Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-06-15
MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED
PRESS
is. 1919
THE UNIVERSITY sQUABBLE.

Maybe it is unfortunate, and maybe
it is not, that We should just now bt
having a squabble over who shall be
come president of the state univer
sity. The Journal believes it is bes
to let the state know just what is be
hind the whole matter.
The real question involved is moi
the presidency of the university, but
who shall be superintendent of public
instruction for the state of New
Mexico.
Two men who live in the state have
been suggested for the head of the
university: Jonathan II, Wagner su-
perintendent of public instruction in
the state. and DR.. Frank H. II. Rob
erts, president of the Normal univer-
sity at Las Vegas. Either of these
men would make a good president, but
both are opposed, and for the same
reason.
Should Wagner become president of
the university, the suppostion is that
he would be succeeded as state super
intendent by Atanasio Montoya. If
Roberts should become president it is
assumed that Mr.. Wagner would sue
coed him and that Montoya would be-
come superintendent.
There is no question as TO the fit
ness of Atanasio Montoya for the SUI
perintenGency, but it is openly stated
that it is not desirable that a prece-
dent of a Spanish-American for state
superintendent be established.
From the time we acquired state
hood, the Journal has tried to prevent
race prejudice. The first instance of
race prejudice was shown in the re-
suits of our first state election when
every Spanish-American candidate, of
either party. against an Anglo-Ameri-
can, was defeated.
This evidenced conclusively that the
Spanish-American voters were not
ruled by race prejudice and that quite
a percentage of Angles We're.
Atanasio Montoya's ancestors were
in this country before the Pilgrim
Fathers landed at Plymouth Rock.
His people have been citizens of
the United States for more than sew
enty years. He and his Spanish-Am-
erican people have given the highest
evidences of patriotism at all times.
Atanasio Montoya is recognized
from Boston to Los Angeles as one of
the three or four best rural superin-
tendents in the United States. Here is
what DR.. Winship. editor of the jour
nal Of Education, published at Boston
says of him:
"Atanasio Montoya superintendent
of Benalilto county, New Mexico. de-
serves place with the best OF the
big men and women in the rural
school work. True, he has Albuquer-
que, the metropolis of the state. for
his background, but so does Mark
kepple have Los Angeles, so does
Samuel Hamilton have Pittsburg, and
so does Edward j, Tobin have Chica-
GO so does ChaTl Williams have Mem
phis.
TT takes great skill to have a city
allow a county superintendent to
magnify and glorify rural schools.
Montoya has increased the rural
school enrolment one hundred PEI
cent in seven years.
Seven years ago there were thirty
two poorly paid county teachers. To-
day there are seventy teachers W.
relatively high salaries.
Seven years ago the buildings i'm
the rural districts were poor little
adobe affairs. Today more than half
the buildings are attractive mission
style, cement-cOvered brick building.
really more attractive rural school
houses than Hamilton. Tobin or Miss
Williams can boast.
1t is Just year ago from the time
] write this that | had the privilege of
riding out into the rural districts for
which Mr.. Montoya has done so much
in seven years.
The superintendent of instruction
has nothing to do with the city schools
and there is not much that he can do
for the rural schools in the Pecos val
ley, or in any section of the state
where the Anglo population predomi-
mates.
But more than seventy per cent of
the children of the rural school lis
tricts are Spanish American, and Y ose
schools need the intelligent supervi-
sion of a man who understands and
sympathizes with their needs.
We have six important positions in
state education: Presdences OF the
two state normal schools, the presi-
dency of the agricultural college and
the presidency of the state university
and the superintendent of public in
struction and the presidency of the
school of mines.
Although fully sixty per cent of the
population of the state is Spanish
American. there IS objection to the
best qualified man in the state be-