Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1911-02-24
Radical Change in Educational
Methods Proposed
LIMITED TO HOME MATERIAL
Senate Passes Resolution Regarding
the Construction of Buildings In
tended for Use of State.

introduced Ill LuS house ny ftepreSen'
tative Kunze of Minneapolis. It pro.
poses to put all educational institu,
tons, with the exception of the state
university, under the supervision of
board Of education consisting of five
members who shall serve without re-
muneration. The institutions will in
clude the schools for the deaf and
blind at Faribault and the state school
for neglected and dependent children
at Owatonna. This board of education
Is authorized to appoint a state super
intendent of education, inspectors of
high and graded schools, teachers of
normal schools, etc. It assumes the
duties Of the normal school board, the
high school board, the state library
board, the board of managers of the
state school at Owatonna and the
board of directors of the Minnesota
schools for the deaf and blind, all of
which are abolished.
X !. X
The duties of the state board of edu-
cation are thus defined: "To have
general supervision of all public
schools; to correlate the various edu-
cation interests and activities of the
state; to prescribe a standard for the
professional preparation of public
school teachers; to prepare from time
to time outlines and suggestive courses
of study for the different classes of
public schools; to classify and stand
ardize the rural schools; to prescribe
rules and regulations for the distribu-
ton of special state aid; to assist
school boards in the preparation of
plans and specifications for the con-
struction and equipment of school
buildings"
X !. J.
Hereafter only Minnesota material
will be used in the construction of
public buildings, if the instructions Of
the state senate are followed, provided
the Minnesota material is as cheap,
as suitable and of equal or greater
durability. The Immediate purpose of
the resolution was to head off the de-
sign contemplated in the specifica-
lions for the new buildings at the
state university to use Indiana stone
and stone, it is said, from a particular
quarry in Indiana, thus shutting off
not only state competition, but COM
petition of any kind 1t is claimed,
no doubt with truth, that Minnesota
stone and brick are Just as good as
stone and brick produced anywhere
and that it would be great advertise
ment for the state to use only Mime
sofa material in public structures.
!. X 4
Senator Froshaug has been con-
frmed in his seat, but he had a mar
row escape. The vote in his favor
was 81 to 30. The Democrats and the
"old guard" Republicans combined
against him. They would have got
him, too, had not their plans miscar.
ried and senators who were expected
to vote for Harrington voted the other
way. These were Marden of Clay,
Duxbury of Houston, Republicans, and
eastman of Steele, Democrat. Far
rington had confidently counted on the
support OF these senators, but the case
against him was too strong. The fight
ever this seat on Friday afternoon
was by far the keenest of the session
and one particular feature of it was
that Duxbury, who afterwards voted
for Froshaug, made speech in which
he contended that the evidence in his
favor was not sufficiently direct and
tangible.
The case hinged on the charge made
on Froshaug's behalf that the ballot
boxes in five strong Harrington pre-
cincts had been tempered with and
the ballots fraudulently marked so as
to deprive Froshaug of votes which
had been cast for him. To prove this
the senate elections committee did not
rely on parol evidence merely. They
sent for the ballot boxes and exam
ined the ballots for themselves. On
this point Gunderson, Haycraft and
Boyle all dwelt in the debate They
declared without equivocation or res
ervation that the markings on the bal
lots demonstrated their fraudulent
character 1t was, they said, as plain
as the nose on a mans face that x
marks were made on the ballots sub
sequent to the election by different
hand and with a different pencil, with
the purpose Of giving harrington a
majority of votes on the recount.
Senator Boyle spoke especially con-
vincingly on this point. He wanted, |
he said, to see Harrington seated He
had intended to vote for him. 1t was
ne who caused the ballot boxes to be
sent for But when he saw and exam
ined the ballots no shadow of doubt
that they were tempered with was left
In his mind. There is little question
that Senator Boyle's statement had
much to do with the vote subsequent.
ly cast by wavering senator's.
+ i i.
County option having been disposed
Of local option Is now to have its day