Omaha daily bee., 1914-04-03
"siIent Forceso Of the mine.

Stlemt EOrces' of the Ring.
STERLING. Neb., April 2.--To the Edi-
tor of The Bee: The action Of the Nor
NAL board last week In trying to elect
Prof. Luckey of the state university to
the presidency of the Kearney Normal
has stirred the turbulent waters OF our
educational affairs again and has brought
to the surface the high handedness' OF
some of the members OF that board, and
teachers, superintendents and patrons are
discussing pro and con the school trust,
the ring, or whatever IL may be that
seems TO control the spirit OF our ad-
vanoement along this line.
The spontaneous coming together OF
the normal board indicates how the
spirits Of these silent forces" act and
work together; and moreover answers
the question. Are the men who claim
there is ring, trust, a disintegratinR
force. moving and controlling our educa-
tion, pretenders, fault finders and sore
heads, or are they entitled to public sup
port?'' very satisfactorily to an intelligent
reading people.
learn that Prof. Luckey Is a valuable
man to the university and Is prominent
in educational circles. Really no objeo-
ton, educationally. could be found to
Mr.. Luckoy's appointment, but II / re-
member rightly Mr., Luckey pulled the
chestnut from the burr at the state as
soeistion last fall for the ring" in their
fight 10 save the normal board from
censure by the association when the
resolution written by superintendent
DelEell was not right at that time. but
will be right next association time. Am
/ to understand that the university h
mixing up in this fight?
The sudden action OF the normal board
might have been due TO the fact that a
has been under fire 30 long believe
that the people OF the state will profit
by it's being kept under fire for a while
longer ana ask Governor Morehead IN
follow the example OF ConEressman
Maguire in making his appointments. II
rumor can be relied on, a circular 20 the
people OF the state by the governor. CIV
ing his reasons for the appointment OF
Tom Majors on the normal board would
reveal the activity OF one certain book
representative well known in the state as
very bitter friend OF A. o. Thomas.
Another stunt OF the silent forces" ia
10 eommercialiHe our education II school
boards Of the state knew 70 what extent
our present district meetings have been
monopoliEed by authors Of books copy
riEhted and sold by, the University Pub
fishing company, or by one OF the four
or five combinations related TO this com
psny. not many schools would have been
dismissed on account OF these meetings
lit is not for me TO outline this matter
here, Al the boards have TO do is TO get
program and study II and especially
take look at the personnel OF the exc
eutlve committee Of the Southeastern as
ISOLATION. Who are they?
The normal training student cannot
pass the state examination. without great
difficulty. unless he studies a certain line
OF readers. This practically forces the
normal training schools to buy them.
Another little commereialism Is carried
on by one OF the members OF the reoodl-
fication committee in sending ut letters
OF inquiry 20 teachers OF the state on
letter heads OF an Insurance COM
pany. little matter must say. but it's
the oompany's business 20 insure teach
ers and II gets the matter before them.
Gentlemen OF the jury. is Il not time thar
education be given more attention.
OWEN p. STEWART.
superintendent OF Schools.