The Weston leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 189?-1946, 1916-07-28
orposmu 1 rmDLEsoH nosnAL.
(Text of negative argument submit
ted for the voters pamphletl

ted for the voters pamphlet)
The Eastern Oregon State Normal
School was established st Weston b.
1855 by legislative enactment, This
school is attn h existsnee. lts plant
consists Of four bsiIdiags oecapsios
ten sercs Of ground donated BY the
city. These include a ecmmcdious ad-
mlnistrsticn building erected In 1901.
having three stories and basement; a
young women's boarding hall, a young
meas dormitory and gymnasium and q
presidents cottage. When fully equip
ped tho plant represented value Of
about SIS. 900. Its still owned by the
state, but Is now occupied under lease
By the Weston High School and gram
mar grades. -
Why should the voters Of Oregon be
asked 10 provide q siab.ooo normal
school plant at Pendleton when s7S,-
900 plant is already available at Wes-
ton, located but n miles from tendle-
ton In the same county, II Is signih-
cant that the Pendleton argument
avoids all reference 70 the existence Of
this state property.
The Weston Normal was maintained
until 1909. when because Of certain adj
verse political Influences and through
no fault Of It's own Il failed Of an APP
preparation In the state senate. al.
though supported IN the lower house by
vote Of two TO one. II was then the
largest Of three normal schools In the
state, having a regular attendance OF
g7S in the normal department and q
strong training department. Its work
was accomplished on the modest main
tenanee Of sl25oO per year. The
Monmouth Normal now receives es9.-
600 per year. and ii addition WAS grant
ed $50. 900 for buildings BY the 18th leg
islative assembly. With similar sup
port the Weston Normal would un-
questioaably have STAINED 10 at least
equal rank and usefulness.
Through bill initiated BY the legisla-
ture the Weston Normal asked the peo-
pie in 1914 for a maintenance tax Of
only one-fortieth sf mill. while PEN
dleton is now asking for one-twenty-
fifth Of a min. weston's request was
denied by majority Of 1885. In the
same general election similar tax
for the support Of the Ashland South
ern Oregonl Normal was defeated by a
majority Of IS. coz. In the face Of this
decisive adverse vote but two years ago
the Pendleton measure we regard as q
defiance Of the people's mandate and
an abuse Of the initintive. Weston
was content TO wait for evidences Of a
change Of sentiment In Oregon along
normal school lines.
The Pendleton bin constitutes q re-
turn to .'logrolling" methods. II clear
" indicates the fear Of its sponsors to
20 before the people on the merits OF
their own demand. Why seek TO wal
date welI-established institutions that
are IN no sense IN periif Should the
necessity ever arise, their security can
and win be assured by the passage Of a
measure entirely independent Of q mill
age tax for Pendletou's benefit PEN
dleton has been generously treated In
being granted the Eastern Oregon Hos
pital. which received a total appropria-
tion Of s3OS. .659.25 from the 2sth legis-
Iative assembly. -
Normal schools are undoubtedly need
ed in Southern Oregon and in Eastern
Oregon. The sehoellat Weston should
be supported. Weston Is an attractive
little city with adequate train service.
surroundings. agreeable eli
mate. healthful conditions and an ample
gravity supply Of pure mountain water.
During the Weston Normal's long ca
reer not one death occurred among its
student body. Weston 10 in fact IN adj
mirable location for state normal
school. IL 10 ''smalI town. yes; but
50 Is Monmouth and 50 are numerous
normal school towns In the East. Wes-
ton has in the past supplied an entirely
adequate number Of pupils for an EN-
cient practice school, and can do 80
again.
Why should the voters Of Oregon
spend $I25, 900 for something they al
ready possess? Why should they tax
themselves one-twenty-tifth Of mill
when one-fortieth Of mill--aIl that
was asked Of them and which they de-
MED two years ago-is sufficient? Logic
and economy alike suggest the defeat
II the Pendleton bill, with a view to
The ultimate recpening Of the Eastern
Oregon Normal at Weston.
(Signed by r. d. Watts. 8. A.
Barnes, E. o. DeMoss, VIM. MacKen-
sie, Clark Wood
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