Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 81, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1916 — COUNTY AGENT NOT DECIDED UPON [ARTICLE]

COUNTY AGENT NOT DECIDED UPON

Trustees Express Desire to Employ Jasper County Boy—Purdue Representative Says No. * ________ If Purdue University’s representative, Prof. T. A. Coleman, has his way Jasper county will have to employ an agricultural agent from outside of Jaspar county. Prpf. Coleman was not here when the county board of education met Monday and the latest word received from him was a letter to County Superintendent Lam son written on March 14th, after Mr. Coleman had been here and had in formed the trustees that he v/ouid take up the matter of hiring Mr. Clarke with the authorities at Purdue. ' Mr. Coleman said in his letter that the “policy” at Purdue was not to hire any man as a county agent in ■his own county. He said that he thought they had more difficulty than would ibe the case with sS stranger arid that notwithstanding the fact that the thirteen trustees of Jasper county had recommended Faye Clarke, a graduate of Purdue university, that the authorities there had decided not to alter their ruling that an agent could not be employed in the county where his home was. H. W. Wood, Jr., trustee of Marion township, stated that he vas reliably informed that Agent McFarland, of Benton county, was a resident or at least bom and partially schooled in Benton county and that he had been appointed. Trustee Rush, of Newton town-

ship, stated that he thought so long as Jasper county paid the money for the agent and the board of education was a unit in wanting Mr. Clarke he could see no sufficient reason why Purdue should not take the chance of recommending him. Trustee Porter, of Carpenter township, spoke along the same line. Trustee Hammerton, of Union, said that he could see no other way except to abide by the ruling from Purdue. Superintendent Lamson said that if it was the policy to employ agents who had not had any experience he ■ would as soon have Mr. Clarke as any one, but that he thought Jasper county should have an agent who had had practical experience. The statements of Prof. Coleman that there was at this time a shortage of from ten to twepty-five county agents was discussed. It was Ulso related that in several counties where experienced agents are employed they are receiving more than $2,000 per year and that, in order to get an agent for $2,000 it is necessary to take one with no experience or one who has been employed some other place and for some reason cast off. 'Mr. Lamson said that it had been suggested to him that in order to hire a man of wider experience it would be a good idea to go out and try to raise SI,OOO more money by subscriptions, but it was not certain that thus could be done. Mr. Lamson asked if the secretary should be instructed to write to Purdue and urge that a man be sent here or recommended here at once. Trustee Wood said he thought the / matter was not very urgent and that we could afford to wait for Purdue to make a recommendation. Mr. Damson called upon several trustees for an expression but they generally declined to speak. Mr. Lamson said that he thought the public discussion had already made the task more difficult for any man who would oome in than would otherwuse have been the case and he inclined to the opinion that it would be difficult for Mr.'Clarke under the present conditions .to got over the ground smoothly. The Republican is of the opinion that there is nothing more wholesome to the public than a discussion of matters frankly with .the people and we do not think that a more shameful outrage was ever perpetrated in this county than the one that is now being put over. Whether Purdue m its “policy” or Prof. Coleman because he assumes the authority, or the influence of Mr. Lamson is behind the project it (is disgraceful, dishonest, contrary to every principal of government and opposed to the freedom of -—the people: - * - -=== Here is a strang parallel. The law says that county school