The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1906-09-08
NO. 5.
THE UNIVERSITY CONTROVERSY /.
Interesting Article by DR.. B. A. Colombp
Relative to the Late Unpleasantness
Between the States Leading
Educational Tnatitut;ens

Il 1OiGL4Ds Oh OnlOns T6LaGIVG TO tue CO6s
troversy over the question OF state
aid fop Tulane University. appeared
in recent issue of the New Orleans
Times Democrat:
, sCui Bono?' What useful purs
pose can the dispute between the Lou-
lsiana State University and Tulane
University possibly serve, in so far 40
the people of Louisiana are concernede
This question must have frequently
suggested itself to those who have
followed the controversy, and it is
!, the citizens OF this state who are most
vitality interested. During the twenty
, two years that the two universities
have existed under present conditions.
both have made wonderful progress
according TO their own accounts, and
the facts warrant this assertion. Why
not therefore adopt the Republican
| slogan, which is sound doctrine when
true, and .let well enough slone?'
There is not the slightest reason to
doubt that both universities will con-
tfnue to advance, and will make az
much progress in the future as they
have done in the past, IL not more,
under the same conditions that have
obtained ever since the University OF
!. Louisiana became the Tulane Univer-
sity of Louisiana.
aThe people OF this state are not SO
much interested in the standing OF one
university, ia comparison With the
other, as in the efficiency of both as
schools for their children, and what
ever Injuries either impairs this effici-
ency, and does harm TO the cause OF
public education as whole. From
the initial skirmish, during the last
, session of the legislature, the Louiai-
, ana State University energies with
her appropriation cut down more tEl an
one-half, while Tulane fails to get
any allowance and loses the efficient
? president OF her governing board.
This is pretty good for beginning.
As an aftermath, Tulane will bo
called upon to defray the expense Of
! a technical opinion upon the legality
of the Baronne street lease, which
may involve tine university Id further
, legal controversy, with addftionaI
cost.
Suppose the appropriation COM
mittee had allowed Tulane q small
j stipend as finally demanded, just 30
the question OF state support could
have been tested IN the courts, what
I then? Lonisiana State University and
Tulane would nov be engaged In
: legal contest that would have dragged
along in the courts for years, sapued
: their energies and their funds, seri-
3 ously impaired their work and left
never-ending animosities. And who
would have TO pay the penalties2 Whys
the people OF Louisiana, OF course
their two principal schools being
crippled and they paying the expenses.
And this is what the legislature was
asked to do. The lawyers lees as
sessed to Tulane alone would have
: amounted TO more than the appropria-
: tion asked for, to say nothing OF the
injury done. Every possible defect,
tions, would have been extensively
: ventilated, to the great detriment OF
. both.
tsAnd suppose this case had reached
the courts, and been subject to the
laws delays, out OF which crow she
E lawyers fees, what Eheng C would
have gone from one court TO another
as all other cases got until, under
some pgetext. Ii could have hoen taken
to the supreme court of the United
States, and the decisions pro and con
from below sat upon in final judgment.
Whatever opinion Justice White may
have expressed or not expressed upon
this question, it is only reasonable TO
infer that the decision OF this cours
would be largely influenced by him,
as he was party TO and Is CONVEX
SAINT with all the facts connected with
the separation OF Tulane University
from the stats of Louisiana. What
; | ever might have besn tbs final deeisiona
even by the supreme court OF the United
States, unless Gs1at decision had elm
8 mated Tulane absolutely from state
: support, the controversy precipitated
{ between these two universities would
have been a ceaseless cause Of strife,
coming forward whenever the assembly
met Her recognition as state In.
+ stitution would have simply put Tu-
lane on the same plane with the oshers.
and made her claim co-equal, 30 she
: would have become biennial auDpli-
! can't at the public crib, along With the
rest. That Tulane could ever expect
. sny substantial yearly revenue from
the state, even as q state institution.
! is not likely, for three principal raa-
3 sons: Her large endowment fund
3 would be a disadvantageous asset.
giving the other state institutions pre-.
cedence. ri The expenses oil the state,
: like those Of the government, will al
3 ways tend TO ontrun the revenues. no
/ n after how large these may be. 81
) Il Louisiana Stats University were
called upon TO fight for an appropria-
tion, at each session OF the legislaturo,
she would prepare to do 80 edectuaily.
and Tulane must remember that the
. vote was two TO one when the last
showdown came at Baton Rouge.
again, there are influential enemies
3 of public education in this state, as il
/ every other, who make the most OF any
occurrence that might tend 60 shake
the public confidence In this form OF
instruction. Our people are just nov
interesting themselves, and spending
o their money freely, In the effort TO im-
. prove their public school system, and
caa not but look With disfavor upon
Z any educational controversy that
would tend 10 interfere with the present
3 encouraging conditions. Il Tulane
!, would use the energy and intellectual
: force in the iudicious management OF
y the funds she now has, and for the Sc
It QUESTION of additional endoWmenta,