Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-09-30

gather them from current items in the
1 State press indicate the high ideal in
the minds of those who give voice
] to their opinion. Among them are
President Kenyon l.. Butterfeld, of
Massachusetts,; Dean l.. III. Bailey,
who recently retired from university
work at Cornell; Dean Eugene Dav-
export, of Illinois University; VIM. A.
Taylor, the efficient Assistant Secre-
tary Of Agriculture at Washington
Dean Fred b. Munford. of Missouri
University; and Principle Waldo, of
the Western Michigan Normal School
at Kalamazoo. All OF them are strong
men who received their initial college
training at the Michigan Agriculture
College Any one OF them would
bring his alma mater a wealth of eX-
perience that would command sue
cess.
The educator who shall be chosen
for this leadership should have the
equipment which can only be obtain
ed by a special training along the
lines of industrial education as APP
piled to the great problems of agri-
culture, as supplement to broad
I
Having made an enviable reputa-
ton in the first half century of it's
existance in developing men who have
become leaders in progressive agri-
culture, the College is entitled TO an
executive of the highest culture and
widest reputation among farmers and
educators.
1t is time to straighten out some Of
the kinks in Michigan's educational
methods and apply some OF the mod
ern rules of economy and efficiency
to our system. Because il has become
a habit with us To eXtol our Michi-
gan system of education, we have
neglected to take proper precautions
in handling our great schools, having
in mind the securing of the best re-
suits fer the expense incurred in ed
vocational management. The Board
/ of Control have not worked in har-
mony with each other in giving the
State the best possible results. They
/ have worked at cross purposes and
jealousies have. arisen which have
4 shown themselves in Legislative dis
cussions which have accompanied the
action in caring for the needs Of the
/ institution.
An unusual opportunity will come
/ to the new executive OF the Agricul-
tural College in ironing out these diff
ferences and crystallizing plan which
will avoid unnecessary duplication of
effort 1t will require a large man
for the job. Added to other intrin-
sic qualifications he must have had
some experience as a diplomat in or
der to avoid friction in dealing with
strong personalities.
The position will not be sine
cure and men of the requisite ability
| will hesitate to take il. while there
will probably be many entering the
lists who will minimize the task and
to whom the enrolment will look
large.
The Tradesman, In reviewing the
possible men who could undertake the
service with promise of success, un-
hesitatingly commends to the State
\ Board of Agriculture the name OF
President Kenyon l.. Buttertield, OF
the Massachusetts Agricultural Col
lege.
Mr.. Butterfield graduated from the
College i'm 1891 and was for a year
Assistant Secretary of the College
He was for some years editor of the
Grange Visitor and had the full con
fidence OF the oranges of the State
He was for some years Superinten
dent OF the Farmers Institutes and
inaugurated the methods which have
proven so successful in the State. Fol
two years he was College Field Agen
and originator of many Of the plans
which have since been carried on 81
successfully in popularizing the Col
lege among farmers. Later he tool
special work at the Michigan Univer
sity, receiving a Masters degree, hav
ing in mind particularly service aloni
social and economic lines for the i'm
provement of country life. He wa
called to the Presidency of the Rhod
Island Agricultural College and mad
so pronounced success in this fiel'
that he commanded the attention o
New England Educators. lie accept
ed the Presidency of the Massachu
sets Agricultural College, where h
4 has done his best work during tn
past seven years. He has been tn
leader Of the country life movemen
in England and has served with emf
nent ability on the Country Life Com
mission created by President Roose
velt1and the more recent Government
! commission to investigate rural cred