The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-12-24
THE Rolled or CONTROL.

THE Bo1RD Or CONTROL.
T. One of the chief arguments against
the establishment of board OF con-
ttrol for the management Of the state
institutions was that there was danger
of such board uegenerating into a
political machine. The bill. as orig
inally drafted, provided that not
more than two of the members of the
board should be of the same political
party. On motion of Senator Stock
we'll, a democrat and an opponent of
the measure, the section which pro-
vided for non-partizan board was
stricken out. Nevertheless, at the in
stance of the then state auditor, who
had drafted the bill, Gov. Van SAINT
appointed non-partizan board which
consisted of Hon. W. E. Lee and Hon.
c. A. Morey (republicans), and Hon.
S. W. Leavett (democrat). It was
generally conceded that the first board
of control could not be improved upon.
Despite great political pressure the
democrats at the head of state institu-
tons we're permitted to remain and the
board lived up to the spirit and letter
of the law. When Gov. johnson
entered upon his first term of Office the
board was composed of S. W. Leavett,
Judge Gould and J. F. Jacobson.
Mr.. Gould had been appointed to fill
the vacancy created by the resignation
of Mr.. Morey, and Mr.. Jacobson to
the vacancy created by the resignation
of Mr.. Lee and Mr.. Martin. Mr..
Jacobson's term expired in April,
1905. That he was eminently qualified
for the position was admitted by all;
but Gov. Johnson refused to reappoint
him; L. A. Rosing, a good fellow but
democratic machine politician, was
given the place. Later, P. M. Ringdal,
another democratic politician, was ap-.
pointed to succeed Judge Gould. In
the campaign of 1906 Mr.. Leavett pro-
tested against dragging the board into
politics and earned the i'll will of his
colleagues and the state administra-
ton. Mr.. Leavett has at all times en-
deavored to carry out the provisions
of the law as contemplated by those
who framed it, by the legislators who
championed it on the floor of the house
and senate, and by the governor who
approved it. The board of control
has been instrumental in saving the
taxpayers of the state hundreds of
thousands of dollars and has brought
the state institutions to high state of
efficiency. The inmates of the institu-
tions we're never better cared for and
the employees were never more fairly
dealt with before, and the chief credit
for this state of affairs is largely due
to Mr.. Leavett. No one can success
fully question Mr.. Leavett's honesty or
integrity of purpose. He labored un-
ceasingly to promote the interests of
the state institutions-he was always
the first at his desk in the morning
and the last to leave at night. If ever
there was an official who gave the
state his whOle.hearted and undivided
attention it was S. W. Leavett. But
the edict has gone forth that Mr..
Leavett must go; he must give way to
a serviceable politician. AS the father
of the board of control measure and
as citizen of the state we are heartily
sorry that Mr.. Leavett is to be retired
and that the board is to degenerate
into an adjunct of the Johnson-Day-
O'Connor machine. We have no fault
to find with Gov. Johnson, however.
he received fresh mandate from the
people last November to 60 ahead and
perfect his machine-to do just what he
is doing.
Speaker Cannon is not in favor of
issuing heavy bonds for the improve
ment of waterways as he considers