Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-25
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
CONTINUED from page 81

know this. that under the most
rigid economy and under the most
conservative management, Bowdoln
has been obliged every year OF late TO
appropriate more than it's income.
known it has some magnificent buili-
ings with no funds to run them l
know that it needs gymnasium, with
no money in sight for it. know that
everything which the distinguished
president of Bates College said with
eloouence and force to the committee
on education about the needs of that
institution, could be duplicated by the
representatives of Bowdoin College. 1
do know chat they need money. And
say that sometime, if the University OF
Maine is allowed to compete with the
other colleges in their field at the ex-
pense of the State, the time will come
when the other colleges will knock at
the door of the treasury of this State
and the door will be opened.
There is distinction between the
agricultural college of the East and The
agricultural college of the West. Agrl-
cultural colleges have been founded in
Western states where the institution
was the first institution in the state
representing higher education, no
other Institution teaching Latin and
Greek. 1t was perfectly proper in such
a case that the new institution should
give instruction in the classics at the
expense of the State. Here in Maine
the field of the classics was occupied
by three colleges already in existence;
and l submit again that it is not fair
for the University of Maine at the en-
pense of the State, and at the expense
of the other colleges in the State, to be
allowed to compete in their own field.
Now, | submit to the House that this
amendment is not an attack upon the
Univ crsity OF Maine. A day or two after
/ offered the amendment, | received a let
ter from a distinguished alumnus of the
University of Maine and one OF its loyal
friends. He wrote with great earnestness
about the great work which the universe
~ is doing and the need Of State aid, and
he said that in his Judgment one of the
best things that could happen to the uni
adopted. because he wanted the institution
to put stress upon it's technical and enSi-
neerinS courses. and wanted the instltu-
ton to he in the State of Maine what the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology is
in that commemorative: and he said that
il the institution gives the degree OF
Bachelor of Arts, it will have to raise it's
standard of admission, the boys will be
older when they so in, older when they
come out, older in getting to work. On
that account he thought it was objection
able that the institution should teach the
classics and give the degree of Bachelor
OF Arts. OF course | have no right to
speak for the University OF Maine here
bnt | understand, and ! think l may say
that | know that the trustees of the uni
versity were themselves in doubt as TO the
establishment of these courses. They diff
fcred about that. | am Informed that Offt-
GERS of the university are now not III Ia
vor of the continuance of those courses:
] may of course be wrong about that l
say, let the University OF Maine confine
herself to the tremendous field that be-
longs to her. that is growing every year,
and there will be no jealousy on the part
of the other colleges of the state, and no
demands from them on the State treasury.
Otherwise. we may have to pay $lGJD10 a
year instead of $4,000. to the four colleges
instead of to one. This amendment. II it
has any consequence at ALL is more I'M
portant as Il declaration of the education
al policy of the State than as merely iop-
ping off two minor courses in the currlcu-
lum of the university. IL the amendment
were Incorporated with the resolve ana
were not accepted by the university, the
State would save the amount OF the appro-
pIiation. If. as | hope 1t should be accept
ed by the university. the state would IN
directly save more than the amount of This
appropriations.
House any longer Perhaps | should not
have spoken so long AS Tom Reed said
about the matter of his nomination to the
Frequency, / prefer iiidl iiit WIZ III law u
of this amendment should be unanimous.
(Applause).
MIR. THOMPSON of Orono: Mr..
Sneaker, I do not intend to speak at
any length, but 1 only wish to say a
few words in reply to the gentleman
from Brunswick (Mr. Potter). He has
said that DR.. Harris came here in 1897
and said at that time that if the APP
preparation of $4,000 per year was
given to the University of Maine, they
would not come here again for any
more. If you will examine the reports
of DR.. Harris to the trustees you will
find that he put in a proviso to the eff
feet that from time to time they would
need more for new buildings. We
want the new building, and hence we
are living exactly up to the words of
DR.. Harris as given in the report of the
trustees.
Now the gentleman has proposed by
his amendment to exempt Latin and
Greek from the university. He has
enumerated to you several courses
which are open to the students, and he
has cited different studies which stu
dents may take at that institution.
Among others he has cited the phar-
marcy course and medicine. Now sub
nit. as far proposition. how can any
student prepare himself for medicine
and not understand Latin? How can
a person be a teacher and not under
stand Latin? In other words. the gem
tleman from Brunswick by his amend
ment proposes this-that no student
can accent the benefits of the United
States government and the State OF
Maine if he desires to take Latin and
Greek. In other words, they are fore
ed, absolutely forced. to go to another
institution, either Bowdoin. Colby or
Bates, TO get that Latin or Greek. NOW
1 submit that is not Il fair proposition.
I submit this as fair proposition, that
there is not a college in the United
States, today, that has accepted the
Morrill, act, and acting under it. that
does not teach Latin. l think it is true
that there are few colleges in the
New England states that have accepted
the Morrill, act that do not teach Greek,
but there are absolutely none that does
not teach Latin. Boston University, as
you all know, has accepted this, and it
teaches Latin and Greek both. Abso-
lutely al the colleges throughout the
Western states teach Latin and Greek