Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-02-13
FEDERAL AID. FOR AGRicULTUR.
Al EXTENSION ENCOURAGES
STATE LEGISLATION
START ALREADY MADE IN
SEVERAL IOWA COUNTIES
Four Counties Now Have Agricultural
Agents Employed, Three Others
Have Funds Raised and Ten coun.
ties Have Campaign Started-Presi-
dental Primary Gill Favored.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines. Feb l3.-Encourage-
, ment has been given for the advocates
of the bill in the Iowa legislature to
authorize counties to raise funds by
special tax levy to carry on educational
work in development of agriculture
by the passage in congress of the bin
to increase the federal aid for the same
work. twill make possible very great
extension of the work in Iowa, pro-
vided the Iowa legislature opens the
door of possibility for just such ef-
forts locally as are contemplated in the
federal bill. Members Of the legislature
We're interested in a showing made be-
fore congress as to what has been ana
is being, done in Iowa in the matter of
organization for this county agri.
cultural work. The showing made at
Washington was:
Counties in which county agents are
now actually employed under the
farm management NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
Clinton. Montgomery, Scott.
Counties where funds have been a.,
lotted already and county agents will
be employed-Muscatine Clay. Polk.
Counties which will probably have
local funds raised soon-Audubon.
Cass, Cerro GorGo Marion. Monona,
Page, Pottawattamie, Wapello, Wood
bury, Van Buren,.
The department OF agriculture re-
ported that in all there are now seven
ty-eight counties in the United States
where the county agents have actually
been employed. and more than 100
others where there is a movement to
start the work. No state has done more
than Iowa in this line.
The plan as worked out by the better
schools commission for change in the
manner Of selecting Or electins county
superintendents Of schools. is being
largely commended. a county school
convention is provided for. consisting
of each school corporation with one
vote, either the president Of the school
board or some other member desig-
mated to act. In this convention
school superintendent: is chosen. 1t is
provided that a committee may De
named to inquire into the qualifications
Of candidates and thar the superin-
tendent may be selected from any
place It is a plan to take the Whoie
matter out of politics and to place II
on a basis much like that OF the selec-
ton Of city superintendent Of schoois.
1t is embodied in the Arney bill.
In the senate, where the finishing
work is done on legislation, plans are
laid for a presidential preference prl-
mary that will be effective and salts
factory to all concerned. 1t Will pro-
vide for:
A special primary in April or earlier.
Submission of names Of all candi-
dates for president on all party tickets
to the voters of the respective parties:
Election Of delegates to the national
conventions, by districts.
Election Of members Of the national
party committees.
1t is pointed out that if preference IS
to be expressed as to president in the
regular June primary. 1t VIII be long
after delegates have been selected by
district conventions and instructed and
it could have no influence whatever on
the situation.
1t is also pointed out that the COM
plant about there being too much sub
mitted to the voters on the regular
primary ballot would only be accentu-
ated by having preference primary at
the same time.
Conventions have generally been held
in May. June or July; but convention
might be called earlier. The Iowa law
should be made as flexible as possible
and so arranged as 10 cover any
tingency. The bill as reported to the