The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1915-07-09

Very important Chapter-Opposition
is Made Up of Men in Many Walks
of Life.
Madison, Wis, (SpeciaD.-The adj
ministratiOn plan to create a central
board of education appeared upon the
legislative horizon as the big issue
of the session. The plan has never
w&ned in the matter of public inter
est, and now that the session is rapid
ly drawing to close, the educational
issue still is the big issue.
This is the way the situation stands.
Two bills are pending, the admin
istratiOn measure providing for cen
trail board of education which would
abolish the separate governing boards
Of regents for the university and the
normal schools; also the Stauden-
mayer substitute which provides for
financial correlation in the education
al system of the state without abolish
ing existing boards.
Original Plan Out of Running, Belief.
1t appears, almost beyond any
question of doubt, that the original
proposition advanced by the admin
itration is hopelessly out of the run
ming. If any measure is enacted it is
likely to be the Staudenmayer substi-
tute
The uprising against the administra-
tion central board idea will be writ
ten into the history of the present
legislature as a very big and very i'm
pOrtant chapter.
Men of opposing political parties
and factions, men in the private walks
of life, and educators have made up
the opposition that appears to have
overwhelmed the administration pro-
gram as it relates to a central board
Of education.
Earlier in the session the measure
seemed to have some chance, but late
developments indicate that it will be
defeated.
Van Hse Compares Bills.
Comparing the administration meas
President Charles r. Van Hise said
"'Fhe substitute is the safe and more
conservative bill"
'The duty of the board under the
substitute" said Mr.. Van Hise, lis to
study business methods and the ex-
penditure of public funds of the en-
tire educational system Of the state,
thus it is much more comprehensive
than any ether proposition presented
to the legislature.
This plan would seem to take the
one step necessary to provide for COM
plete financial correlation of the edu-
catiOnal system of the state. Under
the provisions of the substitute each
OF the several classes of institution
would retain the advantages of imme-
diate governing boards and officers.
The plan is conservative one which
builds up on the structure of the past
rather than to destroy the old order
to build new one"
"Tc Get Van Hise's Scalp"
"a staunch supporter of the admin
istratiOn bill" said Dr. G E. Seaman,
Milwaukee, regent of the university,
told me that the purpose of the
change was to get the scalp of Presi-
dent Van HiSe. DR.. Seaman argued
that the common schools have had
splendid leadership and if this branch
of the educational system failed to de-
velop desired efficiency it is because
of a lack of financial support, and
this, ne said, is largely local question
81 deny that there is any waste of
money at the state university" he
said. Il challenge men who say that
there has been extravaganza and
reckless management to give you
specific instances of extravaganza"
John A. Awkward, Madison. said: "It
seems to me that the whole argument
on the question of a central board
has gone astray when we assume
that there is any occasion for the
change proposed in the administration
bill. | haven't learned one reason.
after closely following all of the argu.
ment why a change should be made.
What is it that is wrong about a sys-
TEN which has made the university so
big and so great?"
''The alumni of the University of
Wisconsin" said Judge c. B. Rogers,
Fort Atkinson, president of the Wis
cOnsin Alumni association, adopted
resolutions opposing the central board
plan advocated by the administration.
No motive of politics or revenge
should be permitted to creep into con.
sideration of this important question.
The common school system is men
tined in three places in the bill pro-
posing the central board, and there is
nothing in the measure which would
give to the central board control over
rural schools. l oppose the principal
of any plan which would abolish sep
arate governing bodies for the uni