The log cabin Democrat., 1915-04-08
ASKS JQNfSBORO
 BOARD 10 RESIGN
GOVERNOR TAKES ACTION
CALLS BLUFF OF TRUSTEES WHO WOULD CLOSE FARM
 SCHOOL.

Governor Hays on Saturday de- manded the resignations of the mem bers of the board of trustees of the First district agricultural school, ac- cording to the Jonesboro Sun, unless the board would agree to recede from their decision to close the school on account of the governors veto of the $4O,000 salary item. "There are hun dreds of good men in the district" the Sun quotes the governor as saying, "who can direct the affairs of the school and if you cannot do so, it is your duty as loyal citizens of the state of Arkansas and in justice to my ad- ministration to turn your office over to them"
 The board of the schools at Monti- cello and Magnolia have already an nounced that the schools will be con- tinued and will not close, as was first stated after Attorney General Moses decision was received.
 The following is quoted from the Jonesboro Sun of Saturday, April 8: "That Governor George w. Hays is not going to keep still and have the credit of the state agricultural school of this city abused is evidenced by the above statement made to the board of trustees for the Jonesboro school He intimates that their res ignation is desired and there is one thing sure, said the governor, When an attempt is made to close down the school by the board, it is possible that the question of resignation will not be considered
 "In an interview Governor Hays said: The schools must be continued. If the board in charge at Jonesboro can not continue them, there are others that can and the students de- string to attend the state agricultural schools, will have the same opportuni- ty and the same conveniences they have had heretofore
 "It is stated that the other three schools of the state are arranging to go ahead and that they took no stock in the statement given out that they would close July 1. The members of the board are working in harmony with Governor Hays and Auditor Dickinson, instead of trying to dictate the policy of the office of these two officials and expect to make the next two years the best years in the his tory of the schools.
 "Why the board of the Jonesboro | schools or that is, majority of them, l (Jas. A. Horn, the new member, took no stock in the matter) are so anxious to agitate the matter is not just un- derstood. The fact that the board met and elected superintendent Rays to another term at salary of $3,- | 900 a year after the governor had vetoed the S40,000 item, it being re- ported that he was offered posi- tion elsewhere at a salary of $4,000.
 "It must be admitted that every citizen, would be glad to see the state agricultural school and the ad- ministration of Governor Hays, up- held and there can be no excuse for any such statements as have been sent out from Jonesboro and given the Little Rock papers, that the school must close There is a reason for all this, but just what it is, has not yet been figured out. There is not man in the city who is in touch with the situation that believes that Superintendent Rays of the members of the board ever had an idea of clos ing down the school. If there is any reason for the grandstand play made, it is to be hoped that it will work to the interest of the school, for it can not hurt any individual or state off cial
 "The state agricultural school is one of the big things of Jonesboro. It has made good to a great extent and the people have begun to be in- terester in it's progress and success. It is conservative to say that 90 per cent of the best citizenship of this city and county endorse Governor Hays in his veto of the appropriation made in excess of the state revenue for the next two years. Not that they are glad the state agricultural school was hit among the state institutions, but that he had nerve enough to say the state must not spend more money than is paid by the taxpayers. Tt is not known if the board will they could not be run off the jobs resign, but is generally believed that with a pack of five hundred gray hounds, and that they will in the near future come together, plan how to expend the $45,000 and keep the school going and the press reporter who has been sending out the volum- inous statement about the Aggie school to close, will have an opportu nity to follow at Superintendent Rays heels for another two years through the streets of Jonesboro." | * #