Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-06-07

wind instruments and instructors on
stringed instruments, and professors OF
veterinary science, all OF which is
laughable did it not bring the name of
this University into disrepute.
As to its boosted efficiency I will quote
on this point the editorial on the Univers-
ity in the School Journal edited and pub
lished by James Russell Trotter, the pres
emit efficient Republican State Superin-
tendent of Free Schools, who discusses
the University and shows what it's boast
ed efficiency means.
"The University,
it is said, will confer degree, partic-
ularly the degree of Doctor of Divinity,
as some persons in this State know, for
a song In our own State, which is ever
reluctant to be outdone by her sister
States, and is always eager to be in the
forefront, the time is soon coming, unless
all signs fail, when any degree from A. B.
to D. C. L. may be had for even less than
Is demanded by the aforementioned nor
NAL school. For more than a quarter of
century the president and faculty of
| the West Virginia University labored dill
gently, faithfully and conscientiously to
] build up that institution. Their honest
work was not apparent in large number
| of students ranging from the abecedarian
| to the graduate. That was not what they
| sought. But it was apparent in efficiency
| of instruction, thoroughness of training,
| and soundness of scholarship. The grad
yates were few in number, but in most
| cases they were characterized by thor
| ough preparation. Now in but little more
than year all is changed. Scholarship
| 1t would seem is no longer prerequisite
! for either instructor or student. For the
| former it is graduation OF attendance at
| Chicago University, for the latter it is a
| name whereby the grand total of students
| may be made to appear so many times
| larger than any previous year
Indeed the eagerness for students is
| so apparent that some facetious persons
aver that it Is the duty of certain mem
| bers of the faculty to count the people
| who pass in front of the University and
enroll them as students Many plans for
| increasing the enrolment have been
! adopted. During the last year a night
school was organized for the employees
| Of glass factory nearby, and these stu
| dents, though they were able to pursue
only the subjects taught in the elementary
| department of the public schools, were
| enrolled and counted in the catalogue as
| University students. In some depart
| ments of the school OF music no tuition
or fees of any kind are charged, and boys
| and girls of almost all ages and condi
| lions are awaiting themselves of the OPP
portunity to get some Knowledge of music
| at the expense of the State and they, too,
are counted as University students. Upon
| the ground that the attendance was in
| creasing rapidly, the Board of Regents
asked for an appropriation of $162. Goo the
! largest previous appropriation being $685.
| 600, and secured $97, coo. Whether that APP
preparation has been used wisely or has
been diverted from its original purpose
we do not care to discuss. Our main aim
is to show that the standard of scholar
ship is becoming lower and lower in the
frantic scramble for students"
The appropriations for the University
have been Quadrupled but the benefits
have not correspondingly increased.
Let us quote further the language of the
| distinguished editor of the School Jour
nal of West Virginia as to the Uhiver-
sity management:
Again, may we not be permitted to
question the propriety of expanding such
large amounts of money and of creating
deficit when there is serious opposition
at every session of the Legislature to the
ordinary appropriations for the Univers-
ity. We believe that there is nothing too
good for West Virginians We believe
that our young men and young women
should have all the benefits Of a Leland
Stanford or Chicago University, but we
must content ourselves with less until
there rises in our midst Stanford or a
Rockefeller to give us unlimited means"
The University was turned over to Re-
publican management widely increasing
in reputation and in character, with no in
ternecine difficulties of any kind. To-
day ii is a hotbed of disturbance and trou-
bic. The faculty accusing the President
of inefficiency and of exceeding his
powers and the President attempting TO
discharge a part of the faculty. Under
the present management it is openly
charged in every part of the State that
the students lists are practically padded,
that moneys appropriated by the Legis-
lature are practically diverted from their
| legitimate channels and turned in other
directions, that appropriations in almost
every case are exceeded, that debts are in
Cured beyond the allowance of the Leg
islature, that buildings which were to cost
one sum are costing largely more than
the amount named, and the efficiency of
the institution is by public expression
sadly hampered The present unsettled
and unhappy condition of the University
is sufficient answer to His Excellency's
optonistic statement.
In this connection allow me briefly to
call your attention to
The Governors Statement
that never were the institutions so cheap
ly and economically administered as they
are to-day. With all the emphasis of my
life, I deny the proposition and assert
that never in the history of the State were
the institutions so extravagantly man
aged as they are to-day. The Democratic
party is not on the defensive on this
proposition. 1t is progressively offensive
and demands resoiutely and earnestly the
reason for increased expenditure in every
institution in this State. Without in
crease on the part of inmates OF many
of the institutions the expenditures in
their management have vastly increased.
The Democratic party demands an ac-
count of Republican stewardship of these
institutions. Take any one of them that
you wish and make an honest comparison
of No., 10 NIT