Morris tribune., 1909-03-06
srY. MINNESOTA. SATURDAY. nARcH ., 1909.

on any given subject. For instance
the United States has an Indian school
at Morris. The federal government
proposes to abandon it and to turn q
large tract of valuable land and the
school buildings thereon to the State
if the State will establish an agricul-
tural school there. The property had
originally cost some $85, 900. Con-
sidering the present interest displayed
in agricultural education, both by the
legislature and the people of the State
and the many propositions presented
looking towards the establishment of
county and district agricultural
schools, here was a proposition which
one would be inclined to conclude
would be eagerly embraced by the
members of the legislature, and which
they would hasten to take vantage
of, as giving them without cost the
! nucleus of just such an institution as
they professed themselves anxious to
establish. Singularly enough, how
ever, when the first move was made
looking towards the acceptance of the
United States generous gift unex-
pected opposition developed. DIR.
Gates, who this year is one of the
house floor leaders, was at once on
his feet talking about the white ele-
phant the gov vernment had on it's
hands and their readiness to turn the
burden over to the State at the same
time opposing the suggestion even to
appoint committee to look it over
and see what kind of gift it was. A
number of members giving one ex-
cuse or another joined In. On the yea
and nay vote it looked as if the op-
position had the best of it, and it was
only the demand that the members
be put on record by roll call that
Insured the adoption of the resolu-
ton offered. Later, on inquiry be-
ing made, it transpired that two
years ago Mr.. Spooner was active in
securing the separation of the girls
from the boys industrial school at
Red Wing and establishing the girls
school elsewhere. For. this he was
to be disciplined, and later he was
given formal notice that if he wanted
an agricultural school at Morris he
would have to fight for it. "We can
remember at least two years' he was
told.
My knowledge of the tnberculin test
isaltogether theoretical, but Judge
from what information I have been
able to gather that the weight of au-
thority is to the effect that as a dag
nostic agent it is much more reliable
in the case of tuberculosis cattle than
any other known to science. I have
therefore, watched with considerable
Interest the fight that is being made
against the tuberculin test by Senator
Swanson of Anoka. To Judge what
one reads in the papers, one would
think he was making some progress.
Whatever effect his fight may have on
public opinion, however, or in bring
ing the State Veterinary board into
disrepute, it is as certain as anything
in the future can be that this bill will
not become law. So that those who
believe in the tuberculin test need
have no hope that the law will be 80
changed as to make any difference in
the practice which now obtains. If
any bill at all passes at this session it
will be Senator Wright's permissive
bill authorizing creameries to require
the tuberculin test of their patrons
and permitting such creameries to
brand their product as from cattle
which have have been tested for
tuberc ulosis.