Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-06-14
.he farm. and has. NO other means Of


or sidewalk politician who might now
farm. or who might own several
farms. would hardly be called farm
er utoside of political dictionary.
None of the men who are so keen
to be appointed regents of the far
mer's college want to make living
at farming, but want those appoint
ments that people may be duped In
to believing they are farmers or rep
resent the farmers.
Many of the regents of state in
stitutions are not only politicians but
already hold other offices, and to get
into office ask these regencies to In
crease their prestige and influence
with the people, and there is no
"honest farmer" who really makes his
living in that way good enough to
be a regent ia farmers college.
The regents of the agricultural col
lege are entirely composed of the of
fetal and professional and non farm
ing class, and they have the power
along with other officials to recon-
mend students for scholarships.
Perhaps that is why there are SO
few stu lying the farming occupa-
tions. and that is why the farmers
college is simply educating more OF
the professinal classes who live on
the farmer and producer. One paper
makes this point:
OF the nine members Of the board
OF regents Of the agricultural college,
three are Democrats and they were
all appointed by Republican Cover.
nors, certainly without any hope OF
political favors in return and with
out any desire to cater to "pampered
officiallsm."
They may be Democrats but they
are not farmers. They are Demo
cratic politicians, and that is not said
extensively, but we all know that a
Republican politician, or governor
rather, (for he is not always a poll
tician,) may appoint a politician OF
the other party in return for politi'
cal favor, and it may be the rankest
kind of politics.
We go back to the original propo-
sition that the State Agricultural col
lege board of regents should be made
of more largely farmers than 1t Is If
1t is to be- made more OF a farmers
college, as the grange suggests it
should be made.
One writer asks in the frankest
manner in the world:
In what sense is "pampered official.
ism" recognized In the appointment
to position where there is not a dol
lar Of compensation connected with
the position nor any patronage Of any
kind2
We have already shown that the
politicians want places on the board
| OF regents because 1t gives them
standing" among the people as being
connected" with a farmers college
/ 1t Il a great honor. But the farmer
himself is not good enough to sit
on the same board with the politica
l0rds and barons who manage his
school, from which his sons anl
daughters are excluded by no faul
of theirs. One champion of the col
lege says:
OUR FARMERS ARE INTELLl
GENT AND ARE BECOMING MORE
so AS THE YEARS GO BY. THEY
ARE THE "slNEWs" OF oUF
LAND AND THE REAL sAFI
GUARDS OF OUR NATION.
But the sinews and safeguards o
the nation are not good enough mate
rial to sit on that board Of the far
mers college. Our plea is for NOR
recognition OF the farmer. The banl
er, the lawyer, the politician hav
had too much recognition. not as II
dlvlduals. but on the board of the IA
mer's college.
In all that has been said not on
word OF reflection is intended on tn
excellent work OF the o. A. c, is d'
ing, or on the officers or faculty, G
the regents themselves, but let U
express the hope that the farmer wi
, some day have his innings.
The farmer feeds us all, the farme
pays the bulk Of the taxes, he
about three fourths of all the PEI
lple He is more entitled to recogn
tion In the Agricultural college tha
/, anywhere else II not there where
The TO come in for a share of tn
. lhonors?
Gentlemen, few more farmers 0
the board, II you please.
1.-THE BEST PUBLIC SCHOOL
NEEDED.
= BV careful emDlOymenI of resource