It is further recommended that an appropriation of $750 be placed at the disposal of the chairman of the Committee of Nine for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the subcommittee of three, as well as of meeting the cost of the work hitherto prosecuted by the full committee. An appropriate resolution is attached to this report. Respectfully submitted, (Signed) J. M. GREENWOOD, Chairman of the Committee. BOSTON, MASS., July 8, 1903. Resolved, That the Board of Directors be requested to appropriate the sum of $750, or so much thereof as may be necessary, in order to defray the expenses of the work of the subcommittee of three on a proposed investigation of the facts of contemporary educational experience, and the expenses already incurred by the Committee of Nine appointed by the Department of Superintendence on February 27, 1902. The above report and resolution were adopted by the National Council July 9, 1903, and, under the direction of that body, are hereby referred to the Board of Directors for its approval. (Signed) J. F. MILLSPAugh, Secretary, National Council. On motion of Director Nicholas Murray Butler, of New York, seconded by Director Aaron Gove, of Colorado, the report and recommendations of the Council were accepted and approved, and the amounts named appropriated, respectively, for the expenses of the several committees. The Secretary read a communication from Miss Laura E. Aldrich, delegate to the National Educational Association from the National Association of Elocutionists, asking for information as to the steps to be taken to become affiliated with the National Educational Association. On motion of Director Charles H. Keyes, of Connecticut, the communication was received and referred to the Executive Committee. Director Charles W. Eliot called attention to an action, taken by the Executive Committee at his request, for which perhaps there may not have been authority, as follows: "Last January I a meeting of the presidents of departments was held in Boston at my instance, in order that we might consult together concerning the preparation of the programs for the convention which is now in progress. That meeting, according to my observation, and also according to the testimony of the presidents of departments, was a useful one. The members of this board have had some opportunity of judging whether the programs on which we have been conducting our meetings have been good. The presidents of departments, I think, attributed some of the merits of the programs to the opportunity they had for consultation. In the interests of my successor, I believe it would be well to continue to hold a meeting of the presidents of departments about the 1st of January, and I venture to suggest that the Board of Directors authorize the Executive Committee to incur the necessary expenses of such a meeting.” On motion of Director Gove, the Executive Committee was authorized to incur the necessary expenses of a meeting of department presidents in accordance with the suggestion of Director Eliot. Director Charles H. Keyes, of Connecticut, moved that $800 be appropriated for the expenses of the meeting of the Department of Superintendence which is to meet in Atlanta, Ga., in February next. Some objections being raised to the appropriation of so large an amount, the motion was amended by Director A. S. Downing, of New York, to appropriate $400. The amendment was accepted by Director Keyes, and the amended motion passed by a unanimous vote. Director E. Oram Lyte, chairman of the Committee on Nominating Members of the Council, reported as follows: To the Board of Directors: Your committee finds the following vacancies in the Council to be filled at this time, viz. : C. B. Gilbert, by reason of expiration of term. William R. Harper, by reason of expiration of term. George J. Ramsey, by reason of expiration of term. R. B. Fulton, by reason of absence for two years. The following nominations are submitted for your approval: On motion, the report of the committee was received and adopted, and the nominees were declared elected members of the Council for their respective terms. The President announced the next order of business to be the consideration of invitations for the next place of meeting, and instructed the Secretary to call the roll of states. When California was reached, the Secretary reported that he had received from President Benjamin Ide Wheeler and the authorities of the city of San Francisco an invitation to hold the convention for 1904 in that city. At the call of Missouri, the Secretary reported that he had received a communication from Howard J. Rogers, of the department of education of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, transmitting letters from the president of the exposition, the mayor of St. Louis, and the Business Men's League of St. Louis inviting the Association to hold its next convention in that city in 1904. The roll-call of states was continued to the state of Washington. Director F. B. Cooper, of Washington, in behalf of the north Pacific coast, renewed the invitation presented at Detroit in 1901, and again in 1902 at Minneapolis, to meet in that section at such point as should be chosen by the Executive Committee. He also extended formal invitations from the chamber of commerce and the citizens