The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-04-18
Regan's Hobby Nipped
Oratory Was Stifled
From Saturdays Daily.

4
! And now, gentlemen" said Attor
ney J. E. Regain yesterday afternoon
at special meeting of the board OF
education, 81 want to bring up again
my old hobby about the reading OF
the Bible in school. ! have the pa.
/ pers all ready to serve and am ready
, TO begin operations, and unless you
gentlemen want TO retract your mo.
ton of last fall allowing the Bible
TO be read in the public school
! where all religious sects are repre-
(, sented-
Il move we adjourn" came the
stentorian voice of George W. Schcr.
er and the motion was seconded
carried and executed before Mr.. Re
gan could finish his sentence.
| The meeting was. called for the
purpose of finishing up the election
iof teachers, and the question of C.
r. Shumway's election seemed to
/ be the most important 1t seems
that Mr.. Shumway has been receiving
$1,000 per year for his services. and
/ he thinks that this is not enough.
/ He was allowed raise of 500 at
| the last meeting of the school board,
but he asks for $1,400, per year.
/ Secretary e. f. Soaring read let
ter from Mr.. Shumway in which was
outlined a proposition to the school
board He intends purchasing an
automobile to better carry out the
extension work in the rural districts.
/, and he asks that he be allowed 5000
In oc
/ This 5000 will cover the expense OF
upkeep of the car and as well as
other expenses.
Urged Mr.. Shumway's Retention.
| A committee of the Commercial
club. consisting of F. NJ. Currier. DR..
]. S. Holbrook, W. D. Willard, John
Nyquist and A. G. Veigel, was pres.
ent to urge Mr.. Shumway's re-elec-
| ton because of the excellent work
he had done in extending the science
of better farming to the country around
Mankato. All were of the opinion
iof that Mr.. Shumway had made a
decided impression OH the farmers
land had tile work nicely started, and
| that it would be well if he could be
retained another year. Mr.. VeigeI
| emphasized that fact that Mr.. Shum-
way had worked up a good deal of
enthusiasm and that he bad increased
the class in agriculture by so doing,
and that his influence was felt a
great deal. DR.. Ho1brook echoed Mr..
| Veigel's sentiments. Mr.. Currier
said that he had been a member of
the school board and could appreci+
ate their position in being reluctant
in giving so much money to one
branch of work. But he brought out
the Importance of the branch by
saying that it fitted the students
much better than any other branch
of the high school to living for them
selves when they graduated Mr..
Nyquist was in favor of keeping Mr..
Shumway because he had way of
getting on with the farmers, and he
thought that with the education he
was giving, the farmers would be
brought in closer touch with the city,
when they learn to cooperate with
the city people they will not send
to Sears-Roebuck for so much of their
goods" said Mr.. Nyauist. This con-
clusion was brought out by remark
made by Mr.. Scherer.
the agricultural work to the farmers
was commented upon very favorably
by members of the board and by the
committee from the Commercial
club. and Mr.. Scherer expressed the
opinion that the farmers did not de-
serve the good things which were
given them at the expense of the
city when they sent to Sears-Roebuck
for their goods.
Aid From the Club.
Mr.. Veigel said that he thought
perhaps the Commercial club would
help to defray Mr.. Shumways ex-
penses ii the school board could not
stand the drain. but President Evan
Hughes said that if this was done
the Commercial club would also want
to say how the money should be
used. DR. Holbrook backed up Mr..
Veigel's suggestion and as did Mr..
Currier, and Mr. Willard said that he
thought that the Commercial club
would be perfectly willing to let the
board use the money as it saw fit, if
an appropriation for this purpose
should be made. 1t was finally de-
cided to turn the matter over to
the school committee and Supern.
tendent Sperry to decide whether or
not Mr.. Subway should be retained.
A communication was read from
V. A. Cooper, director of the manual
training department, and his aDplica-
ton. unsigned. was enclosed. Mr.
Cooper said that he was willing to
sign the contract at the salary Of
fered as soon as his assistant was
elected 1t was understood by the
board that Mr.. Cooper meant by
this that he was very anxious to
have his department enlarged and
that the work he expected to do was
too much for one man. His applica-
tion was also left to Superintendent
Sperry and the school committee.
The Teachers Agency.
A letter was received from o. o.
Ulvin. county superintendent of
schools. in which he urged the board
of education to urge passing the Fos-
seen bill now in the legislature. The
bill does away with the teachers
agency. an organization which is re-
ally an employment bureau for teach.
ers. and exacts from 500 to 500
year for securing positions. The bill
provides for state organization of
this kind which will save the teach
ers about ninety percent of what
they have been expanding to secure
positions The communication was
filed and action upon it left to Su-
perintendent Sperry and the school
committee