Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-05-03
0Be d8eest&a
sleM2sBo4t1


- go Un
OMAHA. May 2-To the Editor OF The
Bee: Our attention has been challenged
BY communication appearing In your
I paper over the signatures OF two gem
/ temen, signing as officers OF what Is
styled Omaha Playground Association, +"
! and in which these gentlemen generously
/ criticise the action OF the Board OF Pub
| lie Recreation for what appears 10 them
wrong IN principle"
We arc not advised as TO Just what
this organization IL or Just what It has
! done toward advancing the playground
work in Omaha We fail TO find In the
records where these gentlemen have CON
tributed either IN money, time or sugges-
tons to the Fairgrounds Of Omaha, but
| we are conscious OF the easy freedom
with which one can crltlcise who does
not bear the responsibility incident TO
the service owed by one In public posi-
| ton.
| Lest there be Misunderstanding from
| the more or less inaccurate intimatlons
| in the communication from these gentle
men, let Va state briefly that no APP
| pointments have yet been made 20 the
| position Of playground supervisors. al
/ though one might readily infer from
! their statement that such has been done
| what the board has done IN the matter
| Is this Fifteen persons have been norni-
mated. these nominees viii be required
| 10 take on examination FOR tho purpose
| Or aaoertainlng their qualifications with
a View 10 selecting from their number 10
many Of those found 10 be qualified as
| may be required
The board IL not Of the opinion that
a written examination Is the sole test
| Of fitness for a position such as this. II
f. believed that one might be an excel
| lent peuman. u good mathematician, and
even able 70 read Greek and Latin, n
/ you please, and stu be woefully short
| IN other qualifications that would be
essential IN this line Of work Nor do
| we entirely agree with the suggestion
! IN the communication in which II Ia said
| THE action OF the board IS a rebuff 10
more than a hundred earnest workers
| who are interested In taking UP play
| ground supervision AZ profession"
| We believe that the Fairgrounds were
instituted and are maintained for the
welfare or the children. and that the EN-
| ployment Of supervisors IL incidental 70
this work; not that the Fairgrounds we're
| Instituted az means Of affording pro
| fession or professional position for those
| Who would take up such work. even
| though they be earnest workers Expert
ence has taught us that when appoint
monts we're made. or were supposed 10
| have been made, solely on the basis Of
competitive examination, several OF the
supervisors were persons imported from
other states We have IN mind that an
recent on last year. under that method,
two persons from Illinois and one from
Iowa were appointed TO these positions
| persons who were not residents OF our
city--who had not helped 20 make Omaha
| the thriving city that Il Is. and whose
! interest in II was induced by the salary
/ that It paid We do not wish 70 be un-
! derstood as saying that person OF gu-
perior qualifications from without the
| city limits should be barred. but. all
things being equal. we believe that those
who have cast their lot In this city are
more apt 70 have heartfelt interest IN
| Alb HbIh AtAbH bHp HAViiPhfA 'iNs ~
salary paid.
Perhaps the gentlemen who criticize
with 50 much reference and dignity
would find better methods for selecting
playground supervisors than that adopted
by the Board Of Recreation. but IN view
OF their statement that mo criticism ia
directed at the individuals whom the
board has selected" we feel constrained
20 think that perhaps form rather than
substance IL what they desire. II this
be their objective point we respectfully
differ and submit that in our humble
opinion results on tho Fairgrounds are
more 10 be desired than servile adhor-
ence to any rule-of-thumb method In or
der that selection might be made from
a so-styled Institute which was not
created by or under the direction of the
board and which has no existence undcr
state law or city ordinance.
We submit this plain statement Of
facts for the fair consideration OF
candid public.
DIR. JAMES P. CONNOLLY,