156 JOHN C. ALMACK
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, and parallels that of Oklahoma. There is scarcely a state where the normal schools have not had to struggle against obstacles similar to those they encountered in Oregon.
12. The activities of the normal adherents in politics made them implacable foes who resolved upon their elimination. Combined with these were those who from principle were against permitting state institutions to participate in legislative affairs.
13. The one-normal plan was favored in some quarters.
14. The opinion was held that there were sufficient oppor- tunities afforded by the state university, agricultural college, and the private schools, for the training of all the teachers necessary. This grew into the idea that the university and college should train all the teachers.
15. Poor certification laws, making it easy to get certifi- cates, and refusing to give normal graduates the right to teach without passing examinations under the state board.
16. Failure to adopt uniform and higher standards for admission, graduation and management.
17. Lack of the support of a strong organ of publicity. These were all contributing factors in the downfall of the
Oregon normals. The feeling against them in political circles had been gradually growing until it reached its climax in the senate action of 1909. Thereafter the issue was squarely be- fore the people.
THE NORMALS AND THE PEOPLE 1909-1919 The initiative petitions were circulated during the year 1910 and there seemed no difficulty in getting signers. Weston found two who refused to sign the petitions : the local Baptist and Methodist ministers. Charges were made in the Weston paper 49 that part of this opposition had its inspiration in Mc- Minnville, but the charges were hotly denied. A sufficient number of petitioners were soon secured, and the election was set for November, 1910.
49 "One man. gave as reason for refusing to sign the normal school petition that each normal is asking for the same amount while one may need more than another. His real reason is of sectarian origin, however, and is inspired from MicMinnville." Weston Leader, May 13, 1910.
