The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-09
Northwestern Normal Is Form
ally Launched.
BARNES BUSINESS TALK
Institution Justifying Action
Creating It.


drizzlingrain which threatened to mar
the dedicatory exercises Of the Nortnwes-
tern Normal, but by noon the rain had
ceased and at O'Clock, when Governor
Rarnes and party of invited guests ar
rived. the sun shone forth, permealng
the chilly atmosphere with its senial
warmth and filling the hearts Of Alva's
citizens with Joy and gladness. The deol-
catorv exercises were held in the magnifi-
cent assembly hall and consisted OF a
literary and musical program oy the
members Of the Occident and Orient soci-
cites, all under the direction or Prof..
Albert Snowden
These exercises were followed py Dan
ouet. with the usual accompanying toasts
II. X. Bickford presided as POSTMASTER
introducing. J. D. Share to deliver the ad-
dress Of welcome, which was responded
10 bv Governor Barnes. The toast 'Ine
Board Of Education" was responded 10
bv Major D. D. Leach; What or the
Future?" by Claud McCrory; 'Educa-
tional Influences" by Frank H Greer;
.Our Navy and its Achievements" by
Hon. r. A. Cameron; New Duties" by
Hon. J. c. Strang; Locating the North
western. by George w. Vickers; Texas
and Oklahoma" by T. p. Alexander;
The Fifth Assembly" by Hon. j. P.
Candy: when I Came to Alva," by John
Davis
Governor Barnes reply to the address
of welcome was as follows:
Words fail to express my deep appre-
citation Of the honor you do me in the
rich treat accorded us this afternoon and
tonight. The words OF welcome and
commentator you have uttered fill my
heart with grateful thanks.
when l sanctioned the contract and
the plans for the erection Of this mag
nifcent and commodious school building,
I thought l realized the great benefits
that would come to the youth of our ter
ritory in the years following its compile
don. When l participated in the cere-
monies attendant upon the laying of the
cornerstone it seemed TO me that per-
haps it would be some years before its
capacity would be tested by actual atten-
dance Of students, and I felt, as l said
at that time that we should exercise
some charity towards those who honestly
criticised US upon the ground that we
were providing for more room than was
at present necessary, and would abide in
the hope that but a few years and their
doubts would be disDelled; and one year
ago when / visited you with a few mem
oers Of the legislature and examined with
them and their guests the beautiful
structure, then almost completed, and
each and all Of them who had the manii-
ness, the nerve, the sincere desire to
know the truth. to come and personally
inspect. pronounced it good work true
work and that the territory had here
value received for every dollar expended
value received for every dollar of in
debtedness created; and when / saw your
more than 200 bright and earnest pupils
crowded into the little chapel and church
down the street, felt sure that no mis-
take had been made except by those who
wantonly and inconsiderately criticised
our work as an outrage and a steal. And
today as l looked into the happy faces Of
572 young men and young women stu
dents and noted the enthusiasm and
earnestness Of purpose which character
ICES your worthy president and his able
faculty and the zeal and industry of the
scholars, and looked about me at the
timely finished appointments and 9ppur-
tenances and furniture Of your school. I
could not but feel a glow of pride and
satisfaction In my heart that 1 cannot
lind words to express; and as I witness
the happiness and qualification III the
countrnances Of this great assemblage
Of ladies and gentlemen who have done
so much TO promote the cause Of educa-
ton in your midst: who have done so
much to make life worth living in the
short-gTass country I congratulate ny
SELF as well as the members of the board
OF education. the people of the strip
country. the people of the west side, and
indeed the people Of the whole terri
tory, that the results of our action and
our labors amply demonstrate the neces-
sity for every inch of space provided. ana
prove beyond the peradventure Of a
doubt the wisdom and good faith OF each
and every person who helped to secure
the accomplishment OF this great pur-
pose.
who doubts II now? Who disputes it
today? Who denies the righteousness of
your cause and the honesty. the sound
judgment the wisdom, of every step
leading w to this grand contamination?
l venture the answer Tor every honest
citizen who has ever taken the trouble
to investigate sincerely, You're right
there is none to dispute and for every
honest citizen who has inspected the ns-
lshed product Of your energy and toll:
Not dollar was wasted or misapolied.'
Count the interest on the money expended
and the debt created here, count the ex-
pense Of the faculty and the heating.
lighting and insurance. all the expenses
Of maintaining this grand and benefcent
educational institution. and the expense
per xaDita Of enrolled attendants is less
than that OF any like or I should say
any similar institution in the territory.
And let It stand 10 the everlasting
credit and glory OF the legislature that
provided for its support and maintenance
equally with the other territorial institu-
tons ot learning Even Il they ala do Il
reluctantly. even II they did hesitate.
and in a way for a partisan political pur-
pose dec are that it was both unnecessary
and Cnlawfu}, let IL stand 10 the eternal
honor of the assembly that II finally
recognized the business Of your demand
and made liberal provision for the main
tenance Of your school Without that
you could not have demonstrated the
necessity or the wisdom Of this establish
ment; with Il you have proven both be.
ycnd reasonable cavn or dispute No
citizen with breadth Of wisdom sufficient
10 comprehend the welfare Of his fellow
man beyond the city limits Of his home
town can. II he be fair and honorable.
hold opinion against these accomplished