The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-30
KANSAS LEGISLATURE.
New State Normal School Meas
ures Cause a Debate.
Senators Lewelling and Jumper
Argue Question at Length.
A Resolution Favoring "One OF AAo1e
New Schools Defeated by
Tie Vote.

PARTY discussion was banished from
the senate for time yesterday aIter-
noon while two of the Populist leaders
of that body, Ex-Governor .Lewelling
and Senator H. G. Jumper waged
hattie of words The question was on
the esta blishment of one or more nor
NAL schools in the state, Lewelling ia
voring the measure and Jumper oppos-
ing ii.
AT late hour yesterday afternoon
the senate declared a special order for
the considerat ton of Senator Hart 5
normal school resolution, which was IN
troduced in the senate some days ago
The resolution was WOrded as follows:
Resolved, That the Senate, the
house concurring, is in favor of making
an Appropriation for the establishment emf
of one or more normal schools in the
state"
Senator Jumper was the first to take
the floor. He said:
Il have no knowledge as to Whether
this body desires to establish another
normal school or not. am very much
in doubt whether it is policy to estab-
lish another normal school at all. / am
sure that the people of this state would
not agree to the esta blishment of more
than one, and I therefore offer an
amendment to strike out the words one
or more and place in their stead the
word one "
At this juncture Ex-Governor Level
ling made his presence known.
would ask the senator from Usage.
said he, IF in case this amendment was
adopted he would support the resolu-
tom"
Senator jumper am frank to con-
fess that 1 would not 1 am of the
opinion that the people of this state
are not at the present time in posi-
ton to stand an appropriation for the
establishment of such an institution,
and don't think they would indorse an
Improvement of this kind, which may
or may not be necessary.
Senator Isewelling-As to the neces-
sity of establishing one or more normal
schools in this state I think there is no
question. l want to say that there IS
no educational system so closely IN
touch with the people as the normal
school system. They are schools where
the boys and girls of this state, espe-
cially OF farmers, can go and be edu-
Gated and fit themselves for teachers
Our normal school at Emporia is taxed
to its utmost capacity, and although L
agree that this is the time for economy
and reform 1 don't believe the reform
should be along the line of curtal1ng
the educational facilities of our state,
and it is true that we have lower per
cent of illiteracy than any other state
in the Union. Should we not, then,
make every effort to retain our repu-
tatiOn?
Senator Jumper-The senator from
Wichita speaks of the present normal
normal school being taxed to it's utmost
capacity. I want TO ask the senator
IL ne WOulQ IaNOT All 4OA
increasing the capacity of this inst1tu-
ton.
Senator Lewe1ling-I don't desire to
prejudice my cause by answering Such
a question at this time. L believe the
question of establishing one, or posi-
bly, more. normal schools is of more
Importance to the state than the
question of a few dollars and q few
cents. A meager appropriation neces-
sary to establish such an institution
would not be felt by the ordinary citi-
zen.
Senator Jumper-The gentleman from
Wichita has made an eloquent appeal
for the educational facilities of this
state. Yet, he has made a more elo-
where he hopes to see such an institu-
ton established. I am aware of the
fact that it is almast impossible for a
member of this body to say one word
against an appropriation for school
purposes, no matter how unreasonable
or how unjust this appropriation may
be, without having to listen to the same
old charge of being opposed to educa-
ton. 1 wish to repudiate such a charge
and 1 want to say that there is not
man on the floor of the senate who is
more in favor of education than l. But
there is something dearer to the peo-
pie of this state and to the people of
the United States at the present time
than education. and this is the means
to procure bread and butter on which
to live. The people are now giving
more consideration to bread and butter
than they are to education.
1 deny that the children who attend
the normal schools come principally
from the farms. AS a rule they come
from families who are eminentIy able
to pay their tuition. To show to you
that the senator's eloquence is directed
more to securing the school at a Ger
tain locality than for any other purpose
1 have only to recite to you his remark
to a question l asked him a few min
uteS ago when he said he would not
prejudice his cause by answering.
l believe that for the present the
people of this state can get along with
our magnificent free school system and
our high schools which we have in al
most every town. Indeed, it is my
opinion that will have to get along
with them until the Republicans of
this country give US a chance to get
more than IL cents a bushel for our
corn. (Applause)
Senator Lewelling-T want to cha1-
lenge several of the statements made
by the senator from Usage. 1 also want
to state what 1 am in favor of both a
higher price for corn and educational
facilities.
The senator states that my efforts in
this matter are directed more to the
securing of the school at a certain Ioca
ton than by any particular interest
have in the educational line All T
have to say in answer is that sbould
this legislature decide to establish n
normal school at any point in the state
let the senator vote with me- and we
will help to carry the measure
He also states that a majority of +ba
young men and the young women who az