of Seattle to meet in that city in 1904. The roll-call of states was completed without other invitations being presented. Director Ben Blewett, of Missouri, stated that he held in his possession an outline of certain facts, bearing on railroad concessions and other matters that would affect the pecuniary interests of the Association, should the next meeting be held in St. Louis, and that he would be pleased to present the same if the board desired to consider it at this time. Director F. Louis Soldan, of Missouri, suggested that the statement referred to by Director Blewett be presented. Director Springer, of Michigan, moved that, in accordance with the custom for some years past, all the invitations be referred to the Executive Committee, with full power to select the next place of meeting and make all arrangements for the same. The motion was seconded. DIRECTOR SOLDAN: While I do not wish to oppose this motion, may I direct the attention of the board to the fact that this is perhaps an extraordinary occasion; that it may not be desired by the Executive Committee to have to settle this matter without some suggestions or advice from this body? I agree fully that its hands should be left untrammeled by any instructions; but should there not be some indication as to the pleasure of this body concerning the question of location? Director Aaron Gove, of Colorado, stated that, since the selection of the place of meeting must ultimately rest with the Executive Committee, statements and arguments presented here will have little weight in determining the result. The Executive Committee have some months before it for the consideration and determination of this question Director J. M. Greenwood, of Missouri, moved, as a substitute for the motion of Director Springer, that the board proceed to take an informal vote on the question of the next place of meeting; seconded. A general discussion followed on the advisability of receiving at this time presentation of the facts referred to by Director Blewett relating to the invitations that had been presented from the city of St. Louis. Objections being withdrawn, Director Blewett was recognized by the chair and said in part: "I wish to speak only of the financial questions involved in the invitations transmitted by Mr. Rogers. St. Louis will guarantee two thousand advance members. The exposition, in spite of the fact that it has placed the congresses of education in September and October, guarantees its best effort to make the gathering of teachers in July, if held in St. Louis, not only a national, but an international, affair. It guarantees to take care of any number, no matter if it be thirty thousand, that you may bring to St. Louis. I am authoritatively informed that it is the intention of the railroads to offer a half rate to St. Louis and return from the beginning of the exposition, if not on all trains, at least on certain trains, and that it will be impossible to add the $2 membership coupon to these tickets, as has been done in the past. I understand that it has been a matter of anxiety to the directorate as to what effect it will have on the relations of the Association with the transportation companies in the future. I hold in my hand a copy of a letter to Mr. C. S. Crane, general passenger agent of the Wabash road, conveying assurances that waiver of the collection of the membership fee for one year will not unfavorably affect the Association in its future relations with the railroads. I simply wish to assure this body that as a monetary consideration the Association need not fear coming to St. Louis, and she should not fear investing money in the educational advantages of a meeting in St. Louis, even if a financial loss followed. Director Soldan said in part: "I wish to speak only of the one vital point. Is it not advisable for the National Educational Association to take cognizance of the fact that the largest educational exhibit that we have ever seen will be collected, arranged, and placed before the world at the St. Louis exposition in 1904? Is it expedient for this Association, representing the teachers of America, whose vital interests will center in that exposition, to appoint a meeting at the extreme end of the country, and seek to keep as far away as possible from the place of chief common interest? If such is the decision, let it go on record that for the first time in the history of any national exhibit the body of teachers chiefly interested in that exhibit takes its meeting as far away from it as it can go. Now, I shall not dwell on any other point. I shall not speak of the attractions or the asperities of the month of July in St. Louis. Shall it be the rule of the Association to draw a geographical line and say: 'Below that line we shall not take the Association in the future, because it is too warm?' Is the Association becoming a geographic body that transacts its business in a limited space, or shall we keep open the chance that all parts of the country may have the advantages of this Association, as has been the custom in the past? I plead that the reasons advanced for taking the Association away from the great exposition are not sound. I say that the Association should go to that place where there is to be the largest exposition and the largest educational exhibit ever