Omaha daily bee., 1914-03-18
NORMAL BOARD TRIES TRICK
State Treasurer COmpels Members to
Come Out Into the Open.
SOUGHT TO NAME PRESIDENT
Members Drift Into Town without
Notice and Plainly Apparent
Are EndeavOrIng 20 Pick
Thomas Successor.
Iron 3 staff Correspondent. }


LINCOLN, March 17.-(Special Tele-
gram. )-Striking straight from the shout
der it is said that State Treasurer George
at the meeting today OF the state Normal
board called the hand Of the quartet re.
sponsibe for the discharge of DR.. a. ..
Thomas from the Kearney Normal school
and dared them to go ahead with the
game they had put up 20 elect successor
for the place without first giving the
three minority members a chance to know
anything about the qualifications of the
man whom the representatives of the
schoolmasters' ring were trying to put
across.
That the job had been put up and would
have been carried out but for the bold
stand taken by the state treasurer was
evidenced from the start. In the first
place no meeting had been called. How
ever. for some inexplainable reason Mem
bers Cavness Of Fairbury Viele of Nor
folk and Majors of Peru, who with State
Superintendent Delzell composed the
quartet which fired Thomas, drifted into
town, and Member Tooley of Broken Bow,
secretary Of the board. was also here
While no notice had been given of the
meeting it was generally understood that
one might be held and so Gettys of Uni
versity Place was called in and with
State Treasurer George composed the full
board.
Try to Attack Thomas.
After two hours had been spent by the
enemies OF DR.. Thomas in trying to put
something over which would tend to show
that Or. Thomas while president Of the
Kearney school had done something he
ougt not to have DONE and failed. the
board suddenly took up the proposition
Of electing new head for the Kearney
school. Tooley wanted I wait until the
next meeting, April II, when the matter
could be taken up in the regular way,
but Caviness and Majors insisted that
the board might just as well settle the
thing right now
In this contention they were Joined by
Delzell and veiie Tooley then made a
motion that the matter go over till the
regular meeting, and It was seconded by
George. Caviness then moved to amend
by taking the matter up at once, and
then George demanded to know what they
were trying to put across.
Opposes star Chamber.
II am opposed to such a star chamber
proceeding said the state treasurer.
This is public board, and / want to
tell you right now that II you people
pull off the kind of a stunt you are trying
to do and elect man without giving the
rest Of US q chance to know something
OF the qualifications Of the man you pro-
pose to elect, / for one, will see that the
people OF the state know just exactly the
kind Of deal you pull Off"
This seemed TO wake UP Delzell and
one OF the otter members OF the quartet
and they voted with George Tooley and
Gettys against the amendment, and 1t
was lost, SO that the scheme OF the repre-.
sentstives Of the schoolmssters' ring
failed
FuImer and Martin.
During the controversy, which at times
became very warm. the name of s. H.
Martin of Broken Bow was mentioned by
Tooley as the candidate of the minority
while the majority brought out the name
of Fulmer Of University Place. though no
vote was taken, and it was evidenced
that the latter name was put out as a
feeler in order to draw out the name OF
tha onnoaiffon candidate