Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-10-07
What the Democratic Party Has Done
for Education.
HAS PROVEN ITSELF A TRUE FRIEND
TO THE SCHOOLS OF THE STATE.

to the Educational Funds, Which Under
Republican Rule Would Have Gone Into
Private Pcckets-SchooI Timber Lands
Rescued From Thieves-The Demo
cratic Party Truer Friend of Public
Schools Than the Party of Spooner and
Hoard.
Two years ago the Republican party
orators and Republican press throughout
the state were calling frantically to the peo-
pie to rally to the defense of "The little red
school house." which was in danger of be-
ing wiped off from the face of the earth.
The danger, it was alleged, came from the
Democratic party. There was but one
guardian of the public school. the Repub-
lcan party. 1t was historically asserted
that the Democratic party was 'the foe OF
the public school," the enemy of education
and score of other wild phrases, and why'
AI because the Democratic party objected
to the state taking the part of the parent in
the matter of education and had promised
to repeal the obnoxious Bennett law, bv
which this was made possible, in case the
party was Successful at the forthcoming
election.
So frantic were the cries and so well
SliilAtIttINIt was tIlc itISUlSu OL inc organs
and orators over the alleged impending
danger that many excellent people We're led
to believe thet Democratic success meant a
return of the dark ages so far as education
in Wisconsin was concerned. Not only did
this view prevail in the state but it obtained
crcdcnce all over the country There were
people who actually believed that if Gov
ernor Peck was elected the public schools
would have to give place to the parochial
school. Some of these people, whose resi-
dcnce is outside the state, have not gotten
over the belief yet. Those within the state
borders have, and most of them feel lift lie
consclence-stricken to think they ever
listened fer moment to such idle tales.
They have found that "the little red
school house" is a great deal better cared
for under a Democratic administration than
1t ever was during Republican rule They
have found that so far from wiping out the
publlc school system of the state the Demo
cratic administration, carrying out the
principles OF the Democratic party, has
strengthened and improved the schools OF
the state from the humblest "district
school" in the woods to the noble institution
of learning which stands at the top of the
system-the University of Wisconsin.
Some one may ask what there is to SUD.
port this statement. Facts and fgnres and
lots of them.
First it must be remembered that the
educational funds of the state have been in
creased through the honesty and economy
of Governor Peck's administration in the
eighteen months it has been in power,
nearly 100000. To be exact, 800, 1872 81. BY
the time the present term of the admins
frati l. =; I>o
siderably over $1,000 This increase comes
from several sources. First from the inter
est on the public funds which, under Re
publican rule, went into the pockets of the
state treasurer This sum alone amounted
up to July 1st, to $27 050.03, enough to
build, equip and conduct a score or more OF
those red school houses about the safety of
which the Republicans, headed by Gov
ernor Hoard and Colonel Spooner, were SO
anxious in 1890. Then instead of keeping
funds in the treasury whence they could be
distributed around among favorite banks
and return good interest to the treasurer,
these funds were loaned out where they
could draw interest for the educational
institutions they were meant to support.
The average amount of loans made from
the trust funds in the six last years of Re
publican rule was $29S, ,853. 13. In 1891, the
first year of democratic rule, the amount OF
loans was 81 0G3, All 81, a difference of $7G4
55S.4S. The average rate of interest on the
loans outstanding is 81 per cent Taking
the average amount of loans made under
the Republican administrations for the six
years prior to 1891, and figuring the excess
made by the Democratic administration in
its first year at the rate of 81 per cent, we
1,,- H., e go
to this sum credited during the year to the
trust funds, with interest received from
moneys deposited in the banks, viz: $21.
G23. .4S and we have the sum of $63, ,723. .48 to
the credit of the "little red school house,
for the year 1891, and the showing for the
year 1892 will be even better With all
its boasted affection for the 'little red
school house" the Republican party can
show nothing approaching this.
This appears to be doing very well for q
party that was said to be ian enemy to the
public schools" But this is not all. Not
one-half. This only represents the money
saved and earned through funds which
should have been earning just as much
under Republican administrations, but did
not. This is honesty; of iberality, there is
another story equally as interesting.
At the top of the public school system OF
the state stands the University of Wiscon-
sin. The great free school where the child
of the laborer and the child of the million
aire touch elbows in the pursuit of that
higher education which will enable them to
go forth to their work in the great big
world, the peer of any one This institution
depends entirely on the state for its sup-
port. This support comes through apropri-
ations made by the legislature.
If any one who visits Madison will give
himself the trouble to pay visit to the
University grounds he will see at glance
whether the Democratic party is the friend
or foe of education. In the rear of the main
building, toward the University farm he
will see a handsome new dairy building
said to be, when fully equipped, one of the
most complete for the uses of the school Of
dairying of any in the country. When
finished this model building will cost $35,-
000 He will see also between the library
and agricultural halls the walls of the
splendid new home of the law school stead
lily rising; building which when it is
ready for occupancy will have cost S75, 900,
and will furnish quarters commensurate
with the value of the education given.
Heretofore tie law school has had to get
along with dingy, uncomfortable, ill-lighted
and worse ventilated rooms In the capitol
building. Possibly before snow flies and
certainly before next spring, he will see ON
the lake shore the beginnings Of a new
armory and drill hall which will cost $780,
O00 Cuch a buildinp Is necessary as the