, 1906-06-07
uTAH's EDUCATIONAL MIDDLE.


Utah is now engaged in the difficult
ask of rectifying the mistake 1t has
made in founding separate state insti-
of learning. Mornings pro
gressive citizens and legislators have
reason to congratulate themselves
again on the fact hat consolidation of
educational interests obtains in this
state-a condition which at this time
receives the unqualified endorsement OF
a large majority of the most prominent
educators of the country. A portion OF
a recent editorial in the Salt Lake Tri-
bune is here reproduced, the extract
depicting most wildly the deplorable
state OF affairs which must now be
dealt with in Wyoming's sister state,
Utah. The Tribune says in part:
Last year Governor Cutler appoint
ed a committee TO investigate the du-
plication of studies at the university
and agricultural college, and to report
what, in it's opinion, could be best
done about II. That committee has
been engaged in a thorough investi'
CATION of the matters referred TO 1t,
and, 1t is understood, has agreed upon
a p from which two of its mem
bers may dissent. The Tribune printed
an authentic forecast of this report the
Iother day, and this has made some oil
the Logan papers rabid. They assume
that IL is the Tribune that is doing 1t
all; that the agricultural college is TO
be destroyed, and that the Tribune will
be responsible for the destruction.
Now, we have not the least idea that
any one wants to destroy the agricul
tural college. On the contrary, every
one wants to strengthen it, and make Il
even more s~eryiceable to the state thar
that its special advocates may claim il
this behalf. But the question is, how
best to effect the result. 1t is clear
that the state cannot afford to maintain
two universities, each paralleling the
work of the other. 1t cannot afford thi'
in money, and still less can it afford /
in material for class work. There /
not such suTplusage of students in tn,
classical courses as to fill two sets c
lclasses; the contrary is true, that, TAX
ing in all who could possibly apply, eN
en- one set of classes would be small il
numbers. 1t is suicidal, therefore, t.
pay for two, to the obvious weakening
of both.
IF it shall prove true that the fore
cast of the committees report, as print
ed by the Tribune, is accurate, wha
then? Does that destroy the agricul
tural college? By no means. No
would that be the committees desire
The committee undoubtedly is merel,
seeking the best way out of a serious
dilemma in the way of duplication
of classes in university studies, tina
has grown up, perhaps, from the mat
tention Of the legislature and the natu
raj desire Of those in charge of thu
agricultural college to meet any re
quirement of it's patrons whether strict
> ly agricultural or not. But the situa
! tion has become acute in the enormou
demands for money and in the division
into two of the classes in advanc
studies, where there is really a lacl
of enough of these for one strong class
IF the committee should recommen,
that the agricultural college should b.
consolidated with the university as thu
only effective remedy for a situation
that is admittedly insupportable, VIII.
should any Ii attack its motives, ant
charge vain things against it? What
ever recommendations are made, wi
of course be made in the interest of tn
agricultural college, as well as of tn
whole state. The agricultural colleg
is specifically confirmed by the stat
constitution, even to its present loca
ton. So where is the sense in making
an cutlery about anybody scheming t.
destroy it, or even to move it? Befor,
either could be done, the people woulC
have to pass upon the matter by vote
1t is incredible that they should vote Il
destroy the college; but it is possibl,
that they might think it could be NOV
ed to advantage. But whether they
would or motif is hardly worth while t,
get into a rage about it just now, ant
indulge in silly babbling."