Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-05-30
REFoRMING THE STATE UNIVERSITY


There are two methods Of advocating re-
forms in public institution.
a. The one Is 10 search out all its I'M
perfectious, carefully conceal whatever may
be good in it, aud then enter upon whole
sale and uncompromising dcnunciatiou Of
the institution without ever advancing a
single suggestion a. 20 how It NAV be- I'M
proved
This is the method that has been pursued
by the Republican press toward the Uniycr-
sttv. Its sole aim and end is party capital.
1t ha, no genuine interest in the Cniyrrsj-
ty. It j. neither seeking nor suggesting
any measures o! reform. It would not
hesitate one moment to destroy thi, or any
of the public institutions outright, if there
by it would advance its party interests.
(2.l The other method of reform is that
winch is prompted by a sincere desire for
the prosperity Of the institution. Ii is will
ing to admit any imperiections and wroags
that may exist and Is unwilling tia; these
should be concealed; hut at the same time
it is more concerned about the remedy than
the wrong and Is not less forward in sug-
costing and advocating the remedy than in
advertising the wrong. In other words, its
aim is to build up rather than TO pull down.
The REGISTER has never hesitated to crit
icise the University or any other State in
stitution when there has been occasion for
it. We viii not become the apolU3ist for
maLadministratiOu anywhere nor will We
ssist in cOnceahng any evils that might be
corrected in a public institution; butwe arr.
in the habit of putting the wrou- and the
remedy side By side
In the case Of the University We have
heretofore pointed out tha, its lack Of pat
ronage is in large measure seltimpoSed.
1t voluntarily closes its doors against one
half the youth OF the State. The yoaug
ladies Of West Virginia are not invited, and
they do not 90 because they are no; invited
Yet it would be DIFFICULT for the Faculty or
Board of Regents To show bv wha, authority
they are excluded We maintain that tn"
University Is as much the properly Of IA"
taxpayers who have daughters TO educate a>
Of taxpayers who have sons. There is no
single word or letter Of the law that can he
construed into a purpose, cypress or implied.
to exclude females from jhc University;
and we maintain further that the Board Of
Regents Is not only acting against public
policy but in violation Of their duties under
the law. in excluding or failing to make
provision foo the Young ladies.
This very question was decided nv Phil
adelphia court, few days ago, On the ap-
plieatiou Of q lady for admission 10 practice
a. an attorney. Judge Thaycr in cnn,id-
ering the application. declared thu, sine,
women were not excluded from the bar by
act Of Assembly, either hy cNpy,, words o.,
By necessary implication, the question @.
woman's admission to practice ~ al a
torney rested in the judicial discretion. III.
found no statute or custom standing in tbs"
way. regarding as had logic the argnmcn;
that because thing had never been 1t
!. never could &c.
} TIE applicant was before the court with
a dipl1ma of the University Of Pennsylvania
certifying that she had won from that old
ard honorable institEtion the degree Of
IatehclOF If laws. In this very fact the
court recognized marked change in the
tOmper Of society, and asked whether the
.orF,s we're 70 make no note ofthese things
'and he rights which have grOTn out of
fhtn,. az are We 20 ser ourselves to the vain