The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-01-14
Educational Institutions.

Our institutions Of higher education
should be such that every citizen OF
the state will be proud of them.
Their usefulness has been impaired
and their good name we'll nigh ruined
BY the scandals which have grown out
Of their mismanagement. No good can
be lone by a further airing of these
various irregularities. but every posi-
BILE energy OF the legislature and eXecu-
tive should now be bent to the task of
preventing a recurrence of these dis
agreeable n disastrous troubles. The
drSt step to be taken in the work Of re-
tbrm is to absolutely divorce-if that
De possible-every one Of these ipsti-
hntions from partisan politics. That
they have been thus used in the past
There can be no denial made. There Is
also asuspision, well founded I think,
that sectarianism has crept into some
of them. Therefore the effort to d.
vorce them from politics should be
supplemented by a vigorous determine
tion TO relieve them from any suspicion
or faint Of a.ianism. In this way,
nnd in this way only, can they thrive
and be made to take high rank among
constitutions Of like kind in our sister
States. They are supported by a tax
npon the people of all shades OF polit-
4}cal and religious belief and they
should be so managed that people Of
III parties and all sects will feel a per-
6sonal interest in their welfare and
growth. and so that 1t cannot be sue
cessfully maintained that any party or
sect enjoys any power or influence In
the management not enjoyed equally
by every citizen, no matter what his
or political or religious belief may
be. The last legislature very wisely
provided for a board OF five regents to
NJ have entire jurisdiction over every in
stitution Of higher learning In the
state. l have reason to believe five
mer will prove more successful than a
greater number, at the same time saw
Ing expense to the state.
The amendment provides that the
governor shall make these appoint
ments. / would suggest that the re-
gents should be chosen by q direct vote
OF the people for the reason that the
present method places too much power
IN the hands of the executives; and IL
we are to cultivate a purer democracy
The patronage of the executive Office
Should be curtailed as much as will be
4 consistent with good public policy.
There Is no disposition, so far as I
now, to disrupt or disorganize any Of
fhese institutions, but there Is an ur-
gent necessity for their reorganization
ppon a basis Of greater usefulness end
}e broader culture. Appropriations for
Shese institutions, as for all others,
should by no means be ~extravagant but
fhey should be liberal.
The time has come when no more in
etitutions should be created simply for
obbing purposes or to tickle ambitious
localities, but those who have should
Spe decently maintained. We should
Strlve, and to this end l will give my
pest Efforts, to place the schools upIn
IN nigh standard OF usefulness to the
people who are taxed to maintain
n mem. 1t will be my constant aim to
<tplace In charge Of them our most tall
hted and distinguished men and to in
eugurate a policy under which 1t will
y an honor and q mark Of great dis
junction. entirely safe from the assaults
~ partisan strife, to be a member Of
ne board Of regents, To SUCCESSFULLY