Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-12-31
yDR. WETzEL NEW
HEAD OF TEACHERS
Succeeds Miss Elizabeth Allen
as President of the State
> Association.
CONVENTION VOTES ITS
APPROVAL OF SUFFRAGE
No Change in the Retirement
Fund-Many Verbal
Clashes.
Special to the Evening Star.

Special TO the Evening Star.
ATLANTIC CITY, Dec. S1-The
closing session of the annual eonven-
ton of the State Teachers Associa-
tion here yesterday afternoon was
marked by rapld-fire pyrotechnicsi
and seemed more like school chill
dren's recess than a meeting of dig
uified teachers but above the con
fusion the dominance of Miss Eliza
beth A. Allen, of Hoboken, the re-
firing president, stood out in bold
relief.
The convention adopted a resolu-
ton presented by the committee or
resolutions, indorsing equal suffrage
This was the first time in the sixty
years' life of the Teachers Associa-
ton that the extension of the ballot
has been before one of its conven-
tions.
The text of the resolution, which
vas prepared by Miss Minnie ]. Reyn-
olds, of Newark for the Woman's
Political Union of New Jersey, is as
follows:
Whereas, an amendment to the
constitution of New Jersey extend
ing the vote to women will be pre-
sented to the Legislature for its fina
passage this winter, and
Whereas, the National Educa-
tional Association, representing the
teaching profession of America, in
dorsed equal suffrage at its last ma
tional convention, and
Whereas. the power and influence
OF the teaching profession would bt
greatly increased if 1t. were COM
posed entirely of voters; therefore
be 1t
"Resolved, That the New Jersey
state Teachers Association. in an.
nual convention assembled. at Allan.
tic City, December 80, 1914. indorse.
the passage of the suffrage amend
inent by the New Jersey Legislature
and It's final adoption at the polls"
Steam-roller methods were used by
Miss Allen to bring order out of the
chaos, and even her most ardent op-
ponents admitted after it was all over
that nothing less strenuous would
have sufficed.
AS in former years, the administra-
tlon of the retirement fund was the
centre of the storm, and the display
of verbal pyrotechnics was touched
off during a meeting of that depart
ment prior to the business session
as told in yesterdays Evening Star
Miss Emma Mccoy. of New Bruins
wick, arch foe of the administration
was present. primed with pointed
questions Miss Allen was the target
and Miss McCoy's efforts to confound
the retiring president Of the associa-
tion were backed by Otto II Schultz
principal of the Morton Street School
Newark. Miss Mccoy subsided, re-
storing a certain measure of peace tC
the meeting. John Enright, superin-
tendent of the Monmouth schools
olc ettx.t,R1 faI In ri
upon the troubled waters, and Ii
recognition of this service he was
elected president of the retirement
fund to succeed Mrs. Susan c. Mar
, vim, OF Jersey City.
Storm Breaks Over Fund Report.
When the general business session
opened soon afterward the retiremen
fund question was the first consid
cred, following the report of the com
nlittee appointed to inquire into thu
advisability Of separating 1t from tht
Teachers Association. The report
was that such separation was no
deemed advisable. and then the storm
broke again in all it's fury. Principa
Tucker, Of the Camden Street School
-. Newark, led in the opposition to &C.
ceptance of the report, saying "tht
time of the State teachers conven,
tion might be much better employed
than in annually wrangling over this
fund" He said the time had passed
when the affiliatlon of the fund Will
the association was of any materia
advantage to either, and he was
sharply answered by Miss Allen. Mrs
Marvin and Edwin S. Richards, oi
Elizabeth.
In response to cries Of "Vote!" from
all sections of the hail. Miss Alle1
l. IN 70 - l.
report will say aye" and inme.
diately afterward she said: "Thos,
opposed will arise" There were erie.
OF unfair at this difference in the
method of voting, but the majority
In favor was so overwhelming tha1
there was no further protest.
Another Snag was reached Wher
Principal Chalmers, of the Wildwood
School. submitted the report of tn,
committee on resolutions. One Of
these resolutions was emphaticaIly
in favor of the maintenance of tn,
present tenure of office act In full
force, leading II. NJ. Maxson, o.
P1ainfleld. to resign as chairman o.
the legislative committee. Mr.. Max
son also took exception to another
resolution, which declared in favor O.
q "short cut" from the civil court.
to the State Board of Education il
matters affecting the teachers. %
object to the tone of your resolu
tions," he said They tell myself anl
the other members of the COMMITTEES
TO go ard do these things. and
won't do them. I believe that there
should be a short cut to the STATE
board. as recommended in the reso
Iution, but 1 will positively not asl
for any new legislation during the
coming session" His objection tc
pressing the maintenance of tht
{. tenure of office act was taken II
= mean that the State Legislature will
modify that hone OF contention dur.
ing the coming session.
william A Wetzel. Of Trenton, un
opposed candidate for president e
succeed Miss Allen, announced thai
he would not serve in that capacit,
unless Mr. Maxson withdrew his
resignation as chairman of the legis-
tative committee. He suggested as
an alternative that the convention