Omaha daily bee., 1920-11-04
Break in Ranks
OF State Teachers
J Looms as Certain
President of Association in
Opening Annual Address
Sees Little Chance to Pre-
vent Split.

The Nebraska Teachers associa
ton must split into sections thi:
year and submit to plan for sec.
tional annual meetings or certain
geographical groups OF the associa.
ton will revolt and hold independ-
cnt sessions"
This was the ultimatum declared
yesterday at the opening of the S4tf
annual session of the Nebraska State
Teachers association by A. J. Stod-
dard of Beatrice, president OF the
association.
To accomplish this purpose Stod-
dard declared that an attempt would
be made at 9 Friday morning at the
Auditorium to abrogate the present
constitution OF the association.
If the motion passes this tempor-
arily will disband the association,
which has been organized for 81
years" Stoddard said
Then, in the event of the passage
of the resolutions, those favoring
sectional meetings. establishment o:
a full time secretary and other
features of the association will pro-
pose the adoption of new consti-
,ution," he said.
If the new constitution is adopted
there will be from three to four an
nual sessions of sectional groups Of
the Nebraska State Teachers as
sociation in as many towns and
cities in Nebraska.
Expect Warm Fight.
There will be an Omaha meet
ing, of course" said Stoddard, but
it will be a sectional meeting with
teachers here from the section al
lotted to Omaha"
This plan which the factions from
Lincoln, Hastings and Alliance are
supposed to be behind is fore
runner of warm fight on the floor
of the Auditorium Friday morning.
A fight somewhat similar last
year resulted in sending a referen-
dunn to the teachers of Nebraska and
the vote cast was against split in
the convention. This year the de-
fcated Licolnites and others have
bobbed up with a plan to kill the
present constitution on the floor OF
the convention and to instantly
adopt another with features in it
iavoring the plans for sectional
meetings.
Omaha teachers and thousands
favoring the biggest city in the state
as the meeting place for all teachers
with a concentration of talent mean
ing better educational program for
the teachers are ready to fight for the
retaining of the convention this year,
the same as they did last year.
Bound to Come"
Stoddard insisted yesterday that di-
viding the meetings among various
towns would not decrease the at
tendance at the Omaha sectional
meeting.
"At present the teachers coming to
the convention are here from a
limited area right around Omaha and
this necessarily cuts down our
strength and prestige in the legisla-
tive body and in a general educa-
tional line" Stoddard declared.
Every state is fighting for sectional
meetings and it is bound to come
sooner or later"
Topeka, Kan. the site of CEN
.Ial teachers meeting for years, final
" was forced to give in to sectional
meetings. The convention held
there last week, a sectional conveu-
con. was the most heavily attended
in years, l understand.
Until we can get teachers from
every section OF the Nebraska at
filiated with the association and in
,erested in meetings held some
where near their homes we cannot
have full strength association to
which Nebraska teachers are en-
titled"
Denies Teachers Kicked"
Continuing Stoddard claimed that
a revolution in the ranks was avert
ed by officers Of the association this
year on a promise to get some legis-
lstion through the annual session
providing for sectional meetings.
"They planned this year to have
independent meetings at Hastings
and Lincoln" lie said.
Stoddard denied reports that there
were kicks without numbers" by
teachers registering yesterday when