The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-18


Your excellent editorial on university
extension. which appeared in last Sundays
Journal, is just and true. 1t gives several
reasons why university extension has not
attracted the laboring classes In this coup-
try as it has in England. 1t Is true. as the
article suggests. that our workingmen and
mechanics are better informed than those
in England. They read more widely, have
access to public libraries, and have the
benefits of our free schools. Yet these
agencies work both ways. While they sat-
isfy some people. and thus act against the
lectura coure, they create in the more earn
est a desire to take advantage of the OPP
portunity for thorough, systematic study,
which does not interfere with the neces-
sary struggle for existence.
OF more value in answering the question
is the suggestion that the lectures IN Eng
mems homes. That, however, Is much
harder to accomplish In this country than
in England. The better condition of the
laboring people in America enables them TO
live far less compactly than they DO in
England. Our workInRmen have homes
owned by themselves, or rented; II they
live in tenements. there are not so many
families crowded together. Thus course
of lectures in any locality would not draw
support from so many people as it would In
Another important factor TO be consid-
cred by those MANAGING such course of
lectures is the problem of paying the ex-
penses. Ii is fact that in England. where
the work is made especially attractive to
the laboring masses, no university extern
sion lecture course is self-sustaining. The
same difficulty has been experienced III
this country, where u center has been
found near the homes of the laboring peo-
pie in our large cities. In England the
ara a N rad hu NJ av,A
subscription. That is. a fund is pledged
which can he drawn upon as largely as Is
necessary to meet the expenses OF the
lectures. Then, the price Is made suffi-
GENTLY low to attract the poor In this
country efforts TO secure such support have
been unsuccessful
In this city ten women are responsible for
the expenses of the work. This center has
not always been self-sustaining. The MEM
bers of the Association OF Collegiate
Alumne residing in this city have paid the
deficit in the past Those residing in other
parts of the State now say to us. IF def
icIt occurs We will help you." The profess
sors of Indiana University, who have so
itself, have done much to help the cause.
The committee having the work in charge
here freely do all in their power but they
cannot assume greater risks than those they
have been taking. They are hoping. how
ever, that the spirit of the movements will
SO permeate this city that they will have
sufficient means. either from subscription
or from large patronage Of existing courses
tOenable them TO make tho lectures attract
i've to all classes OF people. s-serm
Perhaps this problem is harder to solve
In this country because We have no eris-
tOeracy. Tho lsborng class includes the
entire population. Every man feels that
he IS working man, az be is, and hence
reasons that he should not be expected
to give part of his wages for another work
inRman's improvement We are ell work
ing people in America. but we must beware
lest we use that fact as two.edged sword
1t should be used to cut down invidious
and unjust distinctions against certain
classes of laborers. but not to cut off the
helping hand that the more prosperous
should always extend to the less fort
innate.
With our ystem of society. in city like
Indianapolis. there is no propriety in hav-
ing lectures for wOrkingmen and women
alone. Our working people are all intelii-
gent, aud can be interested in any course
OF lectures and benefited by it. The less
Rsses to attend to be and
c0uragement will encourage only when it
comes from sympathetic feliow-working-
men. in which class belong the employ ers.
Some manufacturing companies in this
city have. In times past. offered their en-
ployes courses of free lectures, and the work.
men did not attend. This naturally leads
the employers Co feel that the men do n OF
care for such things. Probably there IS no
factory here In which there could be found
good-sized audience of the employ es who
are interested in lectures But If each en-
ployer would offer to give to any of his
men who cared to attend q ticket to q
course of lectures that he himself was en-
joying. number would be found glad to
accept: the number would increase, and
with it's growth would come decrease IN
the spirit of opposition and struggle be-
tween capital and labor.
AMELIA WARING PLATTER,
Secretary University Extension Committee.
INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. II.