New-York tribune., 1900-01-19
SELECTIONS FROM NAIL.
THE UNIFICATION SCHEME.
PRESIDENT TAYLOR OF vAssAR APPROVES
THE COMMISSIONS PLAINTIFF GOV
ERNOR TO BE TRUSTED
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

ERNoR TO BE TRUSTED
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: have been looking over for the second time
your very interesting publication IN your issue Of
last Friday concerning the plan OF the Educational
Commission for Cnihcation- II has seemed 10 me
that you might be willing to give space for COM
muncation dealing with side OF the question
which has received very little attention from the
press so far.
Why may I ask. in all fairness should the ma
tority Of this Commission be characterized by you
the political element? The fact that all who
favor the scheme Of the Regents for unihcation "a
scheme which is the very simple Of absorbing
al educational administration whatever by one
party this contest) find in the plan OF the Com
mission for the nomination OF the Chancellor
sure road for political influence is hardly fair
ground which TO base such charge against the
gentlemen who compose the Commission There
are very many of US in the State who have no
sympathy with those who would introduce politics
into this question. and who have the most
strenuous antagonsm TO all politicians in the edu
catonal field. still believe that the surest way
to obtain a good Chancellor for the reorganized
educational work Of the State is 20 follow out the
very plan Of the Commission In other words, We
Of the Governor and fear the Regents
in the present complications They a party TO
what has become unnecessarily bitter fight
All who remember the experience Of the spring
when the State was deuged with communications
from the Board OF Rege-its and from various
members of il must feel that they at least
not IN a judicial frame Of mind regards the
issue before IF the Department Of Public IN
struction in disgrace II would be a different
matter, but the effort OF the Commission is to rec
ognlze the value of both these rival departments,
and not 10 subscribe to the view of the Regents
that the only way Of unifcation is through giving
all powers into the hands Of
It Is fair in this connection 20 again that the
educational men Of the State trust the Governor
They know his interest IN education, and they
know his fitness TO select man for such a field
There would probably be desire to take such
an appointment out Of the hands OF the Regents
under normal conditions. but such conditions do
not prevail. After a service of eight years with
such a man as may hope for for our first
Chancellor the Regents office will have become
familiar with the details Of all departments OF
education in the State, and viii be far better fitted
from every point of view nominate Chancellor
than is possible under the present conditions No
one viii assume. whatever admiration he may
have for the service Of the Regents to the higher
education Of the State that their Office has given
them any special fitness for choosing a man who
shall deal with all the common schools as we'll
IS It not fair TO suggest also matter Of prac-
teal politics. that there has been evident for two or
three years past good deal Of antagonisn 10 the
Regents on the part Of the Legislature? am one
OF those who believe that this has been very un-
fortunate and ungrounded. but cannot think II
likely that a Legislature which has shown the
spirit that has been displayed toward the Regents
again and again in the last two years would be
likely to commit TO them the important appoint
ment under considera ton.
In an article published IN The Tribune day or
two later than that upon which have commented,
the threat of the influence and possible plans OF
Senator Platt IS held those who are favCrtng
the Commissions plan. must admit. IN protesting
against your conclusion, that know Of nothing that
would weaken my faith in the Commissions
view entirely as the conviction that Mr. Piatt
was working for It and sought IN il a possibility
of service TO the party I have had no reason. as
I have watched his relations TO the educational
work Of the State, 10 believe that he is willing TO
regard II from non political point OF view; but
when you suggest that he has IN view the change
Of the plan OF the Commission that eight years
hence the Regents should be deprived Of the power
Of election which the Commission suggests for
them I should Ike to ask whether it would be
less possible for him his successor 10 make
change eight years from now II the plan Of the
Regents were carried out and the present election
were placed wholly in their hands? The sugges-
ton Of either contingency need not be taken very
seriously If we secure a good head for our educa-
tionaI system It will have been placed beyond the
grasp Of the politician IN the eight years of the
service Of the first Chancellor.
JAMES N TAYLOR
President Of vassar College.
Poughkeepsie y. Y. Jan. Il. 1900.
lin condemning, as We have felt bound to 90.
the unification scheme devised by four Of the
seven members of the Governors commission.
we have always said that we preferred TO be
lieve them guiltless of deliberate intention to
turn the schools over TO the politicians, That
such would be the inevitable consequence of
their plan has nevertheless been clear from the
outset If doubt Of it remained in any iutelH-
gent mind we should have thought It would be
eFadicated by AIr. Platt's recent instructions 70
his managers in Albany that the power Of ap-
pointing not only the first Chancellor but his
successors Indefinitely must be bestowed on the
Governor and Senate. As said few days
ago. that blunt order disclosed no change OF
purpose, for it would have been absurd TO i'm
agne that the politicians. having once got
grip on the school system, would consent TO let
it get away from them. There IS some hope,
however that a seemingly premature announce
rnent may help to defeat a palpably abominable
object It can scarcely fail to open some blind
ewes. including those Of President Taylorl
FROM AN ADMIRER OF THE TRIBUNE.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: I take the daily Tribune mainly for the
sake Of our library and students. the files being
bound annually and preserved. read The Tribune
with the regularity Of my daily meals. buying
comics every day as I travel here and there The
n J. MORRISON, President Fairmount College
Wichita, Kan, Jan ., 1900
SUGGESTS PLATFORMS ON THE CORNERS.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. I noticed the other day a communication
from a Washington reader IN regard 10 the man
ner In which the cars are run the various lines
in this city. 1t Is doubt outrage IN the way