The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1922-12-07
DIR. BRYAN TALKS
ON EDUCATION

With characteristic devotion to
the. school system which he and
others have built up in this sparsely
settled region because 1t happened
to be effective in Massachusetts,
and other densely populated states,
he launched into a defense Of what
we have. If he was reported cor
rectly by the press he broke the
news to them that he would rather
have six months school conducted
by a good teacher than a longer
period by one who was not SO good.
But, says Dr.. Bryan, do not
shorten the term to save money. I
am opposed to any scheme whatever
that has for its purpose the shorten
ing OF the school term or lowering
the quality Of the service to save
taxes. Good schools draw people to
the state, and we need more popula-
ton. The people of Idaho want
good schools and they are willing to
sacrifice to keep them up to the
present high standard" Ye editor
agrees in part.
Bosses Mayor Talks
DR.. Bryan was followed by Mayor
E. B. Sherman of Boise, who said
that he was in favor of more proba
ton officers to look after the child
rem, so that in cases where parents
fail in their duties the hand of the
law can take charge Of and lead,
guide and direct the erring young.
He favors more juvenile courts and
detention homes where FIRST Of
fensers" can be kept away from
their parents until they can be set
right and started on the high road
of rectitude. To which We editor OBJ
jects, 80 per cent for the people.
Are Full of Theories
DR.. Bryan began his address by
compromising on a shortened school
term, but reinforced that by declar-
ing against any shortening of the
term or relinquishing of any branch
or degree of the service or reduc-
ton of teachers salaries. His whole
address as reported, was COM
polling exhibition Of his ability as a
,cooperator and harmonizer, saying
in effect, 81 am the easiest man in
the world to get along with-all you
have to do is to give me my own way
about all things and keep right on
paying the bills"
Mayor Sherman exhibits the hall
marks of a lot of us reformers as
we talked twelve or fourteen years
ago when we knew less than we do
now. The trouble with Mayor Sher-
man is that he is eight or ten years
behind in his meditations. In 1880
he will be advocating the repeal of
some of his present notions should
he see them put into practice. He
talks like one of those converts to
beaurocratic government who want
the federal government to be a
father to the several states (patern-
alism) wants the state to be a
father to the several counties, wants
the counties to be father to the
several school districts, and wants
the school districts and cities to be
fathers to the children when the
parents are at low gear. The rank
and file of people jump at any offer
of something seemingly delivered
for nothing or at bargain rates, and
they take to this thing with an
avidity that is prompted by Unborn
selfishness rather than by reason.
Follies of Parentalism
For example, the federal govern
ment throws out an offer to the
states that it will match money dol
lar for dollar for road construc-
ton if they can be permitted
to handle the money and hold
the plans in theri hands, that is,
be the guardian of the states
in each deal. (This is duplicated in
many other things than roads, in
Guiding the farm bureau, the agri-
cultural colleges and experiment
stations, the newly established de-
partment of trained nurse for
maternity cases turnout the state
and many other things.) The state
sees chance to get something at
half price so 1t goes in and makes
the same proposal to the counties,
and the counties see change to get
two dollars for one, and they go in
for lot of unwarranted expendi-
lures of borrowed money just be-
cause it is bargain day. Three or
four years ago the various counties
of Idaho dipped in on such proposals
to the amount of some fourteen mil
lion dollars of road work, a large
part of which was beyond our
means, but we did it on a theory
that was unsound.
Paying For 1t Now
We are now finding out where the
federal government and the states
get all of that money to give to us.
The federal government taxes the
whole public thru income tax, thru
tariff for revenue only, thru fines
and all the multitudious channels
visible and invisible of wringing
money from the individual. The
state taxes the citizens of the state
thru its taxing powers and adds to
the other things the big bond issue
Of the last session Of the legislature,
and now the people are Frustrated
under the load of taxation to supply
money to the federal government to
give to all the states, to supply
money to the state government to
give to all the counties. In other
words, il we will raise the money
and give it to the federal govern
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