El Nuevo mexicano., 1916-07-13
MR.. WHITE APPROVES
ACTION OF CONWAY
1T ALSO TRANsPlREs THAT
THERE WAS a "HIEETUSv IN
QUAY COUNTY INSTITUTE POLL
TICS

There appears to be a slight mix-up
among educators in Quay county,
judging by letters received today by
State School Superintendent Alyan N.
Whites Some time ago resolutions
were passed by the institute held in
Quay county, endorsing Prof. John H.
Wagner for state school superintend-
ent. Mr.. Wagner held the institute
in Quay county and, as has happened
in some of the other counties, the
teachers were reported to have drawn
up resolutions endorsing their conduc-
tor for the high position of state
school superintendent.
After reading the report of these
resolutions and some others passed in
other counties, Mr.. White gave an in.
terview to the New Mexican disap.
proving the action of teachers at an
institute in 'meddling with politics."
He declared that the policy Of the
board of education was to keep the
teachers from mixing school work and
politics at any time. He pointed out
that the teachers have a right to ex-
press preferences at the polls but de-
MED that they are permitted to boom
this or that educator for a state Office.
Today Mr.. White received a letter
from Mrs. Mae r. Hawkins, of Bard,
N. M, stating that she did not sign
the resolutions alleged to have been
passed in Quay county; she was sick
at the time. J "A. Conway, of Grady,
N. NJ, also wrote that if his name was
affixed to the Quay county resolutions,
it was without his authority. He says
he declined to sign the resolutions.
Praises j.. ". Conway
Mr.. White stated today that he was
informed the Santa Fe county insti-
tute was on the verge of passing reso-
lutions endorsing the popular county
school superintendent for state school
superintendent but that John v. Con
way promptly stepped forward and
declined the endorsement. He said he
had been reliably informed that Mr..
Conway headed off the movement and
would not permit any recommendation
of himself for the office. "Of course.
this is but proper" said Mr.. White.
AT the same time l must cordially
recommend Mr.. Conway's action to
others who have been tempted or who
may be tempted to have resolutions
passed endorsing them for a state
office"
Mr.. White was much amused at an
item in the Pennington Enterprise or
July z, headed Nothing Stirring" He
said: This is the way a newspaper
editor views the matter of mixing pol
itics with school work and l wish to
say it is precisely the way the board
OF education views it." The item re
ferred to is as follows:
This Office is in receipt of four
pages of resolutions passed by the
teachers of San Juan county at their
last institute. We are expected to
publish them, but owing to the fact
that they have endorsed and recon-
.mended Superintendent Swinney for
the nomination for state superintend-
ent Of instruction. we cannot publish
the resolutions. We are NOT opposed
at all to Mr.. Swinney running for this
office, but we are opposed to school
teachers becoming politicians. and we
are not advertising candidates free Of
charge. The purpose of an institute
is to prepare the teachers for better
teaching. not to select a candidate for
any office on any ticket"