The labor world., 1922-12-16
JULIUS BARNES OF SCHOOLS

JULIUS BARNES OF SCHOOLS
Julius Barnes is admired and re-
spected by Duluthians as he is by
most people elsewhere who have
learned to know him. He is a man
Of fine ideals. He has a wonderful
vision and he has set a high stand
ard for all men in business and pub
lie life. Mr.. Barnes is Duluth
product. We are proud Of him. The
story Of his life. labor and achieve
ments Is of unusual interest Sue
cess has come to him, not in the
easy way, but through work and
struggle that would have bent man
of weaker mettle. He is clean from
heart to hide. He has become Du-
luth's first citizen, not so much be-
cause of the worldly wealth he has
acquired as in the spirit he has put
into his home city and her institu-
tions. He is one of the best balanced
men, morally, physically and ment-
ally, it has been our privilege to
know.
The Labor World and Mr.. Barnes
do not always agree. We could not
If we wanted to, not unless. we both
came closer together in our social
and political thinking, and that does
not seem possible. However, despite
the gap that lies between us, We
recognize in Julius Barnes a great
power for good wherever he may be
found. He is one Of the few men who
have become rich out of the re-
sources OF the Northwest who Is CIV
ing something back. to the section
that made it possible for him to ac-
Quire great wealth. He has founded
industries that are giving employ
ment to our workers. He promises
to establish others. He has contrib
uted much to the social and public
welfare. He has been Of service in
many ways to the youth Of our city.
So when julius Barnes returns to his
home to meet Duluth people, his
lifelong friends. he is always warm
ly greeted, and what he has to say
is usually accepted without doubt or
question.
When he addressed the members
of the Duluth Chamber Of Commerce
one day this week he impressed his
q friends and hearers as he had never
f.. done before. He had grown in states
%manship. His vision had extended to
all the world. He was prophet,
unlike others Of whom Christ re-
ferred, in that he was honored "even
in his own country" Mr.. Barnes
i bigness, however, did not prevent
him from falling into error during
his able speech. The fact is when
he began to discuss questions close
to home, such as the school board
controversy over the employment of
an outside architect, he entered a
field Of discussion that did not well
fit in with his general address.
School buildings" he said, "have
ceased to be more than four walls"
That was a reflection on every home
architect who has designed mod
ern school building. Duluth archi-
tects are responsible for many Of the
unequallcd school buildings that
have been built in the range towns
and cities.
The Labor World has taken no
part in the school board controversy
over the employment Of an outside
architect. That's all together a mat
ter Of discretion with the board, just
as Is giving employment on school
buildings to home workmen. We
have long ago ceased to take much
stock in the claim that specialists
and experts with national reputa-
ton in any line are as a general rule
any better than we have right here
at home.
DR.. Bentley, the superintendent Of
schools, seems to think that some
architects he knows outside Of Du-
luth are better school architects than
we have here in Duluth. .~They have
designed and built schools in other
towns where he has been employed
and such buildings, it seems to him,
were better built and moro suitable
for school purposes than the build
. ings recently erected here.
NJ Now come statements from per-
II sons residing in those towns that the
$ school buildings to which DR.. Bent
ley refers are not as suitable all
around for school purposes as he
III would have the people of Duluth be-
4 lieve. DR.. Bentley may be right. He
Il is an expert in his line. The school
A buildings that are suitable to his
ideals may not be- suitable to anoth-
er educators ideals. In the last an