The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-05-30

dustrial University at UFbana, Champaign
county, and it was proposed that meohani-
al branch OF the University should be To-
,Ated at Chicago. The meeting was called
to ascertain whether there was sufficient
energy in Chicago to warrant the enterprise
The Government w.S impclled BY q motive
! TO benefit tie industrial classes and, in thil
view, also, the State Board proposed to es
tablish branch at Chicago. lis the labor
Of the industrious poor and the middle
classes that maintains the free institutions
OF this couStry Whatever has been done
( in other countries ought TO be, and can be,
done in this. In Berlin aud in Paris there
arc institutions Of this nature, but there are
none here. In Prussia and in Germany they
have superior mechanics. When they come
here they cannot give to their children the
education they receive in q monarchial gov
ernmerit The practical question now before
me neople Of Chicago is, will they have this
mechanical department located here? But
one answer can be given. Look at the lake
tunnel and the tunnel under the river. This
enrerprising people started out in a swamp.
Bv lever pow er, and money power, and brain
power, YOU witness Chicago ten feet in the
air-all by the skill and energy of your ar
chitects and mechanics. In city OF such
enterprise it need not be doubted that the
peorle will raise the necessary funds to com
mence this undertaking The Common
Council will wait 20 see If it is the will Of
the people before it makes an appropriation /;
but when it finds that the people desire il, 1t
viii donate the funds, and authorize the Le-
Vislature to construct and establish the pro-
posed school.
The speaker eloquently appealed to the
citizens Of Chicago, in behalf OF the poor
mechanics and the farmers sons Of Illinois
to do their utmost ID behalf Of the great en-
terprise.
Remarks were also made by Messrs.
Schlaeger and Clark, favoring the move
ment, after which a committee was APP
pointed to pres ent resolutions, expressive OF
&c sense Of the meeting, who reported the
following
Resolved, That the thanks of the people Of
Chicago are hereby rendered 20 tn c state board
Of the Illinois Industrial University for the Sc
lection Of Chicago for the mechanical depart
ment of said university, and requiring the loea-
lion Of that institution TO be as near as possible
TO the ceG5re of the city.
Resolved, That we fully appreciate the great
industrial classes, and tL. cause Of science and
education and We accept the act of the state
board with the pledge 70 do whatever ought TO
be expected of this city and county to establish
the same, with the expectation that the general
assembly of the state will make an adequate
provision tor its future wants.
Resolved, That tbs people Of Chicago will NOS
tolerate, under any pre-ext, any evasion OF the
direction Of the state board that the location
shall be near The centre Of the city, and they
expect location to be selected not exceeding
one-haf mile from the centre OF population, as
the SAFE shall be determined BY the census re-
turns.
Resolved, That this mechanical department
should not be attached TO, or in any way con
nected with any private corporation for litera
~ or educational objects that il should be in
dependent Of all sectarian influences, and its or
ganization and management should be such as
70 secure the object proposed in the act OF con-
gress, viz: the teaching of such branches OF
learning as are related to the mechanical arts,
Ia order 70 promote the liberal and practical
education of the industrial classes in the several
pursuits of life.
Resolved. That while the endowment c. this
institution should be made BY the state, the
common council ought, and are hereby request
ed to provide for q suitable site near the centre
VI the population, anu IOr the ereCIlOn u tue
college building, to be donated to the state, in
case suitable provision for its permanent sup
port shall be made BY the next general assem-
Div but, if no such provision shall be made by
the general assembly, in that case to be con
ducted as free polytechnic and mechanical
school, under the direction OF the board OF edu-
cation.
Resolved That "where there is will there
5 a way" and, If the common council desire 70
promote the noble object in view, they VIII find
that way.
Resolved, That T. W Baxter, P. W Gates,
r. T. Crane, L. B. Subway, j. Ii. Dow, Geo. G.
Clark w. Woodland, George Schneider
ard Charles Newland be and are hereby appoint
ed an executive committee to feI with the
common council or its committees, and with the
board of trustees OF the mechanical department
Of the State Industrial University, TO call public
meetings in all parts of the city, and to do such
other acts and take such proceedings az they may
de n necessary in the premises
p Owed That our thanks are due u the press
of the city for the amer in which they have
supported this movement, and they are earnest
" ested TO continue to advocate and sup
port the same.
The report was accepted. Remarks We're
then made by Messrs. Woodland, Bowen,
Holden and Wicker, after which the meeting
adjourned.