The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-23

tail work is done in subcommittee. Informality Is of the very essence of how committee of two or three persons of whatever sex could pro. ceed other than informally. And, as for the matter, of the whole board, I have noticed of late years that it's meetings are become more and more formal, as necessary result from the dignity and importance of the work which you are doing.
 Not Political Issue.
 And there is. another phase of the prime importance. If it is true the. there are reasons founded in the very nature of your work why the cause of public education would be advanced that the public mind is seriously en- gagged. upon this subject, would it not be an act of wisdom, of real con- structive statesmanship, for you to seize this opportunity to make this branch of government responsive to public opinion, rather than to have the change come as a result of agita- tion and political strife? For just so surely as that strife begins. just so soon will your corps of teachers be drawn into 1t to the impairment of discipline and organization. And think you will agree with me that a question of this character cannot be- come a political issue without involv- ing other considerations which have no logical connection whatsoever to the confusion of the real issue, the be- wilderment of the voters, and the harm of the whole system. I say this in answer to the suggestion which may be urged, that this question should be left to the voters at the, next election. If you, sir, knew of a woman fitted to serve upon this board not with ordinary qualifications, but by unusual culture and training, and you thought her appointment would ,4kafr would you not prefer to take the re- sponsibility of appointing her by vir- tue of the opportunity which now presents itself, or would you have her which lead to the control of the polit- ical caucus?
 -In other words. gentlemen, by so much as you concur with me in the theories have endeavored to present by so much are you constrained to take advantage of the present oppor- tunity to make them practical.
 Pertinent Questions.
 tI do not apprehend that any mem- Der of this board will hesitate to favor the petition lest he in some mysteri- ous way be guilty as accessory of seducing woman from those duties of domesttcity which are said to be, and of of course are her peculiar func- uon. Private business is yours, as it is my, peculiar function. If it could be said of you that you are neglecting your private affairs for the public well fare, would 1t not be cause of praise to you and of congratulation to the state? And let us go deeper, to the very root of the objection, to the du- ties of wifehood and motherhood. To the man who says public service and the fullest development of true. wom- anhood are incompatible, I reply, will you venture to put the fullnesS of your manhood in the scale with the womanhood, the wifehood and moth Of T1saT- TnTNg 0 Ward Howe? He denies the evidence of his senses who says that there is not in the lives of hundreds of cul- tured and able women in this city. after the most exacting demands of wifehood and motherhood have been met, time that could not be better spent than in the cause of public edu- cation.
 of the quality of the services she would render? Do you doubt her ability? To speak of nothing else, who is bearing the chief labor of the administering large and important trusts with keen intelligence and zeal
 Do you doubt the breadth of her science, literature and art, and mar vel at her achievements.
 Do you doubt her depth of pur- pose, her courage to follow where 0uIy SaAAS " nat AAAdH nAAA SlSHA 1AAS1N question who has stood in the agony of mortal terror while she has gone with steadfast heart and unfaltering step into the very valley of the shadow of death to bear forth the new life whose cry had echoed in her heart? ''Gentlemen, the opportunity and the responsibility are alike yours. No man or woman, however deeply he may feel on either side of the ques- tion, will ask more than that your decision, whomsoever else it may or fend, shall not offend against the well fare of the school children of Bridge port"
 l Poughkeepsie-''If a saloon keeper | ever sells strong drink to one of my | sons, I surely will kill him. declared