Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-01-08
DEADLOCK is Tended.
Gov. Tanner Calls for Resigna.
tons of Normal School
Trustees.
MR.. sEARLE GREATLY SURPRISED

Would Have Been Reached at the Next
Meeting of the Board in Rock Island =
Reasons Given by Executive for HIS Ac-
ton.
Gov. Tanner has asked for the res
ignations of the mem bers OF the board
of trustees of the new Western Hi
nois State Normal school. The board
has held seven meetings and spent 81
days in all in an effort to decide
upon a site for the new institution.
Each of the trustees has steadfastly
voted for the city in his county, where
application has been made for the site.
The contesting cities were Quincy,
Nashville, Macomb, Aledo and Mon
mouth and at no time did either ap-
plicant receive more than one vote,
aside from that of Alfred Bayliss.
state superintendent of public in
struction, ex-oflicio member of the
board, who evinced a readiness to
vote for any contestant showing sufii-
cient strength to secure the location
with his vote.
To relieve the trustees OF the en-
barrassment OF their position and to
facilitate the matter Of deciding upon
location for the institute. the gov
ernor has asked for the designations
of the trustees. who are: Fred E.
Harding, Monmouth; Charles j.
Searle, Rock Island; j. NJ. Keefer,
Macomb; Col. William Hanna. Gold
en-; john s. Little. Nashville. HIS
letter to the trustees follows:
Since you were appointed one of
the trustees of the Western Illinois
Normal school, your board has held
seven meetings, occupying q days of
YOUR time in attempting to locate a
site for said school; and you have also
spent seven additional days in the ex-
animation OF different sites.
Meetings Held.
Your board has taken $40 ballots
OH the question of location. Meet
ings have been held at Bushnell,
Galcsburg, Rock Island, Springfield
aud Beardstown. the first of which
was held July 10. 1899, and the last
in Deccm Der, 1899; and am informed
another meeting is to be held at Rock
Island Jan. 23. 1900. Various plans
have been discussed by YOUR board.
One time it seemed that an advisory
com mittee, to be appointed by the
governor of some other state, was
cOntemplated; again such a commit
tee was thought proper, the same to
be selected from men without the
state by each of the five members of
the board, or like mum Der from citi-
Zens of Illinois living outside of the
district concerned.
lin regard TO the above plan, l de-
sire to say that under the law Great
ing the Western Illinois Normal
school it provided for the appoint
ment of board of trustees by the
governor who should have power to
fin the site and locate the same.
This power is reposed in the board of
trustees. and, under the law. cannot
be delegated to any committee, either
inside or outside the state of Illinois.
| am at loss to understand how such
plan could even be contemplated as
it would be wholly unwarranted under
the law.
II am credibly informed that even
4 settlement by casting lots has been
proposed. 1t appears mat each of the
four appointed members i interested
10y having an applicant for the school
in the county where he resides, while
one other member has county al ia
cent to him in the list of applicants.
No Settlement In Sight.
This makes it almost impossible
for any one of that five to abandon his
county The time spent, the number
of meetings held and ballots taken, all
OF which have been fruitless, seem to
render a settlement impossible by the
present board.
The merits of the different sites
seem to have ceased TO be discussed,
and the devices for settling the ques-
ton of location indicate to me strong
" that reasonable arguments are no
longer controlling factors in the dis
cussiOn.
ITO relieve you of embarrassment
and to facilitate the location of the
school question, / believe it to be my
duty TO ask for your resignation,
which is done accordingly.
Action Causes Surprise.
Trustee G. j. Searlc, of the Western
Normal school, speaking of the action
of Gov. Tanner in removing the menu
bers of the board because of the fail
urc TO agree upon 4 location, eN-
pressed himself rs greatly surprised
with the course of the executive.
Owing to the peculiar local condi-
tons that have been involved III this
contest" said Mr.. Searle, lit has been
impossible to reach a decision The
rivalry between the proposed sites for
the location of the institution became