The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-26

p. P. Womer, president of Wash
b1rn college, was asked today what
he thought of the action taken by the
professors of the University of Illinois
in forming union and affiliating with
the American Federation of Labor.
tit is something new to me and 1
would not care to make a statement
about it until I know the details and
lE.ye had time to give some study to
the matter" President Womer said.
Professor Harshbarger, also of
Washburn college, was. asked for an
until he could get more details of the
union, its purposes and it's aims.
Pinet in Statement.
ff'Originally didn't believe in unions
among school teachers" said F. l..
Finet, secretary of the Kansas State
Teachers association, here today.
But during the last few years l have
changed my mind. L have become
convinced that teachers won't get the
recognition due them unless some
thing of the kind is done. 1 know
one town in Kansas where the teach
eTs organized, altho they didn't call it
a union, went to the school board and
laid the proposition before it, with the
result that the salary of each of
those teachers was advanced an aver
axe of SIS on the month. In the ma
1ority of Kansas counties there is a
80 per cent shortage of teachers and
1t seems to me the only way to over
come it is for the public to wake up
and pay better salaries.
Teachers Poorly Paid.
1.-THE salary of the average teacher
IS less than $500 and in Topeka they
are making less than carpenters and
bfick layers. OF course, I'm not sure
that 1t is the proper thing to unionize,
but it looks to me like some action of
this kind would have to be taken be-
fore long"
Pinet stated that he had no knowl-
cage OF any prospective movement of
this kind on foot in Kansas, but ex-
pressed the belief that it would soon
come.
Professors Take Sides.
Chicago, April 26.-Two university
heads in Chicago today took opposite
views regarding the formation of a
union by professors of the University
Of Illinois.
DIR. Harry Pratt Judson. University
ofsChicago, said tersely: II don't care
70. discuss the question. In fact ]
don't want to take any notice Of the
matter"
DR.. Thomas f. Holgate. Northwest
ern university. said he didn't see any
harm in college professors forming q
union.
lFTf. as it is stated. the union wa,
formed to permit freedom of express
slen by the professors, 1 can readily
see its USE" he said. "Of course pro,
fessors can abuse a union like any
other body of men. Conducted prop
perry, much good can come of it, u
cpnducted improperly, much harm car
be done"
Over suggestion that a strike TO,
higher wages might eventuate. DR.
Holgate laughed. well, it wouIdn'
be the worst thing in the world" h,
said
81 Harvard President Silent.
Cambridge, Mass, April 26.-Pres
~ Lawrence Lowell of Harvard uni
Nerslty, today declined to give hi
views on the formation of a union h,
professors of the University of Illinois
Not Good Thing. Prexy Says.
Los Angeles, April 26.-College nro
fessors may now be expected to union
ize: But it is not a good thing.
unat is the way DIR. G. F. Bovard
president of the University of South
ern California views the action of tn
professors at the University of Illinois
VINO have formed College Professor
Local No. 1 and affiliated with tn,
american Federation of Labor.
That is in accordance with tn
trend of the times" DR.. Bovard said
such things are in the air. But it i
not good thing. 1t doesn't make TO
betterment of our schools I do no
look for anything of that sort in Cali
fsfnia."
Portland Educator Tor II.
Portland, Ore, April EFF tn
union which University of illinois pro
fessors have formed results in increas
ing the wages of the professors or Fl
bringing them in closer touch witt
the people off the campus, DR.. VIM. I
Fpster. president of the Reed college
Pprtland. is for it,
II like to know the college profes
sors are meeting or affiliating wit
labor organizations" said Dr. Foster
IN fact. doing anything tNat wi
bsoaden their human sympathies''