Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-03-29
WIFE OF GOVERNOR REsPoNs.
IDLE FOR PRESENT RULES
At MITcHELLvlLLE.
FlTzGERALD,s REMOVAL
AND SELECTION OF WOMAN
Has Taken Much Interest in Girls Of
schooI-Governor Seeking Some One
For cownie's Place Who Favors
New Policy and Opposes That of
,Larrabee, Kline and cownie.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
Des 'Moines, March 29.-It is not
generally known but it is true that Mrs.
Carroll, wife Of the governor, has taken
great personal interest in the work be-
ing done by the state for the girls at
the industrial school at Mitchellville
and that to her more than anyone else
is due the credit for the change made
which necessitated supplanting Pro-
fessor Fitzgerald with a woman SUI
perintendent. Not only has Mrs. Car
roll interested herself personally in the
institution as a whole but she has Wis
tied the school many times and has
conversed with the girls and has adj!
vised with them and with the superin-
tendent, and generally has assisted in
this school work more than any other
woman for many years. Recently while
addressing a gathering of ladies, Mrs.
Carroll pleaded that they should take
greater interest in this school and per-
sonally aid the new superintendent in
the difficult task before her.
'tFrom the very outset of the adj
ministration," she stated, 81 was de-
termined that there should be woman
at the head Of that school. Now she
should be defended and aided by the
good women of the state.''
It was while Investigating affairs at
this school that Mrs Carroll conceived
the idea of compulsory teaching of sex
problems to the girls in school by the
schoolma'ms, and soon thereafter an
nounced that the matter would be car
ried before the next Legislature
1t became known yesterday that in
order to make a place for the cells
which are being built at the school, the
water tank had to be removed from
the old tower in the main building. The
cells are not yet completed but work.
men are there and soon they will be
in place. There will be room for at
least ten prisoners at time. The
building is not, insured.
prominent politician stated yester-
day that one question which is en-
tering into the matter Of a successor
to MIR. Cownie is that of securing some
one who will approve the change in
methods which has been made and not
seek to return to the policy which
was established ten years ago by
Messrs Larrabee, Kline and CoWnie.
This policy always had the hearty APP
prevail of Governor Cummins, and it is
regarded as possible there may be suf
ficient public interest taken to force
a return to the methods discarded last
year.
The problem Of what to do with the
small schools Of the state is a puzzling
one to the school reformers. There is
al OH ;e.
same problem as that of school con-
solidationI but it is different Recently
State superintendent Riggs secured
from eighty-two Of the counties of the
state, reports on the attendance at
schools for one certain week in jan
uary last. The figures he secured
showed not the average attendance but
the highest attendance on any day of
the week. He found one school that
was kept open and no pupil attended
at all. He found eight where the high
est enrolment Of the week was only
one; twenty-five where the highest
enrolment was two; fifty-f1ve of three;
1874 of four; 1876 Of five. and 273 of
six. Professor Riggs has, in his speech
es discussed the advisability OF tenn
porarily closing schools with six or
less and estimated this would close 700
schools for a time The estimate was
too low. Professor Riggs has not dis
cussed the closing Of schools of ten or
less, tho this has been urged by some
persons. If these were included there
would be found the following: 354
schools of seven, 434 Of eight, 4S4 OF
nine, and $50 Of ten pupils each. Pro-
fessor Riggs finds there is also wide
spread Misrepresentation in regard to
the lawssfor consolidation and a belief
that some new legislation is desired
along this line. But in fact all the law
needed for consolidation is on the
books now. But consolidation of schools
and the making of township high
schools is quite different thing from
adoption of a system temporarily clos
ing schools of very small attendance
and. leaving them ready to be opened
whenever it is found there is need for
the same.
The automobile business is booming
in Iowa just now. as indicated by the
number of applications for license
numbers at the office Of the secretary
Of state, sometimes a hundred a day.
Yesterday sbroke all records. 1t is be-
coming, evident that the state will have
to adopt some better methods of car
ing for the automobile registration and
that thare Is real need of some sort of
reciprocity between the states.
With the return of Captains Hull to
the city it is predicted that the stand
pat forces will become much more ac-
tive, in congressional matters. While
he came back for the purpose of visit
ing sister who is i'll, yet he took time
Ii f~sa dc
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