The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-02-26
TO CHANGE ITS NAME.
BOgton Alumni of Maine State College
Advocate "University of Name
Efforts to Secure State Appro.
priation to Be Continued.
President Harris Work Warmly Commended
by Speakers

! Boston Feb. 26.-The annual banoue,
Of the Boston alumni Of Maine State col.
lese was held at the Parker House last
night. and was largely attended The
leading vein of all the speeches was ia
change the name of the college to the
University of Maine. A delegation of the
faculty was present. 1t was urged that
the efforts TO secure an appropriation
from the Maine legislature be continued
with redoubled vlgor
President l.. G.. SouthGrd rs. of the
association. congratulated the members
OF the alumni ON the great interest
shown at the meeting and its object.
He spoke of popular education as the
means of extending to the poor what
had hitherto only been afforded TO
the rich. I'VE hear there is trouble in
Maine over the appropriation for alma
mater. The question which is agitating
tho state is. Shall Maine give to her
young men such education as they are
unable to obtain? The Maine State col
lege is not the child of Maine, but of the
United States" In closing. Mr.. South
ard paid a warm tribute to President
Harris of the college.
s. w. Bates Of Portland. president OF
the Western Maine Alumni association.
said that there was tremendous storm
In Maine over this question. Some
critics say that the college does not turn
out farmers, and that il is run outside
OF the state; that it IL operating in oppo-
sition to the state. and that il educates
lie young men and then sends them
away. All these statements are mae
curate, and should not be seriously con-
sidcred. The fight can result in but one
way. for it cannot be possible that with
a state endowment the legislature will
take retrogade action.
c. s. Bickford, 'S2. Of Belfast, president
of the General association, said that he
hoped he should not attend any more re-
unions OF the Maine State college, but
that next year the almunI would be that
of the University of Maine.
Judge T.. F.. Danforth. IT, Of Show
hogan. said that there was no question
hut that the good sense and calm judg-
ment of the people of the state will
support the institution, and that, al
though the appropriation may he cut
down, the college will go on. The name
OF the college is n misnomer; it should
be the University Of Maine.
Secretary r. X. Jones read a number
of letters from prominent members OF
the alumni including Attorney General
Haincs of Maine urging concerted ac-
ton In the interest of the college.
Professor G.. II. Hamlin. '73, of the COL |
Iege. commended the pluck Of President |
Harris in advocating the change of the |
name of the college. and standing up
against the strong combination of the |
other colleges. He spoke especially OF |
tI.a ntv,tl Il n
Is usefulness.
w. r. Howard, 'S2, Of Belfast, made
an eloquent plea for the support OF col
iege athletics by the alumni. while Cap
tain Sawyer. '9S. responded for the foot
ball team.
President Harris arrived shortly after
10 o'clock, and was greeted with the COL
.6 Sc cheer. He also received a warm
reception when he arose to speak lie
said that the agitation In behalf Of the
State college had been a great adver-
tisement for the institution. The report
Of the committee of the council although
seemingly adverse, was, in reality, very
much I'm favor o fthe college, as il showed
plainly its facilities, and everyone will
know before the fight is over what the
college ought to be. Although the re-
port was personal in its character il
closes with the question. 1T now re-
mains TO be seen whether Maine shall |
found n university OF the broadest char
acter."
President Harris said THAI In formu-
lating his case in favor of the college,
ne went over the statistics of all the
other states Of the Union, with the re-
suit that he found that Maine does not
stand with the states which are pro-
gressive and rich in college facilities, but
with the Southern states, a the very end |
OF the list
Il have made this fight, ne said, mot |
for the State college, but for the whole
state: for the boys and girls and for the /
future prosperity of our Institutions of |
learning. and this Is the main issue In /
the fight.
THE chief reason for the change i'm thu /
narle Of tbs college was In the statistics.
II was also in the fact that the law does |
not allow the college to be run as an /
agricultural institution, but for oil /
branches OF learning. The prospects for |
SUCCESS In the fight are still uncertain. |
but l can say that the committee Will |
rerort compromised measure tomor- |
row. which Is better than the one tirst |
proposed.
"The committee favor tax Of -12 mil, /
for IL years, instead of $50. 900, and this |
amount is about the "a me-"