The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-11-22

THE

The Great Falls Tribune takes
strong ground in favor of establishing
all the state schools at n place. One Of
the most convincing and eloquent argu-
ments in favor of consolidation a
made by the Cascade county senator,
the Hon. Paris Gibson, in a speech be-
fore the senate two years ago. The
people of Great Falls at that time
approved the stand of their representa-
tive and we are glad to see that the
Tribune voices the sentiment of that
progressive community on the question.
In a thoughtful discussion of the sub
ject, it says:
There would really seem to be no need
of an argument to prove the Importance,
the absolute necessity, indeed, of deciding
for consolidation. but it is a fact that the
enlightened friends of the university will
have to combat the organized opposition of
q lot of men who do not seem to be able to
see beyond the ends of their noses. Some
such men find their way into every leRisla-
ture, but we are thankful to say that we
believe they will be in a decided minority
III tAC oLhlI "a bhAo u
"Great Falls offers many advantages as
a location for a great institution of learn
ing. The sites it could present are unsur-
passed with its two magnificent rivers.
But the question of site must be made
subservient to the settlement and CONSOLE
dation of the university at one place, and
the Tribune believes that 1t would be better
if the petty ~rivalries of cities could not be
overcome to select a site on the public
lands far removed from any city now in
existence rather than permit these miser-
able and unworthy motives to cause the
division of the state university"
"Missoula. and perhaps other places also
possess advantages which cannot be ques-
toned, and Great Falls declares withou.
qualification that she would rather have the
state university on the Flathesd lake, down
on the Yellowstone. on Lake ST. Mary, or
in the Yellowstone park. and know that it
was to be a compact and creditable insti-
tuition than to secure two or more of ita
branche for location here with the con-
seriousness that the cause of higher educa-
tion in Montana was to be sacrificed by
scattering the others about the state"
1T might not be q bad idea for the legis-
lature to pass a resolution inviting three
prominent college presidents of the country
to come out and examine all the site.
offered with the understanding that thu
selection made by them should be adopted
by the state. and the university with all i'll
component parts finally located thereon
1t behooves the press of Montana to keeI
this subject before the people 80 that S
%bungling mistake may be avoided. Te
split the university up will cause the stat.
many years of humiliation and chagrin anG
an endless drain upon its treasury"
We observe that the Anaconda Stand
ard speaks of the argument for the con
solidation of the institutions as a Hell
ena scheme. Such is not the case. The
leader in the movement and it's strong
est champion was and is, Paris Gibson
A few citizens Of Helena happened t,
be IN accord with him, but in aver
community in the state, unless it be An
aconda, which is desperately trying t.
trade off the heritage of the people for
mess of pottage, there are thoughtful
men who have pride enough in the stat
to desire to give it a great university.
Why does this matter concern the Dec
pie of Helena particularly? Whethe
the schools are scattered from one en-
of this state to the other, or grouped il
one place Helena will not ask for, or ge
any Of them. She proposes to be tn
permanent capital of the state, and sh
Will knock out Anaconda two year
hence with as little effort as Grove
Cleveland knocked out Benjamin Har
rison. We do not know what cours
.Helena's representatives will take. PEI
haps IFS Helena will ask for, and get, tn
capital they will feel that the distribu
ton of state institutions should be le
TO the other counties. THE IND
PENDENT does not speak for them.
speaks for itself, and in the interest
what it believes to be the future We
fare of the state, and certainly in the IL
terest of the taxpayers thereof, it wi
oppose establishing four or five separat