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Newspaper Page Text
CLAIM TEACHERS BEING MADE POLITICAL FOOTBALLS Sounding a warning to the Jacob Loeb faction of the school board to lay off the school teachers, a citi zens' committee called attention to a state into which the board was drifting at a protest meeting yester day. That certain elements on the board are working to bring about condi tion that will make the teachers po litical footballs and that will keep every woman in the city's schools in constant fear of losing her job was the cry sounded by the committee. A statement issued follows, in part: "The merit clause under attack was adopted by the board of educa tion about twenty-five years ago to put an end to an intolerable condi tion. For months before each an nual teachers' election all possible pressure (political and otherwise) was exerted to secure their re-election. This produced demoralization of both the board's legitimate busi ness and the work of the schools. "The board finally adopted the present merit clause to end this in tolerable situation. It made a teach ers' efficiency record during the year the basis of re-election or failure of re-election. "The proposed amendment leav ing out the merit clause will result in a return to the old 'pull' system. This is the experience of the past. Human nature has not changed. Re turn to the old conditions would be certain." The committee got together to prove, among other things, that the Chicago Teachers' Federation was not alone in its fight for a system of competent teachers in Chicago's schools. Among those who acted on the committee which was notable for a lack of the city's "best" big busi ness men were: Mary McDowell, Harriet Vittum. Victor Olander, Mrs. Raymond Robins, Jane Addams, Mrs. George Bass, Grace Abbott, J. L. Jones, J. F. Fitzpatrick, Mrs. Grace Trout and Aids. Buck, Merriam.. Kennedy and McCormick. o o HEALEY FINDS A "RESERVOIR" SCOOPS HIS STAFF Somewhere in the Stanton Av. police precinct a reservoir was hid den which supplied various brands of moisture to the South Side over Sunday. CapL Healey, commanding this district, has been searching for this supply station for weeks. Yes terday he found it and today Chief Healey will tell Mayor Thompson how the saloon of Fiori Bros, at 3210 Cottage Grove was open on Sunday. After being refused admittance, CapL Healey tackled a man coming from the side door who was feeling good. "You knock three times and tell the fellow who asks you who you are that you're the 'little old man of the sea,' " Healey was told. "Then when they ask what you want you say: 'I'm dying for a drink.' " Healey followed directions and scooped his detective force. o o STECER, PIANO MAN, DEAD The two sons of John Valentine Steger, millionaire piano man, are convinced that their father dropped dead of heart disease and fell into the reservoir where he went to feed his pet gold fish. His body was found there Sunday afternoon. Today an inquest will be held. A pulmotor did not revive him and there was no evidence of water in his lungs. He was born in Germany in 1854, came to America in 1871 with 12 cents, and, after holding job as car penter's ass't, started in piano, busi ness on credit. o o Remember a few weeks ago how you wished the papers would print something except war? How about abolishing national conventions? Here's an argument for direct primaries.