Omaha daily bee., 1914-07-07
LIVING WAGE FOR TEACHERS
President Swain Discusses Question
in Annual Address.
FAvoRs OLD AGE PENSIONS
Contest Between DR.. Jordan and DR..
johnson for Presidency is Warm
ing Up-President sends
Greeting and Regrets.

ST PAUL, Mimi, July e.-"Given
cultivated trained teacher OF sound
mind and body. who goes to work at
peace with God and man. the school will
be the best place in the world for the
growth of the child In practical right
eousness and American citizenship
This was the declaration Of Joseph
Swain, president OF Swarthmore college
and president OF the National Education
association at the first general session OF
the associations annual convention here
today. The session was devoted prtnci-
pally to discussion Of the teacherr re
lation to American citizenship.
Interest In the election of a president
to succeed Joseph Swain OF Swarthmore,
Pa. was at high pitch, and the cam
paigns of DR.. D. r. johnson OF Rock Hill,
S. c., and DR. David Jordan of Leland
Stanford university were being pushed
by the candidates respective friends.
President Swain's address followed
speeches OF welcome by state and city
officials and a response by 2. X Snyder
of Greedy, Colo.
President Swain pointed out the need
of religious schools. and the speaker de-
clared that anyone taking teaching as a
life work must abandon all idea OF ac-
cumulating wealth He made a plea for
Giving wage for the teacher; said
the best person for a position should be
chosen regardless OF sex, and advocated
an old age pension system to be provided
by the states.
Telegram from Wilson,
telegram from President Wilson to
President Swain expressing regret that he
oN
the general session. President Wilson
said in part:
"Thoughtfvl people all over the country
follow the deliberations Of the National
Education association with genuine in
terest. The problems of education are
really problems affecting the national
development and national ideas I think
no one long associated with the profess
sion of teaching can have failed to catch
the inspiration of 1t or to see how great
power may be exercised through the
class room in directing the thinking and
the ambition Of the generations coming
on, or can have failed to realize that
nothing less than comprehension of the
national life is necessary to fit a teacher
for the great task of preparation and
adaptation to the future that education
attempts"
Professor from Japan Talks.
Systematic instruction in our public
schools was suggested as a means OF
solving the problem OF how to attain and
maintain peace and good will ebtween
America and Asia by Prof. Snyder Lewis
GuIick of the Imperial university at
F<ioto. Japan, who spoke on the respon-
eibihty OF American educators In the
solution of Americas oriental problem
The convention got well under way to-
day, several departmental meetings being
which was given over principally to a
discussion OF the teachers relation to
American citizenship.
Big Gift from Carnegie.
Andrew Carnegie may contribute t10o.-
10000 to build libraries In country dis
tricts. according to an intimation thrown
out by Philander P. Claxton, United
States commissioner of education. today.
Mr. C1axton said he had talked the mat
ter over with Mr.. Carnegie, and although
he had not the authority TO say Mr.. Car
negie will donate the sum desired the
matter was well received by the steel
magnate.
Discussion OF tho library question came
up at a meeting OF state superintendents
at which Mr. Claxton presided. The COM
missioner advocates the system of CEN
trail county Libraries with several branches
from each. He is confident the Carnegie
millions would result In successfully car
rying out the plan.