Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-08-08
TOTEM SEEKS
T0CRABP POSER
FOR HIS TRIO
Would Virtually Gust Hag-
en- and Miss Nelson From
Administration Board.

Bismarck, N. D., Aug. 8.-The neat
plan Of the Rev. George A. Totten to
make the state board of administra-
ton. which is to operate the schools,
insane asylums, penitentiaries, univer-
sity and colleges and other public in
situations Of North Dakota, a close
corporation controlled by himself,
Robert Muir and Pat Casey, the ap-
pointive members Of this body, fell by
the wayside yesterday when Commits
sioner of Agriculture and Labor John
N. Hagan n Miss Minnie J. Nelson.
state superintendent of public in
the proposal.
The Totten scheme was presented
at the opening Of the board OF admin
istration meeting scheduled for We'd
nesday. The Bowman divine had his
resolution neatly typed and ready to
go into the minutes. It was to THE
effect that hereafter the presence Of
Mr.. Hagan and Miss Nelson would be
required only at stated meetings of
the board, and that in its ordinary
business sessions the board would
ex-oficio members.
tested strongly against being legislat-
ed from the board Of administration,
and, while the resolution was read in
to the minutes Of the session, Muir,
Totten and Casey presumably having
voted for it, it is understood that it
was later expunged.
Educational Commission.
The educational commission, a Neil
G. Macdonald board named, It Is
claimed, with the evident intention Of
depriving Miss Nelson of all power
o~l o,vth~~{<,r - - ~k-AA -s---S-A--I--
OF public instruction, resumed its ses-
sions today. The board consists Of
three Macdonald men,, P. s. Berg, SUI
perintendent of schools 1T Dickinson,
who never has been identified with
the Macdonald faction, and Miss Mel
son. One of the first attempted acts
of the board was to take up the course
Of study: for the rural schools of the
state. This duty was recommended
mediate consideration.
Here again the Reverend Mr.. Tot
ten fell by the wayside. His attenticn
was called to the school laws of North
Dakota, placed on the statutes long
before Mr.. Townley dreamed of his
Nonpartisan league, which provide
that the course of study in all public
schools shall be fixed by the state
superintendent. He was also shown
sectlon = OF the act creating the state
board Of administration, which pro-
vides that the duties and powers Of
the state superintendent shall remain
as they were prior to the passage of
this act and be in no manner abridged
or amended.
To Have Special Opinion.
1t was then decided that the COM
mission must have an opinion on the
subject. The Rev. Mr.. Totten was
convinced that IN 50 important a sub
Ject an opinion from the states own
legal authorities would not suffice,
n at his suggestion there was
adopted a resolution requesting an
opinion from ''the attorney general
and one other attorney" Mr.. Lemke
is now in the city and has been
throughout the deliberations. If the
board Of administration and the edu-
cation commission.
The lineup against Miss Nelson II
! already clear. It will be, It seems ap.
parent, a three-to-one proposition in
everything that affects the present
state superintendent Of public in.
%structton and her administration OF
school affairs. Neither Hollis nor
Bell. former instructors at the Vale,
City normal, which they lett under
conditions which were not pleasant, II
a Lacquer. They are. however, strong
Macdonald E,en. The same is true o.
Rockne, the only county superintend.
ent in the state who has supported
Macdonald in the series Of attacks
which the latter has made on his sue.
cessfui rival. Miss Nelson.