The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-06

POLITICAL GOSSIP
Tho Teachers Are Making It at
Their Meeting Here.
1t Means Trouble for Ross
Candidates for Superintendent.
There ID apparently political bug
under the little scheme to name q
board of directors for the State
, Teachers association and to put q
paid secretary In. charge Of the work
o. the association. according to
/ claims made in the state house today
by number of visiting teachers.
There have even been rumors to the
eject that the change in the man.
agement Of the association has the
approval and endorsement of w. d.
Ross. superintendent Of public In
structfon. and that the proposed or.
ganization would ultimately become q
real asset in manipulating some Of the
political affairs Of the state.
Superintendent Ross, however, has
cteverly lodged any statement that
may align him with any political par
ty or political faction and has de-
clined to state with which party he
will be found in the next campaign
when the candidates for state super
tntendent are named. It was rather
expected that when the proposition
was launched to name q board Of d.
rectors for the State Teacher asso-
70 ~f~ak
tary to keep in touch with the teach
ing forces Of the state that Superin-
tendent Ross was just q mere inuo-
cent bystander with apparently NO
sentiment in favor Of either faction.
However. the question to be fought
out by the teachers At their 1913
meeting has aroused much opposition
and it is rumored that the friends Of
the present. state superintendent are
interested in promoting the paid sec
retaryship and board Of directors pro-
gram.
with the women voting in the next
statewide election in Kansas, q close
organization of the teaching corps Of
the state would become a real asset.
And there are reports to the effect
that the question of political value Of
this organization has not been over
new program.
Just at this time the Republicans
are saying but little regarding a rum
ming mate for superintendent Ross
in the 1914 primaries. For Ross has
been. hesitant about declaring his
plans for next year and the Republi-
can leaders are uncertain as to
whether the present superintendent.
who opposed the Stone resolution in
the Republican party council in 1912
and
for president, will run as a Republi-
can or a Progressive.
Should Ross elect to seek renomin-
alton and reelection as a Republican
there is q rumor among the teachers
in Topeka that he may have oppose
ton in the primaries. Should he run
as Progressive. 1t Is quite probable
that he might be nominated without
opposition.
Democrats Are Active.
The Democrats attending the con-
vention in Topeka, though are not at
all uncertain as to what they win do
They propose to make a fight for the
office of state superintendent of pub
lie instruction and are already laying
their plans for the coming campaign
At least three probable Democratic
candidates are being discussed today
among the teachers. Any one Of these
III
over the state and among Kansas edu-
Gators to insure them a strong follow
ing IL nominated for office.
Mrs. Anna Arnold of Cottonwood
Falls has been often mentioned as the
Democratic nominee for state super
intendent. She is widely known as an
educator and may decide to make the
race.
Another woman who is being men,
toned today for state superintendent
is Miss Alma Calvert, a teacher in
the Atchison schools and young
woman who Is decidedly strong es-
pecially among the educators in the
eastern portions Of the state. Miss
Calvert Is Washburn graduate and Is
well known in Topeka
A third candidate to be mentioned
by the Democrats Is S. p. Rowland of
Hutchinson who would start in the
race with a pretty solid following
from the western portion Of the state
II he should decide to be a candidate.
None of these candidates have at
this time definitely decided on their
plans Tor the next campaign.
Won't Talk Out Loud.
Teachers. however, are in about the
same relation with a state superin-
tendent as are the lawyers in their
relations with a district Judge. So
when teacher wants to say some
thing about the state superintendency,
he. or she looks up and down the cor
ridors of the state house to make sure
that no one is near, whispers a few
words to a reporter and concludes the
interview with the emphatic declara-
ton. "Don't use my name."s And SO,
while a good many teachers attending
the Topeka convention have some en-
phatic Views on the subject, none of
them are looking for trouble. Most
OF the Kansas teachers are in the pro-
fession because of the financial re-
turn and there are few Of them
Democrats. Republicans or Progress
sives-who want their opinions pub
ished in the newspapers
But the fight over the proposed
board OF directors and a paid secre-
taFV NAV DrOVe an onanfnD vUodUo