Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1871-04-21
Supt. of Public Instruction.

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Supt. of Public obstruction.
The Iowa Falls Seminal copies cul
article on the Office of Supt. Of Public
Instruction, and adds the following
Garment and sensible comments:
OF all the questions that enter into
our State politics, that of the educa,
ton of the youth of Iowa, and their
preparation for the various and re,
sponsible duties of adult life, has the
least consideration at the hands OF
our so.called great men," 1t seems
to be the acme of craftsmanship to
chatter volnbly and constantly upon
State Rights, Finances, Tariffs, Rev
eDue, Taxes, the omnipresent darkey,
the proud causashen" apotheosized
in that glittering nonsense, "A
White Mans Government" aud
kindred subjects, while the more
weighty personal, individual aud
collective interests of the present
and coming generations as intelligent
and moral men and women, go un-
needed as unknown quantities. ~
AS though human intelligence and
virtue turned alone upon the proper
disposition of these questions AS
though when these are decided Alright
the future of mankind is established
upon the firmest possible basis -
What proportion OF our law makers,
as the natses appear on the roll-call,
| possess such requirements AS qualify
them TO legislate upon matters that
| are of the deepest concern to the
welfare OF mankind? Answer. How
many Of our chief officers lend the
active influeLce of their official
names to educational matters" How
many of our school superintendents,
State aud County, feel any deep i'm =
terest in the trusts submitted TO their
care except as they serve to pave the
way for collections, or promotions
to more popular political offices?
There is remedy for this state of
affairs, and it should be applied at
once. Tue people should awake
from their indifference as TO the well
fare OF the children, and demand
that only intelligent and practical
men shall be elected to the more inn
portant offices, and especially educa-
tional offices. Or our present State
superintendent we know but little
save by hearsay, and the little we have
heard is oflike import with that in the
article above quoted from the Cedar
Falls GAZETTE. His efforts in be.
half of certain measures before the
Legislature last winter, met with such
signal and crushing overthrow as to
raise strong presumptions Of their
utter impracticability. IL our Cedar
Falls cotem porary speaks knowingly,
and we doubt not it does, it is high
time the people began to think about
exchanging their political theorizers
for practical men.
What the GAZETTE has said in be-
half of Prof. Jerome Alien we
heartily indorse.
He is a practical educator, with
fine scholastic attachments, clear
head, rare business tact aud thorough
~ honest and candid. lie is no pol
itIcian, though pronounced Re-
publican. One of the most industri-
Gus of men, and OF untiriGg energy,
lie accOmplishes a great deal in a
given time. For fourteen years res
ident OF Monticello, Iowa, he knows
both the strength aad weakness of
our school system and laws. His
knowledge of educational affairs Is
the accumulated fruit of dozen
years Of unbrOken experience. The
multiplied calls he receives from the
New England and Middle States to
conduct Normal Institutes and aid
in educational enterprises generally,
show that his intelligence Is Of the
kind in highest demand where
schools and school systems have ar
rived at the highest perfection. Like
Prof. Piper, his soul Is In this eGuca-
tional work, while the vain tricks OF
party politics, and dark ways Of pc.
litical ambition, are stencil to him.
With Mr.. Allen in the office OF Pub.
lie Instruction, we believe the
schools and educational interests
generally Of our State, will have in
fused into them the same live, pro-
gressive, inquiring spirit, which
characterize the Normal Institutes
conducted by him in Iowa and the
East. We want a practical school
man, not u politician. VIII not the
people speak on this subject?
The Fit. Dodge North.tceSt says:
The Cedar Falls GAZETTE warmly
urges the nomination of Prof Jerome
Allen for superintendent OF Public
Instruction by the Republican State
Convention.
Prof. Allen is q gentleman of fine
educational and other qualifications
for this important position, and
should his name come before the
convention he will have many warm
and earnest supporters.
The Dubuque Times makes the fol-
lowing comments on the two promi-
nent candidates:
The Cedar Falls GAZETTE and the
Fort Dodge Northwest speak i'm terms
OF commendation Of Prof. Jerome
Allen, as successor TO Mr.. Kissell,
State Superintendent of Public In
If the friends of Prof.
Allen and Prof. Piper will unite up
on either the one or the other OF
these gentlemen, and give him the
united support OF Northern Iowa for
the SUPPLEMENTARY, we think they
may succeed in nominating him
Both gentlemen are of the first
order, enthusiastic. in the cause OF
education, and would bring honesty,
and zeal, and energy and judgment
to the performance of the duties of
the position for which they are
named. We fully believe that either,
If nominated and elected, would
prove or great value to the educa.
tional interests of the State, and
SO believing, we should be delighted
to see either nominated at the
coming convention. But coming
from adjoining counties as they do,
tbs presence of both i'm the field but
divides the Legitimate strength which
either would have if competing alone
with Superintendent Kissell, and
jeopardiZes the success Of either
We should like to see an agreement
whereby unity of effort may be-
made for the one or the other.
The FIT. Dodge Republican adds:
Bro. Snyder nominates Prof.
Jerome Allen, for Supt. of public in
struction. We second the nomins-
ton with a will, as we believe no
better man for the place can be found
in the State.
THE Cedar Falls GAZETTE Is sur
prised that we do not know who
Sam. Clark is. AS editor of the
Gate city, we know him well. but IA
the choice Of the Sixth District for
Lieut.. Governor, we need an intro>
duction.- Waterloo Courier.
Bro. Logan Bro. Sam. Clark! of
the Gate City, candidate for Lieut..
Governor.
THE barn of John Hovey, near