Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-11
HOWELL ADMITS He
ERRED IN JUDGMENT
Senator Confesses His Mistake
in Sponsoring Original
Ward Election Bill.
TRYING TO MAKE AMENDS

State Senator Howell yesterday ad-
mitted publicly that in sponsoring the
original ward-election school board
bill, he erred, eggregiousiy erred, and
in a contrite manner he said he was
doing his level best to make amends
and get beyond the range OF the with
ering fire since directed gainst him.
He explained that his bill had been
withdrawn and that he proposed TO
offer amendments to similar bill
comping up from the house.
The meeting at the council club
rooms was attended by goodly of
prominent men and women, who ex-
changed wide range of views and
at time engaged in sharp polemics.
The net result of the meeting was
that M. A. Hall secured adoption of
a resolution, that it was the sence
of the meeting that the Douglas
county representatives and senator's
use their influence to defeat any legis-
lation which would require election of
Omaha school board members by
wards, Mr.. Hall tried to secure
adoption of another resolution against
the primary school bill, but he failed
in that effort. Senator Strehlow an
nounced that on next Thursday aft
ernoon at 2 o'clock, in the state SEN
ate chamber, the committee on privi-
leges and elections, will grant
hearing. -.-
Committee To Protest.
Special committee OF two women
and three men will be selected to
represent the protestants. 1t is be-
lieved the meeting will yield interest
ing expressions of opinions.
Senator Howell explained that he
proposed to amend the Goodall ward
election bill in the house to provide
that an election would be held in
1920 and every two years thereafter,
which would not legislate any mem-
bers of the present board out of Of
flee, but would extend the terms of
some of the members. He said he
was opposed to legislating anybody
out of Office.
iliS' ID liOl d "dlh-ClCCllO1l Dll,
because everybody would vote for the
candidates of all wards and at the
regular election would likewise vote
for the nominees of all wards" ex-
planned Senator Howell. He added
that the primary school bill applied
to all cities of the state having more
than 10000 population.
Goodall Defends Bill.
Representative Goodall, defending
his bill in the house, said: 81 will
stand by my bill. Our present sys-
tenn of electing school board mem
bers is staxation without represen-
tation. We should have members on
the board from the districts where
they raise kids by the bushel."
Beat the bill if You can, but
don't try to beat it over my shoulders. |
| have done my best to correct my
If you resolve to oppose the
primary bill you will antagonize the
legislature. The legislature may do
away with your entire school board"
was the consolation offered by SEN !
ator Howell when the discussion
grew eloquent.
I'VE got good results last fall
without any school board primary. 1t
is hard enough to get good men to
run for" the board without imposing
the primary feature upon them to say !
nothing of the added expense" inter
jected M. A. Hall. Senator Howell |
took vigorous issue with Mr.. Hall and |
Dr. Harold Clifford. S. Arion Lewis
an dFred Hoye supported the ward
feature. |
Women Disapprove.
Mrs. c. r. THEM, president of the
Miller Park Mothers club expressed
her disapproval of ward election of
school board members in this mail
ner: Every ward may not have men
capable of serving as school board
members" Mrs. Halleck Rose and |
Miss Kate McHugh opposed the ward
bill.
City Attorney Rine, Robert Smith
and J. Fl. Dumont were among those
who led the fight in favor of the
primary election for school board
members, with the result that the
finally agreed not to take
action against the primary bill, par
ticularly in view of the fact that it
applied to all cities of more than
10000 population and said to have
been made statewide with view
Of purifying school politics in Lincoln.
The Douglas county senator's made
it pain that if Omaha people want to
kill this school board legilation, they
must prevail upon the privileges and
elections next Thur dar afternnon ~