Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-11
Nebraska
GOVERNOR NOT CONSISTENT
lament Over Crabtree Not in Good
Taste from shallenberger.
HIMSELF AN ABLE EXECUTIVE
pIenaReS Of Normal Board Asks why
Executive Did Not Have same idea
IN Mind when ne DIR.
Hay ana DIR. YOunE.
Trom q STAFF correspondent)

LINCOLN, Feb. 1O.-(Special. THE fact
HAT Governor Shallenberger deplores the
discharge Of Mr.. Crabtree as principal OF
The Peru Normal school. and announces that
h Is a blow TO the educational interests of
Inc state has inspired a query from a mem
Der Of the board. This member inquired
why the governor did not have this same
Idea in mind when he discharged DIR. Hay,
superintendent Of the Lincoln insane asy-
lumI or Dr. Young. superintendent of the
Norfolk asylum, both OF whom we're recog-
nized as being as well qualified for their
positions as any men in. the country. Why
aid he. this many asks not have the well
fare OF the state In mind when he replaced
these men with persons without experience;
why did he fail to think Of the welfare OF
The wards of the state when he chopped
pff the head Of every republican who was
m charge Of a state institution?
Continuing, this man said; .
TT seems to me as important to keep
well trained and experienced men at the
head of state institutions which house the
Unfortunate wards Of the state as to keep
the same men at the head Of the schools.
Few Qualified "a Asylum Heads.
'-rhere are hundreds OF men who are
capable Of teaching and managing a nor
NAL school and they are chosen for their
educational qualifications. This is not the
Ease with the head OF a state insane asylum
Or a place where dependent and helpless
wards OF the state are kept. Any student
of a normal school who is not satisfied
with the superintendent or principal may
leave tho school, but those unfortunate in
mates Of other state institutions who do
not receive good treatment cannot Leave.
So II IL more important to keep at the head
of these institutions men OF experience as
we'll as abality, and much more damage is
done when q change is made in them than
at a normal school.
But in the face of this, Governor Shall
lenberRer did not hesitate to discharge
every republican superintendent, many of
whom had for years managed state insti-
tutions, 20 make way for democrats who
had helped carry the lection 70 rthe demo-
cratic party. And in Instances these dem
ocrats had never had any experience in the
line OF work which they were called upon
to 10.
I'm the face of his efforts to make a
political foot ball out of the normal schools
and out of the board a portion of a polit-
zeal machine. by legislation last winter, his
statement this morning shows the utter
insincerity Of those democrats who are
abusing the normal board for removing
Mr.. Crabtree.
"And as a matter of fact Mr.. Crabtret
yves not removed from his place because
he lobbied for the enactment Of a Law
which would remove the members of the
normal board from their jobs, but fol-
what the board considered good and suf'
ficient reasons"
Crabtree Sees shaIIenberger..
superintendent Crabtree of the Peru
Normal school, whose resignation has beer
requested by the normal board. was in
Lincoln. a. few hours today. To friends
with whom he was. in consultation Mr.
Crabtree said he was of the opinion the
/. normal board had the right to remove
him. though he did not intend to resign
: From one of those to whom Mr.. Crab
tree talked 1t, was learned that friends O.
the Peru superintendent have an idea tina
between now and June / the board ma!
change It's mind and conclude TO with
draw the request for his resignation. ~
CONFIDENT with the coming of Mr.. Crab
tree, Ralph Clark Of Richardson count,
came TO the city, as did RepresentatiY
Kelley OF Furnas county.
Practically the entire afternoon wa
Bpent with the governor in his privat
office, following a meeting of the gov
ernor and Clark at the Lincoln hote
shortly before noon. '
Governor Shallenberger said he had re
eeived numerous telephone messages dur
ing the day from school men protestin
against the action of the normal boar
FOR removing Mr.. Crabtree and requestin
him to do something. One school maj
so 1t was said In the office of the gov
ernor, suggested that he might I'll
charges against certain members of tn
board. The governor said he had not dc