of Hastings; Sixth district,
w r. Pate OF Alliance. The secretary
| is to be selected by the executive COM
mittee Messrs Anrot and Stockdale of the
Third district are hold-over members. The
nominees will be voted on at the meeting
tomorrow night.
For years every important question that
has come before the association, and, in
fact, practically the little details Of the or
! ganization have been controlled by the
book men rather than by the members who
paid the expenses Of the association.
How Fight started.
This fight against the book men is a re-
| suit Of the exposure OF the workings of
! the Schoolmasters' club. This club has
among its members sufficient representa-
tives Of one book concern to prevent the
admission OF any school teacher in Ne
braska to membership. Under the rules OF
the club no teacher may ask to become
a member, but his name may be proposed
by a member after which the name Is voted
upon. II the candidate suits the book men
his election is sure. II he does not he is
sure to be blsckballed. Many teachers OF
high standing have been blackballed by
this club or, rather by some OF those who
run IT, The fact that two very prominent
educators we're blackballed last year and
their names then made public. started ar
investigation with the result that is nc
longer a disgrace to be blackballed by thai
! club
The exposure Of this state OF affairs
brought home 10 the teachers the fact that
instead Of the school teachers running the
educational affairs Of the state they were
/ being used by the school book concerns for
lContinued on Second Pagel