Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-12-11
tBy ora williams. ]

Des Moines. Dec. 1.-THE pity is
that the annual fruit exhibition of the
state horticultural society comes to
the direct attention Of so few people
In Iowa. This year there was shown
one Of the finest displays Of apples
ever put into the state house. yet the
number OF apples was much larger
than the number OF persons who visited
the state house and saw them. The
exhibit was arranged on the basement
floor Of the state house and there were
hundreds OF plates of magnificent fruit
and many handsome boxes. The lesson
OF it was that the apple industry Is
much too little followed up In the state.
Yet the society has been working to
arouse interest many years, In fact
from earliest state history. yet people
will not become interested In orchards.
One needs but to stand around in the
corridors a short time and to talk with
men here with fruit to discover that at
least few persons are able to en-
aase III fruit growing ."s!t.AA fair nrnflt
and under conditions that are much
more pleasant than potato growing.
There has been, as usual, the talk OF
having the exhibition made in some
central hall in Des Moines rather than
in the state house. and really this
would seem to be the better way.
There is feeling that tine whole affair
Is state matter and state supported
and therefore something that indi-
viduals need not to bother with. II
it was placed on business basis and
the society was given an Office In the
city and provided with hall for. the
exhibit centrally located. then there
was a due amount of advertising and
boosting. these annual events would
soon become OF great value to the state.
But the few men in the game are do
ing noble work and earnestly seek
ing to encourage more growing of big
red apples.
The shift necessary on the state
board of education by the transfer OF
Senator Funk to the work of bossing
the workmen's compensation law has
set afoot much gossip as to the proper
makeup of the education board. One
Of the first sugges sions which came to
the state house was that an educator
should 60 on the board. one who was
distinctly identified with public educa-
ton. It was the original plan OF the
law. as those who followed Its prepa-
ration in the legislative debates know,
30 have the board. as a whole, actually
direct the entire educational work of
the colleges. leaving to the finance
committee what its name signifies;
therefore the importance of having on
the board men who have appreciation
OF educational problems Of the col
leges. There has been a well-defined
movement to have placed on the board
an educator who approaches the sub
ject from the stand point OF the COM
mon schools rather than that Of higher
education, on the theory that the col
leges should be adapted to the needs
Of the young people who enter from
the public schools and not having the
young people. made over 10 fit high
college requirements. This is a thought
which has in II little of the spirit Of
resentment at the bossism of the Car
negie foundation and kindred organi-
cations. Then there is also another
element-that Of the somewhat thinly
yelled antagonism OF interest between
the college board created to look after
professional education and the depart
mSnt o5 edncatipn which has to deal
with the larger field of all the schools
of-the state. Some time .therewill have
to be an approachment between these
two forces. 1t will be recalled that the