Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-26
IOWA SCHOOL LAWS.
Politicians Are Not In Favor Of
Compulsory Educational Law.
NOT SUCCESSFUL IN OTHER STATES

Educational Forces Are United ON the
Proportion to Establish More
Normal Schools-The Early.
Governors oflowa,
Des Moines, Dec. 22.-The teachers
OF Iowa will doubtless lay considerable
stress on their demand for compulsory
education legislation this winter. But
there is comparatively little demand
for a law of that character and the
more conservative school men know it
and say 50. It will certainly meet with
vigorous opposition from people who
send their children to parochial schools
1 for ii the compulsory education law is
passed those schools must be brought
to the general standard. 1t has made
serious trouble in other western states
where it has been tried, particularly II
linois and Wisconsin. It made those
states fight shy of it, and with all that
this legislature has on its hands it will
not get very far.
L. ~ " q
/ But the chief objection to the urging
| OF this measure now, from the edu-
4 cational standpoint, is that all the edu-
cational forces should be united upon
one thing, which all agree is the most
important thing to be secured for the
advancement of popular education in
Iowa, and that is the establishment of
at least one more state normal school.
Nothing is so much needed now in the
educational work of Iowa as trained
teachers and the opportunity for. teach
ers to secure such training is extreme
ly limited. Nearly every teacher, OF
whatever grade or character in the
state, agrees with the statement that
all hands should pull together this win
ter to get the state committed to the
support of at least one more normal
school. There is some difference OF
opinion as to how this should be done,
but the experience of the past should
teach that 1t can only be accomplished
by getting the general proposition
adopted first, settling the location af-
terward. Some are of the opinion that
the attempt should be made for two
schools, some for three and Others
would only try for one at this time. A
proposition to build three, or support
three, would appeal to more localities
and encourage more towns to hope to
secure one of the schools, while if only
one was to he provided the size of the
appropriation would not brighten SO
many. It seems reasonably likely tina,
something will be done along this line.
The number of candidates for the loca-
tions will be very numerous. More
than a score of towns in the. state
would be glad to contribute buildings
and land.
Very few candidates have appeared
forsthe minor Legislative positions. DR..
George A. Newman has no opposition
for secretary of the senate. F. G. Nc
Cutchen, of Ida county, and S. b. Alex
ander, of Madison county, are candi-
dates for first assistant secretary. W.
Z. Haven, of Chickasaw, and p. P. EN-
mons, of Butler county, are candidates
for second assistant. G. c. Collins has
no opposition for second term as ser
,geart-at-arms. George. w. McGibhen
of Sioux City, and Capt. John II, Sc
/ rene, of Allamakee, are candidates for
doorkeeper of the senate. Miss Hol-
man, daughter of the county chairman
of Buchanan county, and Miss Olive
Conger, of Wayne county. are candi-
dates for enrolling clerk.
! $50
Chairman H. O. Weaver, who is
among the Gear-Bowen workers, is
quietly figuring on a little plum for
his town in the event of the passage OF
a bill creating one or more state nor
NAL schools. 1t will be good news to
1 the people of his town and 70 the edn-
cational people of the state that his
4 influence will be thrown in favor OF
4 the passage of such bin this winter
4 He thinks it will be good politics us
well as good business to recognize this
urgent educational need. In the event
of the passage of a bill he will be in
| position to have something to say
i about the location, especially If more
than one school is established and the
4 neglected corners, of the state are talk
en- care of. The town of ,Wapello
I where he lives, will make9a good show
i ing when,sthe time comes, aud with
| its railway connections and other
strong points, Mr.. Weaver thinks
would have as good a show as any. I
Secretary Aldrich, of the state his
torical department, has just returned
from Washington, where he went in
search of some valuable records and
! correspondence of the early Iowa gov
! ernors. 1t is not generally known that
before it was state Iowa had two
governors who We're men of national
reputation. Governor Lucas had pre-
viously been chief executive of Ohio, an
officer in the war of 1872, and presided
over the national convention which
nominated Andrew Jackson for presi-
dent the second time. This is of addi-
tlonal interest because this was one
of the earliest; if not actually the ear
| lest, national convention held. Gov
ernor John Chambers was Il great In
dian fighter, and served as aide on the
staf of "Tippecanoe" Harrison ut the
battle of Tippecanoe. 1t was as a re-
ward for this and other services that
he was made governor of Iowa. He
had served in congress several terms
from Kentucky district. and had been
! prominent in national affairs.
Concerning these two men there are
almost no records left in existence.
Very little of their correspondents is
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