The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-12-31
most eacred treasure of the American
people-its common schools.
n a a

peOple--its common SCHOOLS.
Q = q
The labors Of the textbook commission
have never been called In question or
even subjected 20 disinterested criti-
cism, while it can be easily shown that
about $40 900 year has been saved to
the people Of this state. II was body
made up entirely from the standpoint OF
ability, and without a thought as to its
political composition. II is known that
more than one member on that beard
spent his own money TO employ expert
educators to read through textbooks
that he had not time or doubted his
ability to pass upon. The selection Of
such board to deal with such an i'm
portant matter may never be fully ap-
preciated, but II should win for Governor
Geer the hearty admiration Of those
who love our free schools and the cause
Of education in general, as II will no
doubt win for him the covert opposition
Of one trust that was knocked down and
dragged out Of the public arena in old
Webfoot, This IS an age o! the world
when one man who acts and does some
thing tangible for the people is worth a
thousand academic theorists or loud.
mouthe1 demagogs. The same devotion
TO business principles was shown by
Governor Geer in his formation Of a
new state fair board OF Eve men, the
sole appointment Of whom was vested in
! the Governor. The old fair board had
grown cumbersome and was not meeting
the demands Of the people. In fact the
fair was about to go under, aud Governor
Geer had to pick out board that could
set it going on new lines. He retained
one Of the best business men on the old
board - Geo. Chandler Of eastern Ore.
gon, and named Messrs, Wehrung, Set
tlemier, wilkins and Reese. The
board organized by electing the only
Democrat president aud has kept him
there - Mr.. Wehrung. The two fairs
conducted by this board have been great
successes in spite Of bad weather. They
have been grand exhibits Of the real ag-
ricultura resources OF the state and
financial success as we'll. The whole ad-
ministration Of the state fair has been on
business and non.political basis. All
the old fashioned gratis have been quiz
etly done away with, and the reputation
of the fair even for its race management
has been put among the very highest oi
such elbows any where in the country.
The displays OF live stock have been in
creased until they are the equal OF any
in the best cattle shows in the United
States. The state fair has been made a
reality in name and nature and the ac-
cusation that itwas in every respect only
a local exhibition has been entirely done
away with. The maintenance OF the
state fair is no longer cal ed questionable
and for this the people Of Salem and OF
the state at large have reason to feel
thankful to Governor Geer and the la
bors of his fair board.
D The state penitentiary has been well
managed in the past, but at no time
better than for the past three years
!. There has been great improvement in
! the sanitary conditions prevailing. Bet
= ter bathing and ventilatins facilities
, have been provided. The health o
. the prisoners and the amount of tim'
r devoted TO labor has been increased
a Land has been leased and cleared b.
!, convict labor, employing more Of tn,
: oonvicts at producing food and supply
. ing the fuel for the institution. Tn
d amount of farm produce has been in
n creased, more land has been made pro
n duotive. With the increased quantitie
Q of farm products and garden truck, anC
II the larger earnings of the convicts, thu
i penitentiary has been made as near
1t self sustaining as it is possible to max
y it, Like all the institutions it is we
10 ofticered. As the one institution directl
N under the eye OF the Governor, he ha
r taken a treat pride in having a yer
N efficient set Of men in charge, an
10 they have proved their worthiness b
ID record that is hard to beat. Unde
p this administration there has not bee
a a single escape from the prison, and tV
st convicts have been reeaplured who ha
n previously escaped. There have bee
10 but two escapes from the rrusties, on
r Of whom has been re AIKEN, and IN
n, other is quite generally believed by in
y authorities to have drowned himsel