Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-06-12
Our MADISON LETTER
Administration of 1aFollette Is
Strengthening Itself by
Changes.
DAY ORAL SCHOOLS. AN ISSUE
Reason Given for Prof. SwiIer's Re-
tirement-W hat Is the Clever
Babcock Up To?


Oshkosh Northwestern, one OF bis
staunchest supporters. cautions the adj
ministration against calling down the
rebuke of civil service reformers. The
defense made Is that the governor Is
a strenuous opposition and the
only way TO overcome them Is to
fight fire with fire. There Is a good
deal of talk Of harmony, and a
close observer will note that federal
oifceholders, as Il rule up 70 high
officials at Washington-there are
some exceptions-m who wish
to carve a gulf between the
factions, and to START fight to
defeat LaFOllette for renomina-
zion now; but the rule indicated
holds. The Milwaukee contingent, how
ever, declares for war, and, to Offset
them there are some, the LaFollette
editors, who yield TO zone In denounc-
ing their opponents ana threats to eat
them up. In looking Over the state
press it IS amazing TO see low many
of the influential papers are operated
by editors who have Official connec-
tons. The law is not the only stepping
stone to political preferment Young
man. get to own an influential newspa-
per and put up lightning rod.
Case of Prof. swiler. DeIavan.
The board of control about June /
Informed superintendent j. w. Swiler
Of the DelaYan School for the Deaf
that he would not be reappointed aud
the incident has attracted much inter-
est. as he is cOnfessedly Il strong man.
The announcement was u surprise to
Professor Swler
The school is in most excellent condi-
ton in every department, the grounds
AID buildings are in first class repair,
never before so good as now; the
teachers and employees with the officers
of his household are all efficient and
loyal; he has the love and respect OF
all the pupils and they would do any
thing for him, and he is conscious of
nothing In his own record that should
set the board against him,
All that can be secured from the
board OF control is that Superintendent
Swiler's attitude in relation to pure
oral day schools. and his antagonism
TO them, made II seem necessary that
Swiler should go, and some one else
Of less decided views on that subject
be secured TO carry on the work at
OelAvan. He was set down as ire
concilable, without any conference to
consider the question.
\ friend says Superintendent Swiler
has not favored small day schools In
al portions Of the state, nor encouF-
agement of the pemicious system OF
boarding children among strangers Or
in boarding houses without careful
supervision, such rs the state gives at
Delavan. He has not actively OPP
posed day schools nor interfered with
them, as their rapid spread shows. The
cause given for superintendent Swtl-
er's retirement Is not regarded as COM
piete; likely enough there may be
politics coming Superintendent Swil-
er has been Republican, but not a
party worker He viii soon be 81
years old and has been engaged in In
stitution life for thirty four years. For
twenty-one years he has given Wis
consin good service in the work of
training the deaf. During his term of
Office, there has never been the slight
est imputation of anything dishonor-
able In Its management, no scandal, &c
INSTRUMENTATION no epidemic and no
accident OF sufficient importance to be
a. all out of the common run of human
experience.
Rabcock's Tariff Smashing Proposal
The interest in Congressman Bah
cocks tariff proposition will not abate.
The eastern papers are still excited
and the official protection Journals very
Indignant. Mr. Babcock's term contin-
ues until March 4, 1903, but he can be
a fFAf
committee of the house next Deem
Der. although 1t 10 said that Speaker
Henderson Is In sympathy with him az
TO dropping tariff duties on trust made
articles. There IL also an effort to de-
pose him from the very important posi-
ton of chairman OF the National Re
publican congressional committee. OF
course the free traders are huch
pleased with Babaock's attitude. His
blew is said to be aimed at the Morgan
$1,000 900, 600 steel trust. Certainly on
a BsbeOck basis steel products will be
admitted TO this country free. The pro-
tectiye Journals say '.that such a revis-
Ion of the tariff would take away
protection from nearly every industry
In the country. and that while II would
not smash a single trust 1t would
wreck thousands of independent In
dustriai establishments not Identified
with any trust"
Congressman Babcock IL a shrewd
politician. in all probability he reads
the signs of the times, certainly In his
district. The people are getting ex-
cited and he proposes 10 stand with
them, Hitherto MIR Babeoek has not
been regarded as one of the working
mans friend" type of statesman. In,
deed he has been good deal criticised
for his utilization with wealth, being
a rich man himself. However, "Rab"
Is in a popular vein now In his effort
to clip the wings of the trusts. 1t re-
mains 10 be seen VIII ther il Is another
taseof fearing the Greeks even though
they bear gifts.
librarians National Congress.
Within twenty years the Nation.
a Librarians association has built IN
membership OF some loo. maInlF
resident In the east, Every year they
have = convention. aud last year over
45o met at Montreal The previous
year they convened at Atlanta. aud
before that Ut Chatauqua. The assocIa.
ton has not met In the middle west
since Worlds fair year and II wa.
fifteen years ago that Milwaukee had
the honor " entertaining them.
Since that time the whole library
movement has bsen developed: indeet
IN Wisconsin nearly the full develop
ment has been within the past fTs
gears. During this time the gifts Of
private Individuals TO public lfbrsrie,
Ia Wisconsin have aggregated $3.50. 600
and including the new Historical build
ing there has been spent in this period