The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1917-08-30
TELLS HOW LYNDEN
LOST NORMAL SCHOOL
DIR. G. w. Nash Outlines Early Hist
ory OF Institution And Fight In
Legislature

w. NASH, uedu Oh lHe belllngn III
Normal, published last week in the
Bellingham Sentinel.
DR.. Nash tells the story as follows
The very first suggestion in regard
to getting a State Normal School in
Whateom county came one day in
November, 1889, at the store of Mr..
White when Pref. Bradley suggested
to Mike Anderson that he send some
of his children to Lynden to attend
private school of which Prof Bradley
was principal. This school was sup
ported by private donations from the
citizens of Lynden and vicinity,
snd it was hinted that unless some
outside assistance were rendered.
it would be necessary to close the
school. Mr.. Anderson had already
heard of the school and that it was
fayorably regarded by those who at
tended it. After talking the matter
over with Prof. Bradley, at some
length, Mr.. Ande: son suggested that
the people of Lynden use their in
HutuCc dl Iue ntAt SeSS1Ou Ol lne
state legislator to get a bill passed
making the school a State Normal
Having had a little legislative ex-
perience in Minnesota, Mr.. Anderson
was able to give some valuable ad-
vice, and assured Prof. Bradley that
he would take pleasure in assisting
the Lynden people in bringing the
matter to the attention of the Wash
ington State Legislature. At that
time Mr.. Anderson had no intention
of himself becoming a candidate for
representative.
The following year Mr.. Judson of
Lynden was elected to the legislature
and made an effort to have a bill
passed, making the school at Lynden
State Normal. but nothing was
heard of the proposition during the
legislative session that followed, and
Mr. Anderson made up his mind to
oppose any candidate who would not
pledge himself to the Normal school
measure.
III o. MI. AIutISOu hdu
the honor of representing in the leg
islature a part of Whatcom county,
having been elected on the republi-
can ticket.
With the assistance of Prof. Brad
ley he took up the work and had
bill prepared which was introduced
by Representative Tiffney. who with
Mr. Anderson represented that part
of Whatcom county then known as
the Forty-eighth representative dis
trict Mr. Tiffney introduced the bill
for the reason that he lived nearer
LINDEN than Mr.. Anderson, and as
matter of courtesy, it was proper
that the measure should be in his
hands. but Mr. Anderson worked just
as hard and faithfully for the passage
of the bill as though he had intro
duced it himself.
The bill as drafted called for the
establishment of the Normal school
at Lynden, but to Mr.. Anderson's
surprise his colleague did not seem to
De NtlH StAOi6is III iu'Ot ~ f's.''--S
the bill. Thereupon Prof Bradley
was advised to go to Olympia and
find out what was wrong. Prof
Bradley went. and after consulting
Representative Tiffney, came to the
conclusion that Mr.. Anderson should
take charge of the bill. Responsible
tv for pushing the measure was ac-
Rsepted by Mr.. Anderson as soon as
he learned that there existed dif-
ference of opinion between some of
the people of Lynden and Mr.. Brad
lev. the former being unwilling to
nush the measure If Mr.. Bradley
were to remain head of the school.
This condition accounted for Repre-
sentative Tiffney's Indifference and,
as Mr.. Tiffney was a member OF the
committee on Normal schools, it is
easy to understand why the bill for
the establishment of a Normal school
in Whatcom county came before the
legislature without recommendation.
Mr.. Anderson on realizing that his
net measure was an orphan, moved
that it be laid aside and made
special order for certain day.
In the meantime Prof. Bradley can
yassed the house and senate ana
thought that the bill had sufficient
strength to pass, but when it came
mn for consideration in the house II
lacked four votes of the necessary
npmber and so was indefinitely post
poned for that session.
Representative Anderson had the
honor of being reelected in 1908 and
made il his hobby TO get State Edu-
cational Institution for Whatcom
county AS he said, the other parts OF
the state were reaching out for every
ching in sight, and he thereafter had