Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-05-03
SOME POLITICAL BARNACLE


the result would be most disastrous.
Much has been said about the prepara,
tory department in the college and it he's
been generally condemned, but without
knowlege of it's usefulness and necessity
Until the public schools of New Mexico
are so advanced as to prepare students to
enter the college proper, directly, many
deserving youths, who desire to obtain
! such an education, would be debarred
therefrom without the preparatory de-
partment. There are probably not to
exceed five public schools in southern
New Mexico from which the most ad-
vanced students could, upon examination,
enter the first year or freshmen class of
the college. Last year, mainly upon my
recommendation, four boys were sent to
the college from Pinos Altos, one of whom,
an exceptionally bright young man of Is
years, entered directly the freshmen class
upon examination, the only one of all
the students entering in the year who did
SO. One of the other boys from here is
in the third year of the preparatory de-
partment, reaching the freshmen class
next term, and the other two in the sec
ond year. All are doing good work and
ARE WELL SATISFIED.
In the first year class of the preparatory
department is a boy of IS years, from a
country school district Of Dona Ana coun-
ty, in which there has never been more
than three months school in year, who
was barely able to pass the examination
for entry into that class, while in the
same class is a bright boy of 10 years,
from Las Cruces, who easily passed the
examination. Raising the standard for
admission would debar the ambitious
youth of IS, who has had limited prior
educational advantages, and raising the
age for admission would exclude the
precocious boy of 10, who has attended
school eight or ten months in the year
and who will enter the college at Is and
graduate at II. That this preparatory
school is largely recruited from Las Cru
ces ought to commend it to the people of
that community instead of being used as
a means of attack upon the college.
| That the factional politics of the local
ity of the college has had baneful effect
upon it and that the president and some
members of the faculty are more or less
fully identified with such political fac
tions was apparent to me, and it is un-
fortunate that it is situated in a locality
in which there is more politics to The
acre, the whole year round, than any
where else in New Mexico. But even
there the spirit of rule or ruin would be
curbed was there no disposition to en-
courage strife In other communities. 1t
is not necessary for me, aid do not feel
called upon to give an opinion as to the
FITNESS OF PRESIDENT M'cREA
for the position which he holds. He has
been engaged for the ensuing college year
has valid contract for the time. l
know that he is working earnestly and
faithfully to build up the college and it
is my belief that the institution will not
be wrecked or suffer serious impairment
during the year for which he is engaged
The question of his superior qualifica-
tions or lack of them for the position will
come up again within year and | sub
nit that if change is to be made then,
it were better to have the college we'll at
tended and doing good work at the time
than wrecked and deserted through a
continuous factional warfare waged
against him. 1t is time to call a halt and
stop this strife.
OF the financial condition of the col
lege and expenditure of public money |
did not have time to make any investiga-
tion, although did learn that Demetrio
Chaves, one of the regents and treasurer
of the college, Is Withholding money be-
longing to Dona Ana county, which came
into his hands as county treasurer,
amounting to nearly $1,000, and is
under the law-Chapter l of the session
laws of 1893-disq to hold the
Office of regent, and l recommended to
the governor his removal from that
Office. This did to bring demand for
AN INVESTIGATION
of the financial affairs of the institution
properly before the authorities at Wash
ington, in case the governor failed to act.
II is a great misfortune that provision
was not made long ago for a printing
plant at the college, the employment of
printer as an instructor and all print
ing required done within the college
walls. 1t should be provided for yet as
soon as possible. If it can not be done
under the law of congress the next legis-
lature must provide for it. The "fat''
in the college printing contract has oc-
casioned more trouble than all else and
has been and is the basis of the news.
paper war, to the great detriment of the
college, at Las Cruces, for several years
past.
II has been stated in some newspapers
that was appointed" by the governo,
to visit and "ilvestigate" the Agricultural
college, which is not true and no state
ment of that kind was ever made by me
did make report to the governor OF
the condition Of affairs as l found them
and have received from him letter Of
thanks for the fair and impartial state
ment made and the Information furnished
him. The foregoing is practically The
same as that report, excepting statistica
information omitted as before stated.
And, now, Mr.. Editor, laying aside al
partisan bias, having in view the success
of the Agricultural college and all othel
educational institutions OF the territory
aud especially desirous that no harm
shall come to the normal schools at Sill
yer City aud Las Vegas, the bond issue
for the benefit Of which is provided 70
in the same law of the last session of tn
legislature as provides for bonds for tn
Agricultural college, requiring approva
by congress, through the factional fgh
on the latter institution, offer the fore
going for publication. And ask that any
one before criticising ii, will visit tn
college as did. d. P. CARR.
Pinos Altos, N. NJ, May l, 1895.