The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-02
GIVE WOMEN A CHANCE.

GIVE WOMEN A CHANCE
Efforts made by the legislature in the
direction of genuine economy are worthy
of all commentator, but there is a false
as well as a true economy. Moderate
appropriations judiciOusly invested in
necessary buildings may net the tax
payers a return far greater than the
outlay.
The Kansas state agricultural college
asked two years ago for a domestic sci
ence hall. The appropriation was not
granted. Again the request is presented
and the matter is now pending.
The domestic science hall is designed
to accommodate the two departments
of cooking and sewing. These depart
ments have developed in response to
the demand for practical education for
young women. They are among the
Oldest departments of their class in the
country, the cooking department hav-
ing been established in 1873. Their rank
Is among the highest, graduates having
gone out from them to take charge of
similar work in established institutions
in the eight states of Rhode Island,
Maryland, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, North
Dakota, South Dakota and Utah.
Their needs are imperative, both de-
partments having wholly outgrown the
quarters in which the work is carried
on. Double the number for whom the
sewing rooms were planned now occu-
by them, while three and one-half
times as many young women are crowd
ed into the cooking department as the
rooms were originally designed to ac-
commOdate. Glasses that should work
separately are huddled together. Dress
eS must be fitted on in circumstances
that are constantly annoying. Cooking
lectures must be given on one floor
while the kitchen itself is on another,
thus making it almost impossible prop
early to combine theory and practice
Facilities which the regents could fur
nish must be declined from lack of
room. In a word, these two depart
ments have reached a point in their de-
velopment where relief must speedily
come or growth must stop, and students
must be turned away.
The agricultural college it will be re-
called, belongs to the class of1and-grant
colleges, provided for by the act of July
2, 1862. By the terms of this act the
state. accepting the Immigrant obligat-
ed itself to provide buildings in which
the work might be carried on. By the
act of February 3, 1863 the state of
Kansas accepted this condition. Can it
maintain good faith with the general
government and at the same time with
HUI DUIlulBSS lndC are essential to the
success of the work?
Everyone of the eight graduates
named has gone into a department far
better equipped than those of the pres
ent institution. Can Kansas afford
thus to fall behind in the race? Other
states are striving to tempt away the
head of the cooking department. She
has thus far resisted, hoping first to
see her department equal in equipment
with similar departments elsewhere
Can the state afford thus to lose her
best workers? While past legislatures
have appropriated funds for the special
education of young men, as in agricul-
ture, horticulture, mechanics and in the
university in the professions, the state,
it is said, has never allowed one cent
for the special education of the young
women of the college, their education
having been paid for out of funds from
the Immigrant. Should the state thus
discriminate against one sex?
Finally remembering that 1.-The wo-
man can throw out of the window as
FAST as the man can carry in at the
door," can be called a true economy
that in an institution established espec-
Tally to educate the agricultural and in
dustrfaI classes in the several pursuits
and professions of life. refuses to young
they seek in the arts of domestic econo-
my?
Apparently through lack of an ade-
quate presentation of the needs of these
departments, the house, in passing the
colleges general appropriation bill,
threw out the domestic science hall
The senate ways and means committee
has allowed this building, cutting out at
the same time the presidents residence
which the house had allowed. 1t would
seem that a moderate increase in the
college appropriation might certainly be
allowed by a farmers legislature to the
farmers college to give adequate faciI-
tiles for instruction in that most impor-
tant branch of a woman's education
domestic economy. The most exacting
life and one associated with the heaV-
lest burdens is often that of the wife
and daughter of the Kansas farmer.
Why should these important education
al advantages which will enlighten the