The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-10
THE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.
The Why Of 1t.
To the Editor Of the Eagle.

l
preparation asked for to start the school
would have been only temporary ex
penditure as there would have been an
equity or endowment of at least 500, 600
in property offered to the state. Those
opposing the bill fully understood this
and did not dare question the fact
| Elder himself, after looking the PROPOSE
ton over carefully, admitted in the
| presence of not less than six gentlemen,
that there was sugar in it for the state"
The undisputed facts are that there has
never been so favorable proposition for
a state institution presented to the legis-
lature.
| A careful ANALYSIS of many objections
raised against this measure proves the
utter hypocrisy of such reasons and that
other motives were the real animuS of
the opposition. Two elements from the
central and eastern part of the state were
against US. Jealousy and spleen of the
cranks who never allow an opportunity
to pass to slap Wichita in the face, and
the determination TO keep all of the APP
preparations at home, regardless of the
needs of other sections or any claims
| they are entitled to because of the value
of taxable property. Take one illustra-
ton: the Soldiers Orphan home at Atch-
lson secured an appropriation of 1000
for running expenses and $50, 900 for en-
largement and mprovements-S94,00 600
for an orphans home @ on the state line,
and yet the ways and means committee
Of the senate didn't think they could
afford few thousand dollars for a much
needed school here, and we met with
strong opposition from nearly all eastern
members. This is only one of dozen
cases which shows where the
money goes. while we who
pay more money into the state
treasury proportionately than any other
section, is left holding the bag in every
such contest One lack of our ability to
cope with these combinations is the fact
that when town has proposition of
merit, some popinjay of a small burgh
hobs up with some fool scheme, prompt |
ted by either jealousy or ludicrous
hub of the universe. Take the Harper
bill for intance: They have no railway
facilities-only one line, except the |
'Hog" road that starts from nowhere |
and runs in the same direction-while |
w
comparisons between the two buildings |
is even more ludicrous. The Harper
building was intended for court house, |
in the days when the county seat ques-
ton "was in the saddle" when it was |
being hauled back and forth between
Anthony and Harper. Both towns built
court house SO that the ''seat" might |
have place to rest its weary hips at the
end of each trip.
The true inwardness of the Harper
scheme is this: Brother Coulson,
who lives in the suburbs of
committee who came to investigate the
Wichita building and property After
reporting favorably on all, he even went
50 far as to prepare copious notes and
d lta for rousing speech in its favor,
carried back with him a sample of the
building stone, pressed brick, ETC., to
hurl at the opponents of the BILL But
after thinking it over Brother Coulson
met with a change of heart. He imag-
ined that he was growing popular in the
house and had enough influence to turn
the normal school to his own benefit. If
he could have the Harper building per.
occupied it would forever set
tie the county seat question and thereby
help his town. and at the same time
make him solid with the other end of his
''deestrict." He, therefore, burned up
MS notes, hid the Paramount missiles in
his desk and began to boom the Harper
scheme. This was chestnuts for the
eastern fellows, and when the committee
to push it through arrived they were
patted on the back and promised their
support" knowing full well that if they
could create division, pit one section
against another, it will kill both. The
Harper crowd realize now what fools
they have made of themselves, they have
spent their money and see that they
never had a ghost of a chance to win, .
and that we have lost the only chance
this part of the state ever had of getting
4 normal school.
The Paramount property Is now being [
negotiated for by other parties for a pur
pose that will benefit the city more than ,
4 normal school.
Sedgwick county will see to it that 1
what belonged to them because of loca-
ion, taxes and the iiberality of the offer, :
shall not be given to another. 1t is need {
ess TO speak of how Winfield, Hutchin- {
;on and other points put in their oars !
against US. Butler and Harvey counties
stood by US nobly, and can count on
oedgwick when they have favor to |
lsk. Z
Some friends of the Empor;a school t
bought they made great hit when they I
secured tool to make the point against
,ur bill, that only adjacent
would be benefited and
he whole state would be {
axed TO support the institution. This is q
argely true Of every public institution a
n the skate, moreover this argument I
nay prove the entering wedge that will I
lnock the Normal school idea higher
han kite. 1t is like killing the goose
hat lays the golden eggs. Last year
lyon county furnished 500 students for
Ter Emporia school and Sedgwick coun- :
Y only SIX. If other parts of the state
ire not going to get like privileges they Q
viii see to it that the necessary ap- \
,ropriations are cut off. Other states a
hat adopt the Normal school idea wisely d
ocate them in different sections of the I
tate that all may be benefited. Missouri b
las six. New York eleven, PENNSYLVANIA 7
ourteen, etc. Now that other parts OF f
he state have rejected this idea, Wichita T
viii see to it that they act consistent a
With this theory IL the future. 4 detec- G
i've could tell some curious facts about i
he number of hands that were seen pro- {
Getting from coat tails, around the state q
louse, with the palms turned up and Z
myers plying back and forth ike the I
ms of a fish, but alas, we did not have Ii
he ducats. Our representatives did all C
hey could for Wichita. but thew that e
Fere against rs out-voted those that o
Vere for Us. w. J. C. il