The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-01-03
CHANGES TO BE.
ASKED IN REALM
OF EDUCATION
Governor Frazier Said to Con-
template Something for
Neil C.. Macdonald.
WOULD CURB MISS NELSON
Plans Alleged to Lop OF Powers
of State Superintendent
and Join Boards.

There is a growing conviction in
capitol circles that Governor Frazier
hopes to find some way of taking care
of Neil c. Macdonald, college and uni
versity classmate and bosom friend,
a man to whom the governor has prob
ably deferred more than to any other
member of his administration, not ex.
cepting William LANCER, the attorney
general.
The defeat Of Neil c. Macdonald for
reelection to the office of state super
intendent of public instruction prob
ably was more of a blow to the gov
crn0r than TO the rank and file of the
league. The governor and the retiring
head OF the state educational depart
ment were classmates and close
friengs at Mayville and again at the
University of North Dakota. When
they both came to Bismarck as state
officials this ancient friendship was
renewed, and Macdonald has been a
constant adviser of the chief execu-
tive during the last two years.
Just what Mr. Frazier will attempt
to do for his friend and counsellor
has not been definitely learned. Con-
lectures have been that he will urge
the next assembly to combine the
state board of regents and the state
board Of education, and to include with
this combination the office of state
commissioner of education, which
now exists, but which has not been
filled since DR.. z. b. Craighead, form
or president of the University OF Mon
tana, was deprived of his salary by
Governor Frazier's veto and allowed
to return to Missoula. AS the act Gre
ating a commissioner OF education
now stands it provides that the in
cun,bent shall he appointed by the
state board of regents and that he
must come from without the state.
The proyiso as TO residence outside OF
North Dakota probably could be cor
rected at Governor Frazier's request
and it is believed the board OF re-
gents, a majority of whom are Non
partisans, would accommodate the gov
ernor ii he asked them for q Job for
Macdonald. 81. s-.S..1 II =.
It is contended in some quarters
that the governor in asking this read.
iustmeut ,of educational affairs Will
have q dual purpose-first to find a
lob for Macdonald and second to curb
the powers Of Miss Minnie ITS tels0'r
who is not a league memhet, the
state superintendent of public instruc'
ton at present exercises a wide auth
ority. Under the Macdonald regime
the office has been charged with
teaching in the public schools OF the
state the tenets of the NOnpartisan
league Examination blanks have re-
ouired to know among other things:
''Who is A. c. Townley?' 1t has been
alleged. Some Of the prerogatives
formerly exercised by the state super'
intendent will. it is said, be transfer
red to the office Of commissioner OF
education and to the joint board OF
regents and OF education, If the league
nlan succeeds. There seems to ne
some question, however, as to the
sympathy with which this scheme Will
meet at the hands of leaguers gener'
ally. There is an inclination. 1t Is
said. to regard the woman vote wh'cn
elected Miss Nelson, with some re-
spect, and there is coupled with TINS
a fear that II anything Is done 10
handicap Miss Nelson the ladies may
find some means Of retaliating.