Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-02-16
oosDUcATloN.
Three Poihts for ths Considsrasioa o
Legislators.

There are three points in this controversy
over eo-education at the University, to which
Legislators should give heed. This is sub
Iect that will not down st the bidding Of mere
sophistry or legislative trickery, but will
have to be decided, sooner or later, on its
merits. Il is already big subject IN this
State and the elegislator had better look to has
votes, for his record on this question will be
Of importance to him. There are oyei four
thousand teachers in West Virginia who are
watching him; and it may not be aniss to
note, e, pdssdRt, that the last State con.
tention Of teachers voted solidly in favor Of
eo-education. -...-..
But the question is, what are the merits
Of this matter as presented to the leglsla'
ture, independent Of partissnship, prejudice
Or politics2
l. 1t is conceded by every fair man and
taxpayer, that since the State makes public
provision for educating the males, by every
principle of equity and justice it should also
provide for the females. The question then
resolves itself into one Of cost. Is it cheaper
to duplicate the University for females than
to educate both classes together at one In
stitutionl To ask the Question iseto an
swer It. We al know that the buildings
the faculty and all the machinery OF first
class University are all ready there and paid
for, and Just as we'll suited to educate fe-
males as males. 1t has cost money to es-
tablish the University and it costs money to
run it. Is it probable that the State will
ever be willing to pay the price of two such
institutional Is it not preposterous to sup
pose that the State will erect University
exclusively for females in the next twenty
Eve years2 Then is it not really q
question whether the State will
open its one University to
females or fatty refuse to provide for
them at all? We all know that it is this
University or nothing for the $4,000 young
ladies OF the State.
. Ny first proposition, therefore, Rbat al is
morally certain that the State 6''CerSity
riU sooner or ldtsr be opened 10 both
sexes-tkc sentiment Of the State THl com,
pei IL.
2. The second question for the Legisla-
ture to decide is, is it expedient to act on
this matter at this session? If the matter
goes over it must be POSTPONED for two years
at least. And let me say to Democratic
leaders that before two years this matter, If
undetermined, will assume proportions equal
to the tax assessment or liquor question, and
Republicans will make more capital out OF
it than either Of them.
Is there really any ground for postponing
it? 1t is claimed that there is no provision
for receiving ladies at the University. Sup
pose that to be 50. The Legislature will never
undertake itself to arrange these details
These must, now or at any time hereafter
that the Legislature acts, be committed to
the Board Of Regents. What objection,
therefore, can there be TO the Legislature
declaring by an act, at this session. that the
University shall be open to both sexes?
That leaves the matter in the hands of the
Board to determine what provision is
necessary. If they need money to do 1t
they must wait till the Legislature sppro-
PIRATES it. If no money is needed then
provision can be made Immediately and
this controversy about cost be settled. But
in either event nobody is going to send his
daughter there without provision being
made to receive and take care Of her. No
man is so careless Of his daughter as that.
The harangues that are being made about
the danger of opening the University to
ladies without making provision for them is
all arrant fustian. There will be no ladies
there till provision is made for them.
But what are the facts in the case-is
there no provision there, or possible to be
made by the Board without additional sp
propriations? If we take the evidence Of
those who have been On the ground and are
thoroughly posted, we must conclude that
the provisions are ample and complete
that they could not be made more so by any
appropriation the State might make-that
convenient ana appropriate building, de-
signed for the purpose of ladies' dormi-
tory, has been offered to the Board of Re
gents free Of charge-that the building is
owned by and its inmates would be under
the charge of one of the most accomplished
and worthy ladies of the State. All these
facts are vouched for by the representatives
in the Legislature who come from the seat
of the university, and they are youched for
by the Regents who are favorable to co-edu-
cation. Col. johnson, who was in attend
anee at the Legislature a few DAYS
| ago, and who is one OF the Regents,
and was also one of the committee of
Regents who consulted with Mrs.
| Moore. the owner of the ladies dormitory
in question, in regard to the use of it by the
State, declared openly and frequently and
emphatieally that the provision, as stated
above, was ample as could BE- made for
ladies without costing the State a cent.
Are these men boldly lying ABOUT thing of
this kini-or is it not reasonable to assume
that about so open matter as this they
would tell the truth, for policy sake, if they
had no higher motive?
Ny second proposition. therefore, is that
the Legislature can safely opea the Uni
rerSity 10 iddieS ROW and ledre the gaeS-
ton Of mGLjag precision for them TO the
Board Of Regents.
>. The only remaining question is wheth-
er blind and unreasonable, bitter preju-
dice on one side, shall be allowed to prevail
over the educational sentiment and iudg-
ment of the age on the other-Whether it is
best to respect the rantings of Mr.. Mason
and others about iree-love and wo-
| mems rights, or to take the views
and Judgment of 1000 teachers
in West Virginia whose experience quail.
fes them to Judge, and who are almost q
unit in favor of co-education-whether It is
better to psnder to the blind prejudice of q
few men than TO fall in with the eRlight-
ened sentiment of the age-for co-educa-
ton is the adopted, settled system of the
age. having the worm approval Of the most
distinguished educators of the world, aud
being in practical use in nearly every State
university in the United States.
Ny third proposition. therefore, is that
Legislators who are following the blind
, prejudice Of few men as against the high
est interests OF West Virginia, and her Uni-
versity, are not the men that this young
State will want hereafter to make her lava
or control her destiny.
Fam PLAY.
Il Fires
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