Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-23


Now senators what is your feeling
towards the u. of NJ? Can't you guess
that l was quite wroth upon receiving
such dastardly letter. Do you wonder
that l am not friendly to the universe
ty?
Now, gentlemen, these boys are not
guilty for these criminal acts. Yester-
day when 1 showed these letters to the
friends OF the institution they said such
students should be expelled from the
university This is a very wrong idea.
Better start at the beginning and ex-
pei the agitator who will cause such
dista steful sentiment to exist in his
college. These boys are not to blame.
l say again. 1t is the older and wiser
members of that institution who have
sowed broadcast the feeling of hatred
and resentment toward the legisla tors
who have endeavored to do the kind
est act for the institution, viz, to wipe
out that degree which costs the state
in the vicinity of $4,000 for every de-
gree conferred, and has so far forgot
ten the principles upon which that in
stitution was founded that they are the
last to be mentioned in their catalogue.
as if it We're ashamed to have men
toned that the courses in agriculture
and mechanical arts We're taught at all
at their college.
Gentlemen, / presume these enemies
Of mine, and Of course have got some
now, since making my declaration. are
anticipating To wreak vengeance upon
me. 1 expect it, 1 look for it. An insti-
tuition having men who burn buildings
will do anything. l will say for infor-
nation to them that my property is in
surcd This may seem foolish asser-
tIon, but it is along the lines Of their
attack.
And, Mr. President, the direct authors
of these offensive letters are not guilty
themselves alone; the promoters and
agitators of this evil influence have
prompted the boys to do acts indlscrete-
ly which would never have been done
had the officials at the head of this in
stitution been at home attending to
their proper capacities. instead OF
spending the winter in Augusta lobby
ing and leaving the institution IN Oro-
no in the hands of S250-a-year instruc-
tors. Is it surprising then they have
moor system of management under such
cheap officials. Now. gentlemen. have
nothing more to say unless it be that
we all unite to set the institution back
on the foundation on which il was
founded, take another start and see If
il cannot develop into an institution
that will not 50 rough up the feelings
of the State over its courses; that it will
be divided into friends and enemies of
the institution.
Mr.. STEARNS of PenobsCot-Mr.
President, and gentlemen of the Sen
ate there is not senator here who feels
worse in relation to this matter than |
do myself | seriously deprecate the
action of any student of the university,
and particularly action of this sort:
but | will submit to you gentlemen
that il is beneath the dignity of this
BODY to take notice of the bOyiSh acts
Of some students at the University Of
Maine. l claim that the great mass of
the student body, the under graduate
body at that institution are men OF
integrity; are young men who go there
for one purpose and that the purpose
Of education. There is not one of us
of the Senate here present who can
not look back to some boyish act, some
deed of indiScretion, that he has been
sorry for in future life. | myself have
done things in the ardor of boyiSh
prank and boyish exuberance that !
have been heartily ashamed of. These
two boys are under the dome of this
capital at the present time, repentent.
sorry and have personally apologiZed
to the senator from Cumberland; and
Ia.
fore this body and make a public
apology to the senators here.
realize the gravity of the offense
and / think they fully do 50. l myself
have received letters, and | doubt not
that every senator in this body has re-
Ccivcd letters on various subjects. /
remember, two years ago, when Bates
College came before the last LegiSla-
ture asking for an appropriation | re-
ceivcd letters. Four years ago, when
Colby came before the Legislature, |
received letters but | consider it be-
meath my dignity as a member of the
great court of Maine, to pay any at
tention to those foolish epistlcs writ
ten by the ardent supporters Of GER
tain claims; and / submit to YOU gen.
tlemen. that it is beneath our dignity
to take notice of these matters.
These boys are sorry and | think it
is not a fair imputation to say that the
head of the institution instigated
or perpetrated any such outrage on this
body. If he We're, or if the instructors
at that institution We're of that kind,
| should be with the gentlemen of the
opposition. But l do claim that, at
this time, we should overlook these
acts. | believe that the institution
should not suffer from the indiscreet
acts of some under graduate body. We
know how they are in all institutions.
We know they will do things and say
things that are beneath our dignity,
things that lower them in the eStima-
ton of the community. We realize
these things and | do claim that it
ought not to work to n disadvantage
of that institution which has done so
much and which is doing so much for
the advancement of the youth of our
country and our State. 1t is a grand
institution; and there is no one here
that feels more deeply or has more
genuine sorrow at the action of these
rash boys than l have; but gentlemen,
hny i