The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1913-04-03
Thursday, April 3rd., 1913.
THE TREND OF THE
ARGUMENT

Recorder maps out the work for
the new board of control of the
educational institutions of the
state yet to be appointed by Gov.
Haines, in the following signifi-
cant language, which is then com
mented on by the Lewiston Tri-
bune. The Recorder says:
Without a doubt, the new
board of control for all the state
educational institutions is one of
the most important measures pass
ed by any Idaho legislature in
years. Regret it as one must, the
distribution of the state schools
is peculiarly unfortunate. The
university is in the north; by rail
it is 500 miles from the real centep
of population; and it is only ten
miles from bigger college in a
far richer state. In trying to
invoke state pride to rival the
Washington college, the state has
been led into the most childish,
bizarre lines of thought and ac-
ton. Through political support
the Lewiston Normal, another nor
thern school, 400 miles from the
center of population, has pros
pered greatly. The Albion Normal
has been isolated and neglected
The Pocatello academy has been
a misfit high school. Now, the
adjustment of these political mis-
takes is to be attempted by the
new board. Certainly one and
probably two, of these institutions
will get the executive axe. The
state cannot nationally or ade-
uqately support them as they
are. And some others might have
to be moved. Either the universe
ty or the Lewiston Normal must
go, in any rational adjustment. ;"
The foregoing expression from
south Idaho is important as
showing a point of view capable
of being argued and defended,
rather than as having any other
potency or as meeting with any
special acceptance, at this time.
Still, no one knows just what may
be concealed behind this prelimi-
nary notification. We do not think
anything lies behind it, but that
it is simply a formal statement
of defective conditions and of no
deeper significance. Yet some
thing else, in the way of con-
templated REIMBURSEMENT, may be
lurking there, and at all events
the power to effect such readjust
ments has been delegated away,
in effect to a board whose per-
sonnet is to be determined by
the dominant political power. This
board cannot itself remove or re-
locate the states institutions, but
its recommendations are practic-
ally plenary, and otherwise it
could make or mar such institu-
tions as it chose. South Idaho
having two-thirds of the votes,
would naturally have two-thirds
Or in this instance three-fifths
of the membership of the board.
When the state approved the
proposition of creating this board
it approved the power placed in
its hands of building, demolish-
ing or shifting about according to
its own inclination, and such incli
nation might very readily run te
mere mechanical readjustments
such as suggested by the Soutf
Idaho journal.
We do not for a moment ap
prehend any serious effort what
ever to displace or reduce any O
the present north Idaho institu
tions, other than the perennia
demand to remove the agricultur
al college, but nevertheless tn
possibility is always to be reck
oned with, under present cOndi
tons. The fundamentally for do
ing so and of throwing the auth
ority and weight Of technica
Judgment into the decision ha
been established, and its manipu
lation for Interior ends is anon
the possible contingencies Away
present where the game of poll
tics is to be played for BIZ