organized." After a brief general discussion, in which objections were again urged against the advisability of taking a ballot on the question of the next place of meeting, Director Greenwood withdrew his substitute motion, and the motion of Director Springer to refer the question to the Executive Committee, with full powers, was passed by a unanimous vote. After an informal discussion of a proposition by Director A. V. Storm, of Iowa, that the board should make appropriations for the expenses of state headquarters, on which no action was taken, the board adjourned. GENERAL SESSIONS OF THE ASSOCIATION ADDRESSES OF WELCOME HON. JOHN L. BATES, GOVERNOR OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSA CHUSETTS [STENOGRAPHIC REPORT] Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: If I had the voice of Niagara, and of all its waters, I could not in the three minutes assigned to me express the welcome of Massachusetts, even tho I could speak ten thousand words a minute. We are glad to see you within our borders. We hope you will receive pleasure from this coming together, and we hope as the result of your deliberations there will be profit for all mankind. I welcome you as a phalanx that carries lanterns to bring light into dark places, as an army that carries swords to cut down superstition, and spears to defeat the enemies of the American republic. I welcome you as men and women engaged in one great organization for the uplifting of humanity. I welcome you as men and women. engaged in a calling that takes hold of the future, and thereby makes for immortality. I welcome you to the commonwealth of Massachusetts-to the land where the Puritans lived, who, forgetful of their poverty, built colleges for the expansion of the mind. I welcome you to the rocks that the Pilgrims trod, who, forgetful of the palaces of earth, built more stately mansions for the soul. I welcome you to the state that has set in the place of honor at the right of the entrance of its capitol a bronze statue of Horace Mann, the educator. Welcome to the old Bay State! And with this word of welcome take the hand, and with the hand goes the heart. HON. PATRICK A. COLLINS, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BOSTON [STENOGRAPHIC REPORT] Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the National Educational Associa tion: An official word of welcome to Boston is superfluous. Boston has already given you a welcome, louder, stronger, more genuine than any chief magistrate can speak. Indeed, I very much question whether you need any sort of welcome, for in the freest way that I ever knew men and women to act, you have taken Boston by storm. Whether that was the intention, or whether it was contrived by the committee that prepared the most admirable plan of reception-and is executing it most admirably or whether it came from your innate belief that Boston was an easy city to capture, it is hard to tell; but Boston is yours today. Very little has Boston as a corporation been permitted to have as an agency in this reception. Thanks to the great organization that invited you here, thanks to the intelligence, the judgment, the spirit, and the enthusiasm of the gentlemen who have the management, there is very little for official Boston to do except to stand and look on - and admire. It is common report that nine out of ten delegates to this convention are women. That is the most gratifying intelligence that has reached the city hall in School street since I have been mayor. Not that we are in great need of women in Boston, but we need just your kind of women. I have noticed tonight, and I think it must have also passed under the observation of everybody on the platform, that Dr. Hale tested whether you, engaged in secular employment and in imparting secular education, have still a grip upon the spiritual. But that was settled when you joined in repeating Our Lord's Prayer. I need say no more, because an official welcome is entirely unnecessary. One word, however : while you are in Boston if the state authorities, who have some control over the city, don't quite, behave themselves to your liking, come down to the city hall, and we will try to rectify that, as we have rectified a good many other things. HENRY S. PRITCHETT, PRESIDENT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTItute of TECHNOLOGY, BOSTON [STENOGRAPHIC REPORT] Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: From his excellency, the governor, and from his honor, the mayor, you have already had a most cordial welcome to the hospitality of Massachusetts and of Boston. It remains for me only to tender to you the educational hospitality of the city as well; for just as there is an educational and an intellectual sincerity, a quality of mind which will not admit the idea which rings false, so also is there the intellectual hospitality and mental quality which welcomes cordially the new idea, which gives it an entrance at least to the antechamber of the mind, where it may find warmth, comfort, and shelter. Boston will not be altogether immodest if she claims some pre-eminence in this intellectual hospitality. For a hundred years in politics, in religion, and, as you have heard so well said, in education, all those facile birds of the air which fly in the intellectual realm have been finding here |