The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-01-20
AN IMPORTANT MATTER.

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHRIvELLED TO
FEED THE OCTOPUs-THE UNIvER-
sITY.
Minnesota is some what in the con.
dition Of the fond parents who were
very proud of the immense head of
their son. They concluded that they
had Matched mighty genius; until
the doctor told them that the boy
had dropsy Of the brain, and would die
soon or become an idiot.
Minnesota has the "big- head It
is the State University. 1t is an alb
normal Development. Millions have
been spent to build up grand insti-
tuition for the edificaton Of the sons
Of those rich enough to send them
there, while "the little red-school-
house" has to struggle along as best
it can. Besides being endowed with
vast amount Of lands, and gobbling
the State Agricultural College and its
grant of million acres, special tax
is levied annually on the whole peo-
pie; and vast appropriations made BIZ
ennially, for a gymnasium, and an
armory where the young idea is being
TRAINED to shoot"-not folly as it
f1ies'-but the taxpayers, in case pow
erty should make them turbulent.
We showed the other day how $4,000
had been spent to publish a huge
book, with hundreds of illustrations,
descriptive of certain obscure little
insects, that live in mud puddles, and
neither modest man, nor his crops. nor
anything else. And all this while
thousands OF cur people-human be-
ings-not waterbugs--have had a
hard struggle to get enough to eat
and buy fuel.
II the profound bugologist who got
up this vast book had really added
anything Of Importance to the stock
OF human knowledge, the Smithson-
ian Institute, at Washington. with
millions of capital, backed up by the
wealth of 10000, 600 people, would have
been glad to have published it. But
the idea of a new, frontier state, in
habited largely by poor people-new
migrant s.-scratching, for a living,
OAlC DA dlAINS, w Ouly Vic OCICL
day the butfaloes ranged in herds of
millions. )-going into snch large eX-
penditures to get up scientific books,
upon subjects that are Of no import
ance to anyone, but the God who made
them, is something incomprehensible
absurd, and shameful.
What is wanted now is to reduce the
sweelled head of the University and
build up the noble body Of education
throughout the whole state.
And in this connection we quote fol-
lowing private letter, from school
teacher. We do not publish his name,
for the bug-ologists would get after
him, and have him in alcohol before
the week was out; and then print an
other $4,000 book descriptive of him
and all his characters tics: from
which Heaven saves us.
This is no time fer extravaganza;
but il We are going to spend money
| let it be for the cause Of real educa-
| tion-thc education of the masses, not
| the classes. and put an end to this
| attempt OF professional ambition to
rival Oxford and Cambridge, and do,
in the gristle, what our prosperity
may be able to do in the Drawn of
maturcd manhood.
| HON. IGNATIUS DONNELL:A
Dear Sir:-l address you briefly up
on what believe to he matter of
pressing Importance. You have
doubtless noticed that there is much
talk in different parts of the state
and especially among principals of
city schools, in favor of special appro-
prlations from the state to district
schools. This l have advocated my
self, but always with this qualitica-
ton. that the enormous appropria-
| tiOnS to normal schools and State
University betirst cut off. This fea-
ture the agitatorS above mentioned
do not seem to favor, and l fear that
their sympathies for the little red
school house are only feigned and that
their real object is to secure legisla-
| tiOn which shall give the state super
intendent too much power over dis
trict schools, their course of study and
their teachers.
This Was the intention of "the
township SYSTEM" favored by the
same sC-called leading educa tors and
which, died bornin'" in Minnesota
because the State Alliance passed
resolution against it two years ago,
| very much desire the Alliance to
take action on this new scheme and
hence this communication to you.
Should have submitted same to Mr. II.
j. Meighen but fear / cannt reach
him in season. You may hand this
to him il you choose.
do not believe the farmers of the
state would get, value received"
from additional appropriations for
educational purposes, especially
when the disposition Of said approprl-
ations is committed to the care of
the men who have squandercd mil
lions of dollars in such appropriations
heretofore. Let the Alliance propose
to turn the present Normal school
and University funds into the district
school treasures and matters will
come to d focus in hurry. The
| woodchuckS would show their heads
| with celebrity that would be refresh
| ing. l have watched the trend of u
| catiOnal affairs in Minnesota until l
have learned to beware of the Greek
| bearing gifts" especially when the
| people pay for the gifts.
DIED 4 DEVOTEE OF. FREE SILL
YER. ..3 -A..
Louisville, KY, Jan. 12-Major ia
cob CroSthwait OF Harrison county.
! who died this morning. lin his will di-