The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1901-06-26
Col. Breckenridge on Consoli
dation.

IN the course of a two column edi-
torial in Thursdays Lexington Herald,
commenting Oh the action Of the Alum
nj Association in approving the con
solidation of Central University and
Centre College, Col. w. C. p. Breckin-
ridge, the principal spokesman for the
consoIidationtists. says in part:
But the people Of Rich
mond and Madison county do have some
jnstiee in the irritation and disap-
pointment which they feel at that pro-
vision in this agreement which prac-
tically unites Central University with
Centre College and makes Danville
the location of that institution. Ger
tain citizens of Madison county sub
scribed to the location fund, and Rich
mond was made the seat of the Univer-
sity because of this subscription. II
was not made by the county of Madison
or the city Of Richmond Many of the
donors are dead, possibly majority of
the donors are dead.
Part OF this subscription was never
collected, but the large part was.
More money has been invested in
grounds and buildings in the city Of
Richmond than was paid by the citi-
zens of Madison county. In The TWEEN
ty-seven years which the University
has been carried on perhaps million
of dollars have been expended in Madi-
son county by the faculty and students
of the University, and by visitors called
there because of the location of the in
stitution. 1t is said that some loo
youths of Madison county have ma
circulated and been trained in whole or
in part there; that nearly every mem
Der of the bar, most of the bankers,
business men and professional men in
Richmond have been students there.
These statements have been used for
two opposite arguments. One to DEM
onstrate that Madison county has no
cause of complaint by the removal of
the institution; because she has been
magni6cently compensated for the
money she gave; and it has been used
to demonstrate how tremendous is the
loss that Madison county will expert
ence, and how unjust it is to deprive
her Of these benefits, for which her
citizens paid.
In the articles of consolidation is a
provision that the campus and the
buildings upon the campus and an en-
dOwment of not less that $4,000 shall
be dedicated to a collegiate institute,
in which the curriculum taught shall
be such as to enable a graduating stu
dent to enter the junior class at Yale
or Harvard The donors and people OF
Madison county are not satisfied with
this arrangement. They say that they
are not willing to trust the new man.
agement, nor are they willing to accept
the school under that management as a
just compensation for the loss accru.
ing TO them.
Those who are charged with the re-
sponsible authority in the new corpor-
alton and those who have led the op,
position in Madison county are SO near
together that there ought to be some
amicable adjustment which would be
mutually satisfactory. Exactly what
this is we are not able to say. The
grounds and buildings are more than
sufficient for such an institution az
either side proposes to establish. The
amount expended in these buildings
and grounds was probably $50 600. II
has been proposed that the people o.
Madison county would raise a separate
endowment fund, TO be dedicated tC
the maintenance OF this institute; and
would ask that the management OF the
institute be assigned to persons 10 be
mutually agreed upon, majority o.
those persons to he donors or citizen:
residing in Madison county; and i
such an arrangement can be made al
claim for restitution of donations, will
be surrendered.
Madison is large and wealthy coun
ty. 1T can readily raise far more thar
an endowment necessary and proper tt
man and maintain such an Institution
The foundation for first-cIass insti
tute of the order. Of Lawrenceville, N
j., is there; and some amicabIe ar
arrangements ought to be made.
1t is but just to say that the conduc
of all the parties in the last meeting O
the Association was pleasant anC
courteous. Gov. McCreary, as Chair
man, ruled with impartiality. Man,
difficult questions of order arose. IL
met them with fairness and inielli
gence; and the Association accepted
all of his rulings without a single ap
peal and at the close passed unanimous
ly resolution of thanks. The debat
was very earnest. but entirely pleasant
The vote when reached was decisive
and accepted as final SO far as the Assc
citation is concerned.