100 years ago: High schoolers to have student government

"The students of the Lawrence High School are to have student government through a Student Council. Last night at a meeting of the Board of Education a petition signed by practically all of the students of the school was presented to the Board.... Prof. F. H. Olney in explaining the plan stated that the students wanted first to take over athletics and other student activities as an experiment. The matter of discipline will not be vested in this Student Council for some time but later, if plans work out successfully, the students may take this over also.... The plan will be further discussed and completed at the next meeting of the High School faculty."

"A week from today the city ofLawrence will vote upon the commission plan of government. This is the most important election ever held in Lawrence. The plan proposed is hardly new any longer. It has been in successful operation for a number of years in many states. It is in successful operation in 35 cities of Kansas.... Lawrence has great need of this new system of government. Our present form of government has not been changed since it was adopted in 1856. The time is ripe to try out this modern form of government and no town is so good for the tryout as Lawrence. This town can show the good effects of the new rule. Lawrence should not fail to grasp this opportunity for advancement."

"Some time during the summer the people of Lawrence