Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-02-06
BIacksriue, ". "a, Feb. 3.
GREAT EXCITEMENT AT MORGAN
TOWN.
"University Force Bill The University
May sim Survive, Even a Change of Policy.

"UniVersity Force Bill The University
MAY sim Survive, Even a Change of Policy.
To he Editor Of NJ Register:
SIR-In the REGISTER of February B,
your MOrgantOwn correspondent would
have you understand that both students
and citizens here are in high state OF
excitement over the bill introduced In
the Legislature. by which all students
are required TO serve two years IN the
military department, and their supplies
of books and stationery are cut of.
In point of fact there are two sides TO
this question, which are being discussed
in Morgantown, as elsewhere. and we
are not all wrought up to the frenzied
state Of your correspondent. One little
man has, indeed, exerted himself TO
arouse what he regards as a proper de-
gree of Indignation among the students,
and has Solemnly taken various MEM
bers OF the Faculty into his confidence,
but as il has really amounted
10 nothing so far, your correspondent
must have had an eye single to that
young agitator and his efforts.
The Legislature can have no earthly,
heavenly or political reason for not de-
string the very best policy TO be pursued
with the University, for II our legiSla-
tors are destitute of State pride and in
different 10 State prosperity and devel-
Opment-and we think West Virginians
too sensible 10 elect that sort OF a Legs
lature-Still they would wish TO leave a
record that would bear the light of the
next political campaign.
This bill may not seem such an out
rageous measure, il we bring common
sense to bear on il, lay aside ambition to
discover a sensation and put behind Us
the unworthy motives that lead ms to
oppose everything advocated by a man
not personally agreeable 10 Us.
In regard to furnishing books and
stationary to cadets, have searched the
records in vain TO find another
State Institution equally generous with
this one i'm West Virginia. Surely the
young men of our State have no need OF
greater Inducements to lead them to
seek an education than are offered in
other States.
Instead OF allowing students 10 enter
free in proportion TO county population,
as this State does, some other States
issue scholarships; but these entitle the
student 10 free tuition, and not to books
and stationary. As TO the "Small cX-
penSe TO the State" it is true, il is not
large, yet the last biennial report OF the
Board of Regents accounts for 81, $50
expended for cadet books, and II this
sum can be expended in u way more ad-
yantagoOuS, no friend of the institution
should object.
As to compelling all the able-bodied
students To join the cadet corps" in the
majority OF State institutions two years
NJ least of military training have been
made obligatory. While this policy has
not been considered advisable in all
States, il has been adopted in so many
that il seems scarcely creditablc that
the mention OF il in connection with
our own school should throw any one
into the spasms with which your CORE
spondent seems TO be wrestling. Is II
true that the young men OF our Noun
tain State are more delicate-leSS able
10 undergo the "drudgery' of military
training than those of our sister States?
II il bc 50. let us take the Sl,555 eX-
pended in books and stationery and
round gymnasium where attendance
shall also be obligatory.
Ia regard To this bill being admirably
framed for building up the schools ''Of
our neighbOring States" we scarcely
think il can serve that purpose.
If our Young men enter either the
schools OF Pennsylvania or Ohio, they
will pay not only for their books and
Stationery-aS the young men of those
States themselves debut they will pay
their tuition as well. Besides, we have
faith i'm the sound sense OF our young
men, we believe them to have as much
ability and 10 be as independent rs are
those i'm any other State, and we do not
believe them deficient in State loyalty,
or afraid to meet the same difficulties
that encounter other men. As for the
present arrangement making The poor
mans son the equal of the rich mans
son while they are in the University, y
IL will be difficult to make us under
stand how that state OF affairs can pos
sibly be altered by all students becOm-
ing cadets.
The University is indeed prOSpering,
but we need but to look at examples all
about US to see that by the infusion Of
newer ideas IL will prosper more. II Is
well to abandon even good policy for
better one, and the methods OF State
institution should not be Settled-your
correspondent to the contrary notwith-
standing until they are settled into
the proper grooves. II all universities
had been governed by the outward
fever and inward trembling with which
your correspondent contemplates a
changed policy, we would have had no
middle ages, for we should never have
gone beyond them. JIM
lioVaRto,rn, February I.