The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-04-19
NORMAL SCHOOL LEGISLATION.

lSlature to relieve the normal SCHool
situation in Iowa, save that appropria-
ton was made for such high schools
as might adopt a normal course. Bills
were introduced providing for the es-
Enlistment of state schools at Denl-
son and at Shenandoah. The Denlson
bill was not reported out OF the COM
mittees, while the Shenandoah bill
passed the senate, receiving the need
ed twenty-siXth vote from Senator E.
l.. Grow. of this district. The bill
was messaged to the house and there
was politely put to death by the sift-
ing committee, many of the members
of which opposed any legislation at
this time and several of whom were
favorable to the Denison location.
Mr.. Crow explains his action as fol-
lows: He states that Senator Done
gan, of Page county, came to him with
an agreement that they should both
support whichever bill, either for
Denison or for Shenandoah, which
should be first favorably reported by
the senate committee. That he Grow
thought that neither bill would be re-
ported and that he also received as
surances that Donegan and others
would support Denison two years
hence. He also states that ne wrote
to a member of the Denison commit
tee, but received no response, and
that he thought Denison had dropped
out of the fight and was taking no fur
Their interest.
We cannot understand how Mr..
Grow, after the pledges which he had
made to the Denison committee, could
have made any such arrangement
without first receiving the approval
of the Denison people who were vital
ly interested. Further, we do not see
how he could have entered into such
a jug-handled arrangement without
intent to betray Denison. Mr.. Done
gan was a member of the senate COM
mittee and there was every reason to
believe that if any bill was reported
it would be the Shenandoah bill, and
we can see nothing else in it but that
Mr.. Grow, without consulting the Den
ison people, deliberately jeopardized
their interests, receiving in return
promises of future support which, in
our opinion, will amount to nothing.
There is but one thing that Mr.. Grow
can do to reinstate himself in the
good opinion of Denison people and
that is to make good at the next SEES
sion of the legislature. If he is able
at that time to realize on these al
legged promises of support and to Sc
cure the school for DenisOn he will
have justified his course. Otherwise,
he should never receive another vote,
either democratic or republican, from
any resident of Denison, or of Craw-
ford county.
Mr.. Grow protests that he acted in
good faith and we do not wish to i'm
pugn his motives. The best we can
say for him is that the senator from
Page was too shrewd for him. Even
this rare poor judgment offers no ex
cuse for his entering into any agree
ment affecting so greatly the inter
ests of large portion of his constit
uents without consulting with any o
them.
In the house, Mr.. Downey did al
that he could in support of the DEM
son measure This, however, amount
: ed to less than nothing. 1t was foun'
: that Mr.. Downey was intensely un
. popular even with the Democrat
: members. He was law unto himself
, voted mo" on almost every occasion
: was not on good terms with the demo
cratic house leader and was altOgeth
err persona non grata" with almos
the entire membership of the house.
: In matters of general Legislation
t partisanship is largely forgOtten-pel
:. SOndl friendships anu mutual uelplu
! ness are the things which win. MI
D Downey may have been consideration
. in his opposition to nearly all tn
= things which his fellow member
} wished to have passed. but his cours
? very naturally made enemies and nc
2 friends. The fact that Mr.. DOwne
favored DenisOn was not an asset.
Y We believe that the democrats G
I Crawford county owe it to DenisOn an
, to this big, rich county, to send
= member to the Legislature who will b
G not only titular member thereo
o but who will belong" in the real sens
y of the word, and who will be able t
o accomplish something This count
: cannot have suitable representatio
p in the legislature unless it sends som
n man who has the ability, the trainin
l. and the natural qualifications of a Les
4 islator. We have nothing persona
n against Mr.. Downey, but he is not fl