The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-01-20

ANOTHER TREASURY RAID.


University of Tennessee. have crgan-
lied a Legislative Committee, - of
which one Mr.. P. P. Caxton. of Knox
vile, is Chairman. We are not fully
advised as to the general duties and
responsibilities of the aforesaid com
mittee but have reason to believe
that their strenucsity at this particular
time IS being directed towards lobby
ing a certain bill for the special henetit
OF the University of Tennessee
through the present legislature.
The bard who said there's nothing
in a name, was talking through his
hat. If there was nothing IN name,
what would have become of the Uni
versity Of Tennessee. long years ago?
How would it ever have secured the
valuable grants from the Federal gov
eminent 1t has en- joyed ever since it
was named. but for its name? How
would 1t continue to rake In the in
teIest on Federal funds, hut for its
name? And what would excuse this
institution, situated in the far eastern
corner OF the Republican division of
the State, for asking further graft
from the State at large. but It's name?
One meaning of the word 'Universl.
tv." lisa society or corporation capable
OF acquiring property In that sense
the University of Tennessee is mag
nitcent University. 1t has acquired
Very valuable and very beautiful prop
erty, and it has not lost as yet the ac-
curing effort. But SO far as it being
of actual use and benefit to the children
of the State, in any general OF large
way, we desire to be sighted. or the
hundreds of thousands of children in
Tennessee, does one in thousand
ever zee inside the grounds of the
University OF Tennessee? And should
one hundred thousand dollars of the
general taxes. collected from all over
the state, be diverted from general
use by the many to the special use of
one In thousand?
Comparatively few thing are wrong
per SO, but however good thing
may be, it may be abused to the ex-
tent of becoming a public evil. And
that is the danger pubic school edu'
cation IS in IN this State.
The original idea was to Civ IL
the children of the State a chance to
study the rudimentary branches. And
that IS the correct idea. Universal,
not University education. We do not
care how much money the Legislature
expends on education, it 1t spends it
wisely. We should be glad to see the
budget made large enough to provide
for longer terms ana mole experienced
and proficient teachers. We should be
q lad to see every child IN the State
given, at the expense of the State, a
common school education. But the
idea of providing for them a UNI
versity course. is an abuse of good
thing and waste of the peoples
money.
No legislation should be made for
lust what few can or will accept. !
All legislation should be directed for
the benefit of the masses. And instead
of providing University course for
few it would be much wiser to give
! the elementary branches to the many.
The circular letter to which we have
referred. says, speaking of the UNI
verslty and the appropriation asked,
''funds to enable them to begin to
make it real university; worthy
head of tie public school system of
the State. A modern state
university should emDody in itself
complete and fully equipped schools of
liberal arts, pure science, and tech
nology. This is our ideal for the
University of Tennessee. -
The very statement Of the case, it
seems to US, IS incompatible With COM
mon sense. The common people pay
the taxes; and the common schools are
intended for the common people. What
use have the masses Of the people for
"hberal arts, pure science and technol-
ogy?" II they we're delivered at their
doors every morning as Uncle Sam does
the mail on the rural routes, how many
farmer boys would have the time or in
clination to study the ''liberal arts, pLre
science and technology"
We do not discount the value Of
''liberal arts, pure science and technol-
ogy" for those who are built or inclined
that way. But this higher education
is not intended for everybody; is not
good for everybody. requires years Of
study the average boy cannot afford
10 give; involves incidental! tpe ases-
outside of tuition and board-she ave :
age boy cannot meet, and is an imprac-
tical thing for the State to undertake.
Especially so,when the money can be 30
n a