The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-19
STUDENTS GAIN ONE
Given Representation on Normal
School Board of Trustees.
Governor Matthew's Letter Explaining
His Action in Appointing Mr.. Tom
lin Instead of Mr.. ROyse.

The Governor yesterday reappointed Muir
ray Briggs, Of Sullivan. trustee Of the State
Normal School, and named j. II. Tomlin, of
Rockport to succeed I. II. c. Royse, of
Terre Haute, on the board. The latter, he
said, was Indifferent as TO the appointment
except TO the extent OF desiring 10 have
man selected who would vindicate his course
by indcrsing the boards action in the
trouble last summer with the students. Mr..
Tomlin has been for three years superin-
tendent of the Rockport schools. He is a
graduate Of the State Normal School, has
been teaching for a number OF years. and,
Governor Matthews says, stands high as
educator and is a business man of fine
qualifications and broad yet conservative
views. Mr.. Tomlin is and has al along been
I'm sympathy with the trustees in their
trouble with the students and sustains their
action. He is friendly 20 the retention Of
DR.. Parsons as president. The status Of the
board thus remains unchanged in this mat
ter. Mr.. Tomln is about thirty-eight years
old and was for three years superintendent
of schools at Clinton. where the Governor
became acquainted with him.
The Governor wrote a long letter to i. III.
G. RoySe, of Terre Haute, explaining why
he did not reappoint him He says in this
letter. which TO be accepted as official
statement of his attitude in the Normal
II have been surrounded with much en-
barrassment. NV controlling desire has
been to best serve the interests Of the
school and to act upon the great prin-
ciple involved in the differences arising last
summer between the board of trustees and
the students, as would be wisest and best.
In this was not alone concerned the inter-
ests of the Normal School. but each educa~
me resolved itself into the necessity of sus-
tanning the board. The time had passed to
enter upon the consideration or discussion
q nc n WI net IL
lars the board was right, and IL became
necessity Of maintaining discipline and rec
ogniZed authority in the control of schools
and colleges L have given the subject the
serious consideration its Importance mer-
tied, and have now decided upon the course
that i believe best for me to pursue in the
selection of the two trustees
II will reappoint Mr. Briggs, because as
president of the board he necessarily became
more prominent than any other member of
the board. Ny understanding has been that
the board acted as q unit I'm the stand Ii
took towards the revolving students, and
that one member was really as responsible
as another, Cor the action OF the board Yet
Mr.. Briggs as president, and necessarily
spokesman of the board, aroused a certain
degree of antagonism on the part of the
students that was not visited upon the
other members. His displacement as trustee
would consequently be received more as
victory by the rebellious students and so
heralded throughout the state. As to your
self or successor i confess the consideration
has presented many difficulties. L could not
but recognize your efficiency as a trustee,
ana the valuable services you nave rendered
the school in your faithful and earnest dis
charge of duties trustee. l also recog-
niZe the fact that while IL is not absolutely
ly necessary, in many ways Ii Is desirable
and convenient to have q resident trustee
Besides, you have been watchful and alert
In securing the necessary assistance and APP
preparations through the Legislature for the
maintenance of the school, by no means the
most pleasant kind of work. on the other
hand, 1 have long believed il eminently
proper and right that the alumni of the
school should have one representative on the
bOard-appointed as only other members of
the board may be selected Hence l have
believed that the request of the students for
this has been reasonable. l do not think,
however, they are entitled 10 more than one
trustee.
This. together with other reasons. which
/ will not take your time to enumerate.
10 decide TO appoint Mr.. J. Fl. Tomlin. of
Tomlin is a gentleman of the highest bust
ness ability, an educator Of acknowledged
ability and at present superintendent of
the schools at Rockport. He is a graduate
OF the Normal a man of broad Views and
conservatives He also sustainS the posi-
| ton of the board and President Parsons.
/ have known him some time and hope
| that he may make a worthy successor to
! yourself. L believe you already know that,
| with me. in this matter, there has been
| none but the kindliest feelings and highest
regard for yourself. and in this / have
| viewed IL solely on all sides, as an official
duty, and should there be error, IL is one
1 IF in1C