The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-04-05
From TUESDAYS Daily.


Southern Minnesota development
meeting this afternoon was Senator
julie Haycraft of Madelia on 1.-THE
Relation of the Legislature to Rural
Development" He spoke as follows:
IN speaking to the subject given
me on the program, will admit that
/ am making a public display OF
my bravery and courage. Compare.
lively few would have the temerity
the abandon. if not the gall to
speak publicly Of such a subject.
These qualities are UNNECESSARILY
enhanced when it is borne in mind
that the speaker is a member of
the body being discussed. The term
legislature is broad one. A broad
term indeed. Such is self-evident
when applied to the last session.
For that term not only included the
senate, but the house as we'll. How
ever, | am to speak of The Rela-
ton of the Legislature to Rural De
velopment.' Under this head | may
speak of what the legislature has
done, what it should do and what it
has failed to do. Not desiring to
hold the association over the day, l
shall only discuss briefly the last
clause, What the legislature has
failed to do
Reasons For Lack of Development.
There are, no doubt, many causes
for the lack of proper development
&c Of hn or
the need of this organization. Some
Of these reasons are known some,
doubtlessly are yet unknown. 1t is
not my purpose to enumeratc the
reasons and causes. 1t occurs to
ne that one reason, and | realize
this is no new idea, is the fact that
the tendency has been and is yet
to centraliZe everything in the cities.
This is true in many particulars.
| believe it has been true to a great
extent in our school system. Our
university has been treated as the
great desideratum in all educational
matters Truly an institution of
just pride to every citizen in the
state, but an institution not avail
able to every student Of our common
graded, and high schools. 1t seems
to me there has been too much OF
a tendency to regard the university
as the educational institution and
all the schools as preparatory there
to- When we remember that the
great majority Of our students can
To nt
it becomes highly essential that our
common. graded and high schools
be made less of a preparatory
course. We have been teaching
everything but agriculture in sec
ton relying almost wholly upon
agricultural pursuits. Right here is
where | come in with what the leSis-
lature has done and no doubt to
your surprise, if not establishment,
| am able to attribute great credit
to the last session. l realize that [
may have to produce records, al
fidavits and high-class proof.
Friend of Common School.
However, the last session of the
legislature did more for the COM
mon, graded and high schools than
any ten legislatures preceding it.
The schools which are in the reach
of the masses as well as the few.
The schools for your children and
my children. In 1909 provision was
made for the teaching of an agrlcul-
tural course in a practical manner
in our high schools. Ten such
schools were designated by the
superintendent of public instruction.
An appropriation of $1,000 to each
school in addition to all other APP
preparations was provided for. These
ten schools proved SO satisfactory
and of such good results that at
the session of 1911 twenty-five more
such schools were added and twenty
five schools were thus designated
which are now receiving the $4,000
additional appropriation and which
are doing q splendid work. We have
several of these schools in this
part of the state, and thirty-tve in
in the state.
Another Appropriation Made.
Still another act was passed at
the last session allowing $1,000 adj
ditonal appropriation to high or
graded schools which were unable
to either obtain one of the agricul-
tural schools before mentioned or
unable to qualify Hereunder but who
would teach a course of agriculture
prescribed by the state highschool
board and either manual training
or domestic science. For quite a
period of time, we had an agrcul'
tural college in connection with the
university at st. Anthony. A few
years ago this was extended and one
of these colleges established at
Crookston which is doing a most
splendid work. Another one was
located at Morris which is getting
into shape and is destined to bring
forth good results. At the last ses
sion we provided for two Of these
colleges and made appropriation
therefor. One at Duluth and one
at Waseca. | have been informed
that we are doing more in the mat
ter of teaching agriculture in prac
tical form in our schools in this
state than in any state in the Union