The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-22
ELABORATE OBSERVANCE OF
SCHOOLS 10TH ANNIVERSARY.
Judge ID. Il. Baldwin Makes n Plea for
State Support of All Colleges
Other Days Features.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.


During its life of seventy years Wabash
has had five presidents-Elihu Baldwin,
1S34-1s40 Charles White, 1S41-1S61; Joseph
f. futile, 1S62-1S92; George S. Burroughs.
lS92-lS9S, and w. p. Kane, who was in
augurated to the office three years ago.
Nearly thousand young men have been
graduated and many of them have held
notable positions. During the civil
Wabash sent 80 of its men to the front
to fight for The cause of a united country,
a record which is not equaled by any
college in the United States.
Chapel Hall was packed to the limit this
afternoon when the founders day pro-
gramme was presented. Gen. Lew Wallace
presided over the exercises. The principal
address was delivered by Judge d. p.
Baldwin, of Logansport.
Judge Baldwin's topic was 'The Small
College, Its Place and Its Claims" After
paying tribute to Wabash College and its
work. the judge said:
THE State of Indiana each year donates
100000 TO be used in collegiate education
classical scientific and technical. This
money Is not used for common or high
school purposes or for the training of
teachers but for the university education
OF both graduates from our high schools
can pass the preliminary examinations.
The state colleges have war to make on
our state universities. They fully recognize
their usefulness and their work. But they
insist that an equal sum should be donated
them by the State.
ITO state the grounds of this claim lit
tie more specifically; the state universe
students and have done this work well. The
eight state colleges have at the same time
graduated 5000 studnets and done their
work equally we'll Among the graduates of
D0tn schools are scores or men and women
of whom we are all proud. But the $500
state college graduates have cost the State
$1,000 each, while the 5000 nonstate college
graduates have not cost the State penny.
If 1T be urged that the two state universe
ties have magnificent building and equip
ment 10 show for the s.. 100000 given them
by the State, the answer is, that those
splendid properties are owned by private
corporations. IT is true that the State ex-
ercises certain control over them, but
even If the State should so order neither of
them could be moved from their respective
localities. To-day these two state UNIVERSE
ties furnish free tuition TO 1900 students,
and to do 1t the State donates 800 per capt.
Ia per annum, while the 1000 students in
the nonstate colleges do not cost the State
cent. The patrons of the nonstate col
leges. In addition TO paying tuition for each
student, $I5 a year, pay their quota of the
taxes levied by the State to make up the
free tuition given in the state universities.
This is both unequal and unjust and should
be remedied. The small colleges do not seek
to take away the 100000 so appropriated
each year, but to obtain an equal sum at
the hands of the State
1T Is no sufficient answer to justify this
inequality and injustice to say to the
patrons of the nonsrate school, Send your
children to the state colleges and get the
free tuition. If you do not il is your own
fault The fallacy of such an answer is
apparent. You cannot, with justice, compel
TO contribute to the education of BIS
children by Offering the same privileges to
that you tax him to support the schools
which BIS children attend A believer in
allopathy cannot. with justice, be taxed to
support homeopathy by making homeop-
athy free to all. The wretched argument
that the nonstate schools are sectarian and
therefore, entitled to no justice is too fool
ish TO require serious attention. No doubt
in the exercise of its sovereignty, the State
mas the power to do what IT has been SO
long doing, but this is the old argument of
might making right. AS the great Edmund
Burke once said, Justice is the great stand
ing policy OF every state and nation, and
what is unjust Is always impolitic' Equal
rights to all-special favors to none is the
only sound rule.
1.-The State has no money of its own. Ev-
cry dollar that it disburses must be raised
by taxation. There is neither sex nor sect
in taxation. The patrons of our small col
leges insist that the only sound basis for
the distribution of our state college charity
is to treat every institution exactly alike.
This can be done, but to do il different
basis than now prevails must be adopted.
The only question asked in apportioning
state aid to colleges and universities should
be how many students do you graduate
and what kind of work do you do? No mat
ter at what college the student graduated
whether Catholic or Protestant, il he or
she passes an examination up to a certain
high standard, that and that only should
be the basis OF state assistance. The grad
uate of Notre Dame, the State University
and De PAW should all stand, for this
purpose, upon the same footing. The great
State of New York practically adopts this
standard. 1t has no favorites. The only
question there asked when the aid to higher
education is sought, is-How many stu
dents have you and do they meet the re-
quirements of the regents examinations?
There Is a certain charm about a single
splendid university conducted al the State
expense that is hard to resist. 1t is so easy
when the State foots the bills and the
question of expense is eliminated, to splen-
d1dly conduct such a university where stu
dents flock by the thousands, attracted by
free tuition, famous teachers and great
numbers of pupils. The builders of our
State Constitution foresaw this and guarded
against 1t by confining state aid to our COM
mon schools. But this has been lost sight of
in making the common school include the
university under the plea of a cap sheaf.'
No one wishes to tear down or impair orr
two universities. The small colleges con-
tention is for the distribution to them of
sufficient sum, based upon actual attend
ance ana the quality of the work performed
in both classes of schools, and an applica-
ton of the great maxim, Equal rights to
all, special privileges to none
with its thousand million dollars of tax
ables this splendid State of Indiana could
remedy this inequality by an almost inn
perceptible increase of taxation Less than
one-third OF cent additional upon the
hundred would put our state treasury I'm a
condition to treat all our colleges alike in
this matter of state aid"
Much enthusiasm was created by the an
nouncement made by Judge Baldwin that
the Baldwin oratorical prize would be in
creased from $35 each year to $780, Thirty
years ago this prize was founded on q basis
of $500. Through the liberality of Hon
Simon Yandes. who contributed $780, and
the founder, who adds $780, the prize is
now endowed at $780, the interest upon
which will be awarded TO the winner of
the honor. Seventy-fve will be awarded
this year, to be increased as the rate of
interest increases until il reaches S1OO
Charles w. Moores, of Indianapolis de-
livered a eulogy on Caleb Mills, who was
for many years one of the pillars of the
institution. Professor Mills was chosen to
fill the English department and reached
here in 1888. He opened the school in De-
cember OF that year with twelve students
in attendance.
In the "reminiscences by Judge ]. M.
Cowan. the Oldest living alumnus, and TO-
seph Baldwin, son of the first president.
some splendid college stories OF other days;
were told. Music for the DAYS exercise
was furnished by the college glee club and
orchestra.