The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-03-23

To the Editor: In order that the
real important public issue may not he
obscured by bitter personalities and
baseless determinations let me call -FOUR
attention to a few facts bearing on the
needs of the Madison Normal. These
are in no respect fractional nor politi-
cal.
For some weeks | have been urging
the Normal needs on the attention Of
the Commercial Club hoping it might
be possible to unite that body in an
effort to secure much needed funds
for the Normal. In this effort | have
evidently disturbed one of our dis
tinguished citizens who not only OPP
posed the movement at Commercial
Club meeting when / was absent and
thus could not defend myself nor my
cause, hut has come out in bitter
personal attack wholly uncalled for
and unjust. am not at all interest
ed in factional politics nor in any
aspiring politician, hut in an issue l
feel to be more important than either.
/ want some way to get the necessary
funds to push forward the Normal and
make it of tore service to the people.
That is the sole and only issue l have
expressed or have had in mind Every
statement Mr.. Urdahl makes in his
attack of last Saturday is absolutely
false and without foundation OF fact.
The Normal DID NOT get by any
of means the money from
last legislature either for operating
purposes or for new buildings that the
regents recommended. Any citizen
interested in the matter can see the
truth about this by reference to Re-
gents Report for 1919, and am much
surprised that Mr.. Urdabl is not
familiar with this report. This report
is, l presume, on file In Commercial
Club rooms. On page 224 may be
found my budget or request to the
regents for new buildings and for
other funds. Then on page "a of
same report may be found what the
regents recommended. Comparing
their recommendations with the appro-
p~riations provided the Normal. any
n will see how far the legislative ap-
preparations fall below that requested
and approved by the board OF control
Regent Erieberg is chairman # this
Normal and makes a special study of
our nee Is. In submitting mis- report
after a personal and careful consider
alton of each and every item in my
budget he used this language (See page
222): 81 respectfully call your atten-
ton to the Recommendations of DR..
Heston in the matter Of increasing the
appropriation for salaries and main
t~enence. In regard to the recon-
mendations for special appropriations
/ will say that none are asked but
what are urgently needed for the
fullest efficiency of the Institution F"
(And / asked for $3.50. 900 for build
Jugs alone; see page 224). Further
notice this language: Without AIDE
quate facilities for a model training
school for all grades f,om the kinder
garteo up to and including the eighth
grade, a : Normal school ia badly
handicapped and can not render real
service tc the people OF the state
A modern Normal school must be
equipped to teach domestic science,
manual training, and at least elemen-
tary agriculture to properly equip and
train teachers sent out from its por.
tails, and to do sc the Madison Nor.
NAL is sadly in need OF more room
and an increase in appropriations for
salaries ...."
Gentlemen of the Commercial Club,
| ask you to consider this language
and this opinion of Regent Frieberg
with very special care There isn't 4
word of politics in the eame and every
word is true and important. The claim
made by Mr.. Urdahl both in his Satur.
day attack and in his attack before the
Commercial Club, claiming that the
Normal had received all it needed
and all it was entitled to is both un-
true and absurd in the extreme. The
same about the unjust comparisons Of
attendance here with Aberdeen and
Spearfsh. There are a number of
things to consider and point out to
have any such comparison reveal the
truth. Madison Normal does not do
the high school work for the city Of
Madison nor does it have, ss Aberdeen
Normal, a big industrial department
to graduate students in all kinds Of
manual training and domestic science
courses and a lot Of other good work
in education but not strictly that of
making teachers. In the matter OF
making teachers for the public schools
of the state, Madison is not surpassed
by any so far as she has been able to
carry on her Legitimate work, but
sine must broaden her work to keep
pace with present day demands and
ideals. and to do this more money ID
needed and mere buildings required
as Regent Frieberg admits. These
interests are of most Importance not
probably to aspiring politicians but
to the masses of the people who pay
the bill and have . right to get values
in education equal here to any other
school In the state or elsewhere in
other states. For this improvement
the writer will not cease to strive
and to urge upon all those who have
at heart the welfare of the state and
the perpetuity of the nation.
hold IL true and capable of demon.