The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-08
FOR BIC COLLEGE.
Topeka University is Little
Short of Realization.
Plan to Include the Kansas Med
ical College.
THE CHRISMAN MONEY.
Decision Sustaining the Will
Opens the Way.
DIR. Embree, the Executor, Tells
What Must Be Done.

It is the hope of the Methodists OF
Topeka that a university may be found
ed here, under the provisions of the will
of the late Eliza Chrisman, that viii in
a few years include the higher branches
of a university course. all of which al
present are not included in the work
Of any Kansas educational institution.
The plan that has been suggested by
Harrison Clarkson. one of the members
of the church who is taking an active
interest in the university, is that the
university be chartered and that it in
clude smaller educational institutions Of
special work. The plan is for the Meth
odist university to foster and finance
the Kansas Medical college, the Topeka
Homeopathic school, Topeka Art school
and similar institutions. It has been
suggested to the lawyers of Topeka that
a law school be started. A theological
seminary, a polytechnic institute, a col
lege of dentistry and other depart
n ents could be founded. that by the
time the Chrisman estate is disposed OF
and funds are available could be in
cluded in the university.
The provisions of the will made by
Mrs Chrisnan is that unless an amount
equal to that left by her be raised for
the university, that her bequest shall
go to Baker university at Baldwin DR..
A. S. Embree, the active executor named
in the will, has consulted with a wealthy
and who wishes to assist some inSti-
tutions to the extent, perhaps, of S100.-
coo. 1t is believed that he will be will
ing to donate at seast S60.0OO of the
amount necessary to be raised to equal
Mrs. Chrisman's bequest.
The Methodists of Kansas have a val
liable charter granted by the territory
of Kansas allowing a Kansas Methodist
educational society many privileges
Among other features of the charter is
the right to own property without its
being liable TO taxation. Acting under
this charter the Methodist university
could manage and control many smaller
institutions.
Mr.. Clarkson said this morning. "Of
course all that has been suggested IS
in the way of possibilities. Nothing has
been done nor can anything be definite
ly decided upon at this time. 1t Is pos
sible under the viii made by Mrs. Chris
man to found university IN Topeka
which viii assume the proportions OF a
university proper and include the high
er branches. There are more Method
lists in Kansas than any other denoml-
nation, yet we do not have the educa-
tional institutions that we should have.
Baker university, at Baldwin, can
never be more than it is now. The
| place for a large university is in To-
! peka To have this an amount equal to
that left by Mrs. Chrisman must be
secured but there is no doubt but that
I that amount can be raised. The plan
! of making the Kansas Medical college
/ a part of the university course has been
suggested to the physicians interested
/ in that institution. The college now has
a building of its own. The plan might
be to have the medical college an inte-
gral part of the university and have the
I diplomas issued by the university. A
! medical college needs building near
/ the center of town and hospital and dis
| pensary facilities. These the university
/ could provide in time.
THE Homeopathic school might be in
-1-- nd dc orafn ~
! theological and art schools be included
| Another feature that seems proper
| would be a polytechnic school of large
/ proportions These are suggestions only.
| 1t will take tine to do all this. but
| there is no reason why in ten years we
| might not have a university in Topeka
| larger than Washburn college and that
| would in no way injure Washburn but
/ would help that Institution. It would
/ make Topeka more of a college town.
The decision by Judge Hazen settles
the matter of the validity of the Chris
| man will The introduction of two wills
| made three and ten years before which
| We're nearly identical with her last will
| settles the matter. Dr.. A. S. Embree.
| the executor, will now dispose Of the
property and make the funds available.
| 1t is impossible to tell what the estate
| will amount to- Mrs Chrisman owned
| a large amount of land in Ohio. What
it will bring when sold can not be esti-
mated. It is safe to say that the estate
| will be worth more than 5000 000
/ DR.. Embree, the executor, said this
| morning: The result of the action to
set aside the viii Of the late Eliza
/ Chrisman is not surprising to any one
| who was admitted to terms of even or
! binary intimacy with that most es-
| Unable woman. PhilanthrOpic Of spirit
! by nature and practice it was her Gus
/ tom to seek information from every
! possible quarter in order that her
means might be used for the greatest
I good. In this way her intents and pur-
I hRP9 known q wide Cirrla n
friends years before I had the honor
of her acquaintance. and her will is
not only an expression of her desires
/ but in all its main features is exactly
! what she was advised and encouraged
! to do by those whose moral interest
| and financial ability seemed to entitle
| them to confidence
/ Thoroughly converted in early life
| and a Methodist by choice it is easy to
[ understand how her benevolent disposi-
| ton would avail itself of the various
| helpful agencies of that denomination
! Missionary in spirit, perhaps there is
not a corner of the globe without it's
! monument to her hberality. Born in
Ohio and a resident of that state for
many years it was but natural that she
should leave its principal educational
institution a handsome sum.
BY adoption a kansan and for many
years citizen of Topeka it followed
almost as a matter of course that she
| would leave it at least the possi ibiiit L )
of profting by the bulk of her for
tune. In this she was both generous
and far-sighted. Mere gifts have not
proven advisable. usually demoralizing
rather than profting those whom it
was proposed to help Whatever the
residue of her estate may be. an equal
/ amount must be forthcoming or Topeka
| will lose all, and this is the problem be-
fore US. An estimate of the value Of
the estate is out of the question at this
time, as It consists entirely of realty
unappraised This however I believe
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