Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-03-28
AN open letter
T01HEG governor

MARMAhIH n. H., Marcn 2b-HOn.
l.. 3. Hanna, Bismarck, n. d., Dear
Governor: This letter is written to
you by a Swede farmer. If the Eng.
lish is not as good as that Of the ma.
tive American, you may, by a careful
reading, get the idea which 1t is in.
tended to convey.
We notice that as governor you have
as the Americans say, the sand to
veto some of the legislation of the last
senile legislature for which you de-
serve the thanks of the farmers. The
tax commission you have cut out.
Thank you. This was a useless com.
mission, excepting for those who were
members and drawing large salaries.
How many members of this late com.
mission eve drew as much before or
will again?
The politicians Of the state, not the
taxpayers, have gone daffy on the
commission idea. 1t is true that posi-.
tons on commissions make places for
broken down politicians, but these do
not help us poor farmers.
Much has been written and said Of
late by the politicians about property
beirg taxed at its real value, and that
more taxes should be raised. For what,
pray? The only result we can see
which would arise would be to pay
more salaries and build up some town
now on its downward course. But for
the farmers, nit. 1t is also true that
some man, who has made a failure in
everything and desires to live the life
OF a gentleman, might get appointed to
a place on a commission, but for the
farmer, nit.
What appears to us a craze in the
state is the teaching Of agriculture in
the public schools. Why not teach
the children to read and write, and
some arithmetic. What we have seen
Of the children in this state, they are
sadly deficient in these branches.
Many politicians, and some who
would be politicians, appear to have
the idea that the expenditure of large
of money will educate the child.
What a strange delusion? TO educate
a child 1t is necessary to have teach
ers who have the power to impart
knowledge to others. How many hav.
ing this knowledge have we in our
schools? We fear only a few.
Some few years ago we attended
a teachers institute where we saw one
professor from one of the normal
schools, and others said to be great
educators. May we be permitted to
say that in our humble opinion these
great educators were as children, and
We felt sorry for the children.
Let US for a moment consider the
vast sums Of money expended on our
higher institutions Of learning during
the past twenty years, and then let
us thy to find ole scholar these insti-
tutions have turned out. WE say Just
one. .
1t is a fact that there are some en-
inent men attached to the staff of our
agricultural college, but these came
to us from other states.
Some years since We read an article
written by a professor in the city
school of II Of our cities. This ar
ticle purported to give an explanation
Of the object of an education. The
writer was a graduate of our univers-
ity. If he was correct in his ideas,
then all great writer's past and present
on the same subject were wrong.
Another great fraud in the state is
the money expended at the school of
mines at Hebron. 1t is true that it
is nice for those drawing the fat sal
aries, but Of what benefit to the farm
or, nit. Any good chemist for a few
hundred dollars could, and would have
told US all that has been demonstrated
at this school. 1t is now said that gas
oline can be made from Ignite coal.
We do not dispute this, but who do
not these professors tell us what it
will cost to make the gasoline.
That briquettes can b. made there
is no doubt; they have been made in
Germany for years and at a profit; but
the conditions are different from here.
There labor is cheap, population is
dense; transportation is only for
short distances. Our professors will
say to the farmer, look at the gas we
can make. This is true, but they do
not tell US how this gas a be used
to a profit. They tell us poor farm
ers that North Dakota will be a great