The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-13
AGAINST NORTHERN IDEAS
TEXAS LEGISLATOR VII iNVFS.
1iGATE STATE uNlvE RSiTY.
Pref. tiouston's ieachings in PoIitic Il
Economy Obi ctej to and Or.
Winston Crit cised.
New York SUM

Austin, Tex, June 10.-After a fiery
debate lasting three hours to-day the
House of Representatives in the Texas
Legislature adopted the resolution to
have IA committee appointed to invest
gate the charge that there were Northern
professors occupying chairs in the State
University who were teaching Republi-
can principles and ridiculing the tradi-
tions of the Lost Cause" The storm
that has so suddenly burst over the Uni
versity faculty has been brewing for three
months or more, and on several occasions
came close to row during the regular
session which adjourned three weeks
ago.
The School Text Book bill debate gave
an opportunity for the expression Of
some sharp sentiments on the character
of education in the Texas public schools
and for students in the higher educa-
tional Institutions of the State. A bill
was passed providing that the books to
he used in the future shall not only be
printed in Texas. but shall haXe Texas
authors On the first day of the regular
session II great crowd turned out to wit
ness the beginning of the twenty-ffth
Legislature. Seated in the galleries were
several hundred students from the State
University, whose special mission seemed
to be to applaud every reference to their
institution. Before the day was over the
members took the cue, and failing to get
applause any other way, would raise
their arms and with their eyes rolling
would make some illusion to the States
pride. Then the galleries would break
forth in cheers
Later the charge was made that the
friends of the university had made
themselves obnoxious by lobbying for an
extra large appropriation, some members
going so far as to say that matter had
progressed to the point of becoming a
question as to which should rule, the
State or the university. At the very
outset of the special session this explO-
sive subject blazed up anew. Charges
of fraud in connection with the passage
of the text book bill led to discussion of
the entire educational question again,
and the university war was fercer than
ever.
The man aimed at in the resolution a.
dopted to-day by the House is Prof.
Houston. who teachers political economy.
Prof Houston is the author of work
on this subject, in which it is charged
by some that he advances ideas not in
sympathy with the spirit and interest of
Southern institutions. President Win
ston also comes in for a share of blame,
and to bear out that charge the follow
ing words of his delivered at an address
before an alumni banquet at Dallas in
March, have been quoted against him:
"The Constitution of our State seems
L l. E IL Z. r
is a series of don'ts. 1t is a sort of COM
bination of the Democratic idea of ev
erybody doing what he pleases without
interference from anybody, and the old
arpet-bagger idea that the State should
be protected from plumber by its public
servants. And the results is that we
have Constitution, and we have ma
chinery of government in Texas which
is the most remarkable obstruction to
progress that probably exists anywhere"
This language coming from the head
of the State University, leaves no doubt
that his words will have considerable eff
feet upon the students under his care
and training. In the regular session of
the Legislature Dibrell uttered warm
ing and said the university was fast
drifting into politics. He deplored that,
and plainly told his colleagues that the
downfall of the university would follow
if conditions were not changed. One of
the bitterest debates in the history of the
Texas Legislature is almost unavoidable
when the special committees report
reaches the House. There are rumors
of contemplated designations from the
faculty of the State University
Bailey Brothers "OLD BOB" To-
haccn for Sa la hv all dea lars