The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-09-29
Board of Control Controversy.

Is sz
Board of Control Controversy.
The initial political controversy Of
the campaign has arisen over the
State university and it's connection
with the board of control. The Min
neapolis Times and St. Paul Globe
made statements to the effect that r.
G. Dunn, the Republican candidate
for governor, was unfriendly to the
university, and contemplated, when
elected governor, placing the educa-
tiOnal institutions of the State under
a separate board of education, remov-
ing them from the jurisdiction of the
board Of control. These Democratic
papers endeavored to create the i'm
preston that Mr.. Dunn favors such a
plan, and that the adoption of the
scheme would necessarily be injurious
to the interests of the university, and
would be blow to the board of re-
gents and the State normal school
boards. They further alleged that
Mr.. Dunn actually has under consid-
Grafton bill intended to accomplish
this purpose, the said BILL it is fur
Their alleged, having been prepared by
G. A. Morey of Winona. It is need
less to say that any allegation in
tended to show that Mr.. Dunn is in
any way unfriendly to the educational
institutions of Minnesota, is ridic-
ulous, and the normal schools and the
public school system of the State,
have no more sincere friend than r.
G. Dunn. The first recommendation
to the State legislature in regard to
the creation of a board of control
came from Mr.. Dunn and the original
bill, which was drafted under his
supervision, included the charita BILE
and correctional institutions only.
The State university and normal
schools were not included, and Mr..
Dunn deemed it unadvisable, and
contrary to the interests of those in
stitutions to place them under the
jurisdiction of the board of control.
There is no doubt that the friends
of the State university were strongly
opposed at the time the board of con-
troll bill was introduced in the legisla-
ture, to being placed under the control
Of the board of control, and Mr..
Dunn respected their wishes and rec
ognized that they were the best judges
Of what was best for the interests of
the educational institutions.
After the board of control bill had
passed the house in the form origin-
ally drafted by Mr.. Dunn, it came
into the senate, and Senator John A.
Johnson of St. Peter, the present
Democratic candidate for governor,
succeeded in amending the bill so as
to make it include the university, nor
NAL schools, and the soldiers home.
He voted for the measure as amended
and spoke in favor of it, and used
every effort and all his influence with
other members of the senate to induce
them to vote for it as he had amended
it, and finally the bill, with Mr.. John
sons addition to it, was passed.
Through the columns of the St. Paul
Globe Mr.. Johnson now makes the
defense that he did not design to
hamper the university or it's work
when he succeeded in placing it under
the jurisdiction of the board of con-
troll. He admits having introduced
the amendment, and of having been
instrumental in securing it's adoption.
By this admission Mr.. johnson
makes it plain that he had SO little
respect for the interests of the univer-
sity that he used it as a part of a
''log rolling" scheme, and dragged
it into politics to the detriment of the
institution.
AS to the bill which it is reported
has been drawn by Mr.. Morey of
Winona, the St.. Paul Globe admits
that a bill to that effect was drafted
two years ago by Mr.. Morey, but for
some reason Or other was not intro
duced in the legislature. It is now
resurrected by the Democratic press
for the purpose of creating the idea
that Mr.. Dunn is unfriendly to the
State university in some unexplained
way. The result of this controversy,
SO far, has been to show that as be-
tween Mr.. Dunn and Mr.. johnson the
educational institutions have much to
thank Mr.. Dunn for, and are under
no friendly obligation to Mr.. John
son.-Crookston Times.
johnson and His Camnaign.