Omaha daily bee., 1913-11-03
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A FIa.hIIsh, on the school Rip9.

grets concerning what has been said
about the candidacy of Miss Kate A.
McHugh for the presidency OF the State
Teachers association, l want to COM
mend the remarks OF The Bee.
With all due respect and regard for
Miss McHugh. 1 believe that she is be-
ing made the scape-goat OF the ring
in their desperate effort to keep control
OF the machine they have been running
for these many years. The history Of
the last year for this band OF ''pedagogi-
cal sluggers" has been one Of continual
sklrmishing and fighting behind the
scenes until they have been forced to
make their final stand behi1d the
skirts OF Miss McHugh to save them
selves. Did II take the encouragement
OF the Beatrice superintendent before
Miss McHugh could make up her mind
10 be a candidate? Upon whose authority
did Mr. Bodwell presume to speak in
this matter? II would be interesting to
the public for him to state the names of
his advisors in this move
Miss McHugh Is certainly worthy Of
the place and under any other circum-
stances | would support her. but this is
not a fight against her. rather a fight
against the greed. character assa ssination
and graft OF the invisible government OF
the school ring OF Nebraska. This does
! not refer to the Schoolmasters club. but
| II does refer to the inner circle whose
members belong to that organization.
I am indeed sorry that Miss McHugh
has consented to allow herself to be used
for the cat'spaw OF this inner circle
na hrln npfn ~R NlaII ~.
superintendent Bodwell OF Beatrice 10 IN
direct opposition of the intent of the
referendum that was adopted at the
Omaha meeting last year after so much
opposition by the ring. This referendum
gives each teacher the right to express
his wish regarding officers without solici-
tation. Who opposed the adoption Of
this referendum last year on the floor
OF the convention? Such men as Super
intendent Bodwell OF Beatrice, A. H.
Waterhouse OF Fremont, Superintendent
George Martin OF Nebraska City, Super
intendent Fred Hunter OF lincoln.
Superintendent o. r. Bowen Of West
Point fought in favor OF this referendum,
which carried by a large majority. The
women teachers, as Mr. Waterhouse says,
represent nine-tenths OF the teaching
profession of Nebraska. After gaining
the victory OF last year. why should the
women allow themselves TO be further
imposed upon by the superintendents who
| fought the referendum?
A few remarks about the ring in gem
eral might be In order here. The public
and certain newspapers seem to be much
wrought up over the charge that a pow
erful school ring exists in Nebraska II
is common knowledge among Nebraska
! school people that such a ring exists
here and has been doing its work for
years. There need be no alarm that a
ring exists, as all social progress is pos
sible only as human beings can work in
groups. But the serious part OF the pres
ent discussion is that the workings OF
this particular ring are bad in ethical
practice. Their ultimate aim leads TO
dollars and cents in commissions on
| teachers salaries purchase of school
supplies and to political preterment. with
magnified publicity over the state for
the pets OF the ring to the exclusion of
many abler school men and women, sim
ply because they refuse TO surrender their
Independence to the whims of these ring
sters. The man or woman in the past
who has dared to oppose the plans Of
these men has been marked for slaughter
and In many instances has been driven
from the state or from the teaching pro-
fession- The ringsters are all honorable
men, individually. They possess ability,
but, like the boy gang in Tenpln alley.
the resultant effect OF their association
politically is positively bad.
As have said, these matters are COM
lt,ya I'm lado
teachers, but even among the common
teachers OF neighboring states. Nebraska
teachers are almost unanimous against
the msnipulations OF this ring. but their
nefarious work ia so done in the dark
and under cover that issues are clouded
ana the teachers do not know when they
are playing into the hands OF the ring
and when not. On two different occasions
have the teachers had a chance 10 go on
record three years ago when Charles w.
Taylor and J. l. McBrien took the lead
In amending the constitution to get the
election OF executive into the hands OF
the teachers themselves and to get the
choice of place OF meeting in the mem
bershlp control. Again. last year, when
the constitution was further amended TO
put the election OF general officers In the
hanos OF the teachers themselves The
overwhelming vote IN favor OF these
amendments in both cases show the real
intent OF Nebraska teachers and speaks
more eloquenuy than words for their de-
votion TO the notion OF a square deal.
The biggest Joke of the whole discus
sion is that the ringstsrs are trying to
work under cover by calling the unor-
ganixed insurgents over the state a ring
claiming themselves to be the lily white
ones. No corrupt ring can, long exist
when the light OF publicity Is turned on.
Whatever may be the merits OF the dis
missal Of DR.. Thomas great good will
be done the educational affairs OF this
state II out OF II all can come the break
ing up OF the combination now running
the school politics OF this state. Another
| is that the ringsters and standpatters OF
Nebraska school politics are fighting with
| the insurgents OF National Educational
association politics. They are consistent
in one thing, viz, furthering the personal
interests OF their small number either IN
the state or nation. There need be no
surprise at this Perfectly human
| II might be well for the commercial
interests OF lincoln that are so anxious
/ TO get the State Teachers association