The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1914-07-09
V;ctcry for the Normal Schoo'.

Ruston and Lafayette.
1t was estimated that if it be-
came a law, the attendance at the
Normal school would have been
cut down more than fifty per cent.
This estimate was based upon
the very reasonable supposition
that young men and women who
desire to teach in the public school,
would quite naturally take the
nine months course at Ruston or
Lafayette in preference to a two
years. course at the Normal.
But more than this, it would
have lowered the standard of
education in this State materially
by filling our public schools with
inexperienced and half trained
teachers.
The bill passed the lower house
by a large majority and the fight
was transferred to the Senate.
The citizens of NatchiUoches re-
sponded as they always do when
the interest of the Normal is at
stake, by raising an adequate fund
to defray the expense of the com
mittee who had charge of the OPP
position to the bill in Baton Rouge
and number of gentlemen from
this place have spent much time
to organize the opposition at the
capital.
Among the number ought to be
mentioned Judges Cunningham,
and Porter. Sheriff Freeman, Mes
Sis. J. ID. Rusca, &. M. Cunning
ham, J. L. BRYAN, Parish Supt.
Hudson, President V. L. Roy.
Judge Cunningham's address be-
fore the House and Senate COM
mittee was particularly effective as
was also that of Mr.. Roy.
The friends of the Normal from
other places rallied to her support,
Mr.. r. E. Breazeale of New Or
leans and Payne Breazeale of
Baton Rouge, both Natchitoches
boys and graduates of the Normal
were loyal to her cause and rem
dered valuable service.
The Natchitoches delegation in
the House Messrs. Friedman,
Henry aud LATTER were also active
and made many friends for the
Normal.
Among the members of the
Senate prominent in opposing the
bill were, Senators Barrow OF East
Feliciana, Parkerson of St. Mary,
Bvrne of Orleans, Provosty OF
Pointe Coupee and others whose
names are not now recalled.
To Senator Leon r. Smith Of
Shreveport is due large measure
of the success of the opposition.
AS chairman of the Senate com.
mittee on Education and one OF
the most deservedly popular mem.
bers of the Senate, his opposition
to the measure and particularly his
speech before the Senate, carried
great weight with that body.
To Lieutenant Governor Barrett
however lies the honor of having
cast the decisive vote against the
measure.
Gov. Barrett has always had q
warm spot in his heart for the
Normal school and the people Of
Natchitoches-a sentiment which
by the way is fully reclprocated
His vote however on this ques'
ton was not based upon personal
considerations; he declared that he
had always been in favor of the
policy of training teachers at the
Normal school exclusively and be
said that if the proposition had
been to combine industrial train.
ing at the Normal school, he should
have opposed it Just as strongly
as he did the plan to combine
Normal training with industrial
education.
If any one man is entitled to the
victory, We have no hesitation in
awarding that credit to him who
has won the title of Father Of the
Normal. our distinguished and
venerable Senator, Captain L.
Caspari.
His long service IN both
branches of the legislature, the
respect and esteem by which he is
held by all of the members.
coupled with the beautiful and
eloquent closing address in OPP
position to the bill, saved the day
| co.. tho fr;ondc Of fho Normal