The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-02-10
COMING TO THEIR SENSES.

silence on the part of the state press re-
garding the fight for the institutions of
learning. Almost alone The TRIBUNE
has stood AS the exponent of the con-
solicitation idea, and has worked faith
fully to enlist public interest, and to
%forewarn the people of the state of the
conspiracy that was on foot to rob them
OF one of their most precious treasures,
a great educational center.
At last, and before it is too late, the
Helena Herald comes forward nobly in
defense of the principles for which this
paper has been doing battle for several
months. 1t takes up the matter philos-
ophically in Il leading editorial and
says:
The debate on the organization of
our institutions of higher education
was resumed in the senate yesterday
and occupied several hours. The bill
under consideration was the one to es-
tablish the agricultural college and fix
its location at BoZeman. This %reopencd
the discussion on the general issue of
aggregation or segregation, and the re-
suit was the disastrous defeat of the
former policy. While we admit that
this question admits of discussion. We
regard the considerations in favor of con
solldation dis by far the more weighty
and We have reason to believe that this
view is entertained by a majority of the
senators. The explanation Of the vote
is that some Of them felt bound to rep
resent their respective localities instead
of dealing with the subject from a high
or standpoint.
The action of the senate presents
another feature which vi find more diff
ficult of explanation There were three
cities competing for the agricultural col
lege, and no doubt there are other that
would he glad to secure it. In locating
the institutions the state has something
toconfcr, and why should it not realize
something in return: For example.
Great Falls offered a site of 800 acres of
land and $4,000. What advantages
does BoZeman possess over Great Falls
that the former should have tho college
without any donation against the lib
eral proposition Of the latter! True.
Senator Hoffman said that the citizens
Of BoZeman lad it in contemplation 20
donate a site, but did not say what di-
mansions. and, indeed, did not say any
thing that would be binding upon him
or those forwhom he spoke. Under the
circumstances it was simply a business
proposition to accept the offer of Great
Falls; and w apprehend that those
members who cannot set up as an eX-
cuse some local advantage that they are
to secure for their constituencies in ie-
turn will find it rather a hard matter
to explain their votes.
There is a consideration relevant to
this matter that seems to have been over
looked, and may have been kept in the
background with a design. The time
within which the state was required to
accept the donations for the agricultural
college and experimental station has
elapsed, but this may be rcmedied 10y an
act of congress. In that event the state
will receive, in addition TO the grant of
land, a sun of money each year, but we
do not understand that such money will
be payable until the agricultural college
and experimental farm are in operation.
AS to the other institutions, the state
university, for example. their cndow-
ments consist wholly of land, and the
money that has been or can be realized
within the next two years would not be
sufficient to construct foundations, to
say nothing Of erecting and cquipping
proper buildings. 1t follows that moth
ing will be done within that time, or the
money TO provide accommodations must
be appropriated by the state.
The amount needed to answer the
needs Of all the proposed institutions
would not be less than 100000. When
the people Of the state find themselves
obliged to raise that sum by taxation, or
to cucumber their future revenues by
the issuance of bonds, they will be apt
to inquire in pretty clear tones why it
was that the Legislative assembly did not
accept the gifts that were freely offered
by cities perfectly eligible as sites in
every respect which would have been
ample to provide the plants and put
these several institutions in operation
without any burden TO taxpayers and
without incumbering their euduwnmet t..
the receipts from which will be needed
to defray their running expenses. In
the meantime it will be interesting to
watch the developments and sec how
soon the gentlemen who were afraid that
the state would be "mercenary' and
put up her educational institutions at
auction will begin to run a tunnel into
the state treasury.
Never was such an opportunity offered
in any state legislature for one or many
patriotic members to distinguish, nay, ia
immortalize themselves. In the senate
we have a cotcrie Of men lcagucd togcth.
er to do d dishonorablc thing; to ignore
the business interests Of the state. Men
who ignore for selfish and questionable
reasons, one Of the crandest proposals
for a states material and intellectual ud'
vantage, that was ever made; men who
are not ashamed to go on record as the
declared enemies of the commonwealth
The house will not permit these mcu
to carry out their miserable scheme
The house is the bulwark OF the states
hopes in this affair, and we believe that
the conspiracy will be downed there as
it deserves. An appeal is made to Rep
resentatives rallant, Lewis and Becchel
to muster the full strength of the ~consoli