The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-09
STATE SCHOOLS WON
@~
A VOTE OF 81 TO 81 SETTLES THIS
QUESTION IN HOUSE.
-A-
Long Debate in which Many Charges
Are Made Against the Edu-
catiOnaI Trust.
SUPT. GOSS rs A LOBBYIST
AUTHOR OF NONsTATE BILL ATTACKS
HIM VIGOROUSLY.
Presidents of Institutions in Politics
state Board and school
Book Company.

For five hours yesterday the House strug-
gled with the reorganization of the State
School Board, and after O'Clock last even
ing the state schools won by a vote OF 81 to
81. The noIstate bill was that by Mr.. Brown,
which provided that the state board shall
consist of the state superintendent CT pub
lie instruction, the superintendent of the
schools of the three largest cities of the
State and three persons of educational and
business qualifications, to be appointed by
the Governor. One of these persons shall
be a county superintendent. The majority
Of the committee recommended the substitu-
ton Of Mr.. Holcomb's bill, which is the
same as Senator Goodwine's bill, which was
substituted in the Senate and which leaves
the membership Of the board as it is at
present, but adds the three persons demand
ed in the Brown bill. The minority of the
committee was in favor of the Brown bill
as drawn and the issue was sharply defined
as state and nonstate.
Mr. Roberts, who signed the nonstate Ie-
port, opened the debate and charged that
the presidents of the three state institutions
use their power to keep graduates of other
schools from securing licenses as teachers.
He said that their effort is to work up an
educational club, with the state board and
the three state schools as the center. Mr..
Roberts said that the people demanded this
change in the interest of fair play as the
other institutions are being crippled. He
claimed that every member of the House had
been talked to and every day of the session
members of the state board have been on the
floor lobbying against the Brown bill. He
contended that with the exceptions of these
people, no others are against it. When the
House first met, said Mr. Roberts, the ma
jority of members were in favor of a change
and if the sentiment has changed it has been
due to the persistent efforts of these lobby
lists. He denied that the substitution of Mr.
Hocombs bill is in the nature OF a COM
promise He contended that a compromise
cannot be made by one party to contro-
versy only, and this bill is a compromise
only in so far as the state schools are con-
cerned. The nonstate schools. said he, do
not agree to it and do not want it.
Mr.. Clements said the bill, and not the
presidents of the state institutions, should
be considered. He denied that the presi-
dents Of the state schools controlled the
board, and said they were on the board be-
cause they were worthy. He contended that
the Brown bill made it possible to select the
members of the board from the dregs of pol
tiles and then took up the question of lobby
lists against the bill. He said that 1.-The lob
byist from Wabash" who favors the Brown
bill, wrote him letter after letter before he
was elected, and he charged him with de-
voting all his time since he came to this
State from Massachusetts to an attempt to
break down the school system. He con-
tended that the Goodwine or the Holcomb
bill is just what is desired, in that it per-
mits outside representation He charged
that there is more religion than education
in this movement, and when the hearing
was had before the committee the room was
lined with preachers, who clapped their
hands and nodded their heads in approval
Of all points made in favor of the Brown
bill, but when Mr.. Burroughs was compelled
to take back some of his statements these
preachers groaned and sighed.
Mr.. OBannon could see no reason for a
change in the board, and he defied those
advocating a change to bring one charge
against the board. He declared that if the
claim Of the nonstate men that the three
presidents dominated the board was true he
was glad of it, for it showed that they were
men of ability. He said that dollars and
cents was the sole cause Of the desire to
change.
PRESIDENTS IN POLITICS.
Mr. LAIR said that the presidents of the
state institutions have gone into politics and
actively looked after the election Of senators
and representatives. He said that the presi
dent of the State Normal School had said
to him that he was surprised Senator Hogate
would introduce such a bill as he had, be-
a.II =
we will defeat him." Mr.. Clements declared
that the State ought to keep the presidents
out of politics and politics out If the
schools. The heads of any state institutions
should be kept out said he. He was of the
opinion that the Brown bill provides four
eX officiO officers, who can keep out any
tendency of religion to dominate the board,
and ii should be passed. AS 1t now is, he
declared, one must go into state college
to secure teachers license.
Mr.. Willoughby took up the question of
lobbying. He charged that the interests of
the nonstate schools were actively looked
after by a man whom he all but named,
having described his personal appearance
and characteristics SO that all recognized S.
p. Nicholson. lie favored wiping, out the
provisions of the present law and vesting
the powers of the board in the superintend-
ent of instruction He claimed that the real
question is whether TO wipe out the old
board and put in a new one. or not. He de-
clared that the fight against the present
board is "a child of prejudice" He claimed
influences to bear on the members to abol-
ish the present board but he urged that, as
much as love for church and zeal for it's in
terestS should be respected, 1T should not be
permitted TO sway the members in their de-
cision. He believed that If the Brown bill
was accepted the religious belief of every
Governor and candidate for Governor would
be questioned because in every district in
Indiana the nonstate schools inquired as TO
the religious beliefs and affiliations of the
candidates for representatives. In his own
city, Mr.. Willou~hby said a church board
had passed resolutions on this very subject
Mr.. Reser regarded IL as strange that the
presidents of these institutions could not get
together and agree on this question. He ia
vored the majority report and said if the
board should be made appointive, there
would be great danger of its becoming po-
litical.
Mr.. Caraway said that every letter he re-
ceived in the interest of the nonstate school
came from a minister and, in his opinion,
the scheme to change the board was con
ceived in iniquity, born in sin and nurtured
In jealousy" He said ii was beneath the
calling of ministers to try to break down
the school system because the state schools
have passed the other schools. He read an
extract from q paper published at the Nor
NAL School at Angola declaring in favor of
the present system and said that he was not
opposed to churches. On the other hand. Mr.
Caraway said that he belonged to church
himself but he would insist that the
churches keep their hands off the state bust
ness. He believed that il would be the
opening wedge to permit Roman Catholic
control Of part Of the school funds and 10