Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-01-25
farmers INTERESTED
GIVING ATTENTION TO SUPER
INTENpENr RIGGS SCHOOL
PLANS.
RIGGS NOT ADVOCATING
SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION
Would Close Very Small Schools to
Secure Better Work at Less Cost to
Patrons-crusade Against High Tax
on oleomarsarine-Tax Responsible
For High Price of Butter.
special to rimes-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Jan. 25.-State Superin-
tendent Riggs is very much pleased
with the way that the farmers es-
pecially receive his discussion of the
need of some advance in the matter of
state. 1t is found, however, that where
the system of rural independent dis
tricts has been developed it is more
difficult to get the attention of the
farmers and patrons. Where the
township district system has been re-
tanned it is quite easy to convince the
patrons that with some slight changes
the township unit is the proper thing.
A mistaken impression has gone out to
the effect that Mr.. Riggs is in favor of
school consolidation and that he is
at work along this line He states that
this is entirely wrong. What he pro-
poses in the matter of effecting the
betterment of school work with less
cost is a system under which there
will be a temporary closing of the very
population will warrant their being re-
opened. In other words, where a school
is found to have six or less pupils, it
should be closed temporarily, always
with the proviso that whenever it is
shown that the school will have a
larger number of pupils it will be re-
opened. On every one of the PROPOSE
lions which Mr.. Riggs has discussed
he has found very great majority of
the patrons favorable in every meeting
held.
There is a chance for the high meat
price issue to become an aid to the
movement for the repeal of the federal
tax on oleomargarine and to remove
the restrictions under the state law. A
prominent grocer of Des Ioines called
a conference of the advertising men
/ of the local papers and put before
them the view that one cause of the
very high price of butter was the state
law requiring that oleonargarine must
be sold white or not at all. He urged
that the law should be repealed so
that they could color the cleo to make
1t look like butter and then the poor
people could use it as a substitute for
butter to their great advantage Thus
Tar the movement for repeal has not
gone very far, but it is certain that an
attempt will be made in the next legis-
lature to effect repeal The dairy and
creamery interests of the state will
oppose the effort, but they are not very
strong now in state affairs.
William c. Hayward, secretary of
state, whose formal announcement for
denomination appeared last week, will
run strictly on his merits and upon the
theory that his administration of the
office has been such as TO merit re-
nomination and reelection and not be-
cause of any supposed precedent that
the man who is in is entitled to stay
in. 1t is expected that w. w. Nor
row, state treasurer, will also stand
for denomination on the same basis. a.,
will John L. Bleakey, the state audi
tor. These state officials have been
hard working and have kept the work
of their department we'll in hand Two
members of the supreme court, and the
clerk and court reporter, are also in the
same boat asking for, or expecting. re-
nomination because of merit. Very like
ly lhere VIII pc others.
The Commercial Club of Des Moines
is one of the most active organizations
of the kind in the country. 1t has per-
haps done more for the city in the
way of securing better train service
than any similar club of the country
for its city. Just now the club is active
in promoting matters relating to max
ing the city more delightful place in
which 10 live. Secretary Botsford. long
time newspaper man, has put new life
into the club the past three years and
has accomplished more than all his
|; predecessors, and the plans for the fu-
ture are of vast Importance.
The state pharmacy contemplates a
reform in the manner of conducting ex-
aminations for pharmacy certificates
by which they hope to get better re-
suits. They would fit up a model pre-
4 scription case, or a series of them, anG
at the time of examination would give
the students practical work in filling
prescriptions and thus develop whether
or not they can actually do the things
which they are asked to tell about ir
the written examinations. This plan is
/ fnl1n in f,fh CT of VII