The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-09
Radical Resolution Passed by
Convention Today.
Look Upon Smokes as Only
Propaganda of Makers.
TAKE OFFICE OUT OF POLITICS
Meeting Also FavOrs Appoint
ment State Superintendent.
Teachers Pensions To Make
Up for Low Salaries.

The tobacco gifts to the soldiers in
France. charged against smoking
manufacturers as propaganda, were
frowned upon by the adoption of ~eso-
lutions before the state teachers as
sociation general assembly in Topeka
today Altho the resolutions were
adopted with a weak vote, they were
adopted, just the same, and the teach
ers go on record against this nation
wide practice.
Assertion that the tobacco clause in
the resolutions were ''railroaded"
thru the convention from outside
sources" have been made by those in
opposition to such a stand. 1t is
pointed out that the clause was not
official meeting of the board of direc-
tors Wednesday but were inserted
afterwards after the aforementioned
| outside sources had obtained the
consent of the directors individually.
The resolutions were voted on col
lectively and not individually. Many
assert that the tobacco clause was
responsible for the weak approval
given the collection of items by the
I assembly. Immediately after the
papers had been read. a motion was
flashed from the platform for a col
+ lective vote and seconded from the
same source. Under this method the
entire group had to be adopted or
| turned down as whole.
w. c. t. U. Did 1t?
Il don't know how this tobacco
resolution got in unless the w. c. T. U.
was responsible" said one officer of
! the association today Regardless of
the fact that the clause went thru
with the other bunch of resolutions,
it don't amount to anything insofar as
activity in opposition to sending to-
bacco for soldiers is concerned. l am
sure the teachers recognize the fact
that tobacco Is the greatest solace the
men in the trenches have and any
way this association isn't a partner
with the Grandma Club 1 know a
lot of the teachers who have sent con-
tributions to the soldiers tobacco
fund. I have done such a thing, and
if the men who are fighting our fight
want tobacco they can have it,"
| The teachers also voted to take the
! office of the state superintendent of
public instruction out of politics and
| place his appointment in the hands of
the state board of administration. In
| cidentally the resolutions endorsed the
educational policies of w. D. Ross.
| Other points covered this morning
were:
New school buildings to be approved
by state board.
Compulsory education at 1 6 years of
age.
Health supervision in rural and
city schools
Teachers pensions.
Appointment of legislative commit
tee.
County unit of taxation.
! The Resolutions
The report of committee on resolu-
| tionS follows:
| ARTICLE l.
| AS members of the Kansas State Teach
ers' association we endorse the able and
efficient administration of our state super
1ntendent w. d. Ross, and pledge him our
full support in the pursuance of his
further educational policies.
ARTICLE H.
"a The office of the state superfntend.
ent should be taken out of politics anf
instead of the election of this officer We
| favor his appointment by the state boart
| of education for term of years
" we favor an amendment to the com.
I pulsory education law. making sfxteeT
years the proper age for the release from
further school attendance, if the eemen
| tary school course is not previously com
pleted. thus harmonizing this law witt
the national and state child labor laws
90 We ask that law be enacted reauir
ing that plans for all new school build
ings. both rural and urban, be approved
by state board. consisting of the stat,
superintendent. the state architect and tn,
secretary Of the state board of health. .befor,
such plans are submitted to the contrac
tors for bids.
(4l We favor a comprehensive plan o
legislation which will secure efficien