Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 21.djvu/140



130 JOHN C. ALMACK

Eastern Oregon needed, not a normal school. To this charm- ing bit of humor the Weston Leader proposed to build a wall around and a roof over the whole of Marion County and de- vote the enclosure to asylum purposes for the benefit of the Willamette Valley. To leave these exchanges of journalistic pleasantries, it was generally reported that the one normal plan was defeated by the state board of education. The Ashland Tidings says in its issue of February llth:

"According to the Portland Telegram, which like the Ore- gonian, colors its news reports against the normals, both these men (Jones of Lincoln and Hawley of Polk) were safely in the one school column, and admit that their change of front is due to the pleas of Ackerman and other members of the state board of education."

On the same date, the Umpqua Valley News of Roseburg wrote : > ^

"With victory almost within their grasp, the proponents of one normal awoke this morning to find their forces scattered. The result is said to have been attained through the active lobbying of the state board of education, headed by State Super- intendent of Public Instruction J. H. Ackerman."

The vote in the house on the appropriation bills showed Monmouth to be the favored school. On final passage the negative ballots were as follows :

Monmouth : Brandon, Farrell, Hatteberg, Hines, Jackson, Jones (Clackamas), Jones (Douglas), Libby, Meek, Munkers,

Weston: Dimick, Farrell, Greer, Hatteberg, Hines, Jackson, Jones (Clackamas), Jones ( Douglas), Libby, Meek, Munkers, Orton, Smith. Total 13.

Ashland: Abbott, Brandon, Bryant, Clemens, Corregan, Couch, Dimick, Farrell, Greer, Hatteberg, Hines, Hawley, Hughes, Jackson, Jones (Clackamas), Jones (Douglas), Libby, Munkers, Orton, Reynolds, Smith. Total 21.

But the state senate stood firm, and rejected all efforts at compromise. On the last day, the normal leaders were offered