The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-06-30
PROFESSORS AT
WASHBURN join
ORGANIZED LABOR
Charter Is Granted to Faculty
by the A. F. of l..
third College in United States
To Take Step.
HALF OF MEMBERS join?
ActiOn Result of WOmer-Kirk-
patrick Break, 1t Is Said.
More Democratic Policy Is To
Be Demanded.
= bird College in United States
To Take Step.
HALF OF MEMBERS join?
Action Result of WOmer-Kirk-
patrick Break, 1t Is Said.
HOre Democratic Policy Is T.
Be Demanded.

The professors of Washburn col
leee have unionized 1t is the third
organization of it's kind in the Unit d
States md is the outgrowth of the
Womer- kirkpatrick break, it is said
\ charter was granted today to the
Washburn College Teachers fedora
ton. a member 81 the American Fed
Grafton of Teachers. which is a ma
.ional organization affiliated with the
american Federation of Labor.
The charter was granted upon ap-
plicat:on OF n number of the faculty,
and will be known as charter No. 80.
Immediately following this, the feder-
alton granted charter No. 100 to the
Boston Men Teachers association.
Eight Wash burn instructors held a
meeting about two weeks ago at the
home of Prof. J. T. Kirkpatrick. and
1t WIS there that the movement for
n union was fomented. At the time.
it Was claimed that more than half
OF the faculty was in favor of such
an organization. There are thirty
five members of the Washburn faculty
II the present time.
Purpose of Organization.
The establishment of a branch So
ciety OF the American Federation of
Labor at Washburn is the outcome,
II is said. OF the recent action CT
President Womer and the board of
trustees in disnissing Professor Kirk
patrick who was the head of the de-
partment OF history and political sci
ence. and a member of the faculty
for twelve years The basic principle
of the federation is to force the re-
organization of the college along more
democratic lin $. they say They will
demand a more representative form
nf government. particularly in the Sc
lection OF the trustees. who at the
present time elect themselves.
President Womer stated this after
noon that he had heard nothing Of
ficially about the formation of a
union Of college professors at Wash
burn.
Il have heard indirectly that such
a thing was on foot" said Doctor
Womer. but have absolutely no
comment to make"
The University of Illinois was the
first institution of higher learning to
form a federation of professors. That
was in April The national organiza-
ton. however. has a membership of
more than 5000, largely among the
grade and high school teachers of
the country. Within the present
month. many charters have been
granted west of the Mississippi, in
Guiding five locals in Texas, three in
Oklahoma, three in Minnesota, one in
North Dakota, one in Utah and nine
In California
a similar local was talked of In
Topeka a month ago by the high
school instructors, who were one and
all demanding n raise, and even
threatening to strike, altho no official
word OF strike was presented to
the board of education. The board,
hfN
salaries, and the prospects of a labor
4 organization were dimmed for the
4 present
VIII Demand Changes.
The Washburn faculty, when thoro-
Iy organizd, will demand certain
changes in the management of the
college, it is said. The instructors
claim that they should have some
representation on the board Of trus-
tees. They deem their present sal
aries insufficient to cope with the
ever increasing high cost of living.
They favor a faculty council which
should share with the president some
N the administrative powers of the
college.
The American Federation of
4eachers represents a movement, the
chief object of which is to break down
me educational autocracy and pro-
duce n stimulus to determine a little
i ~ life themselves" declared an in
structor today. The movement also
means the beginning of professional
spirit and independence in the class
room. and In the relations of teachers
10 their supervising officers and the
/ educational system''
The charter is modelled somewhat
after the one adopted at Urbana, Ill
m April rs. by the instructors of the
University Of Illinois. which comprises
i the following points:
t1rst-Investigation by a commit.
Zee OF ideals OF various labor move
ments, especially the American Fed.
Grafton OF Labor, in regard to educa-
uonal activities
Second-Appointme of a leRisIa
i've intelligence officer to watch edu.
canonal bills in the state legislature
7 r - Cooperation with local
N laoor organizations in establishing a
cooperative store.
neutrality-suspicious. of a fedora
tion agent in charge Of printing pam
phlets and reports.
Flrth-lnvestigation by a committed
INTO advantages of unionizing teachers
Sixth-Appointmen OF a commit
zee TO gather and publish statistics
snowinR comparative status of hand
a Continued on Page Four.J