Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-07

point of view of the University itself,
and the first question that presents
itself is as to the policy advocated by
the president Of the University. And
here l want to say a personal word in
regard to the distinguished president
OF the University of Maine. I differ
with him because I think it Is my duty
as citizen of the State. but he and T
have differed as gentlemen differ and
as college men differ. His treatment Of
me has been in every respect gentle
manly and courteous and want to say
that / appreciate 1t, and I trust that
may not fail on my part in return.
Now, no one has presumed to suggest
any other policy in regard to the Uni
versity itself than that advocated by
the president, and the reason to my
mind is this, that it is absolutely neces-
sary for the welfare in the case Of the
University itself that it should have in
all Its enterprises the cordial assent
and support of the average sentiment
of the citizens of the State. II any
ideal which the president may have Of
its future or if its functions is subscribe
&c to and is in accordance with the
sentiment Of the people Of the State.
to presume to say that the judgment
of the president should not be final.
If it appears to us after sincere and
careful consideration that the ideals OF
the president and of his associates with
/ gard to the future and the scope of
tie work of the University will not re-
ceive the assent and thorough support
Of tho PEOPLE Of the State, then we have
right and it is our duty to interfere
on that ground and to say that an IN
stitution supported by the State should
have the support Of the citizens OF the
State: then if in our Judgment that
support would be wanting that is the
reason for differing with the admins
traticn of the institution. Now, L WISH
to say that in my careful Judgment the
future destiny and scope of the uniVer-
sity. if conducted along all the lines
which are advocated, it is not going 10
receive. | doubt if it does receive now
tile cordial assent Of the majority
Of the State I think the policy should
not be allowed to extend beyond the point
where it does not receive the cordial SYM
pathy of the people IN general.
l am going to presume TO say that tho
retention Of the A. B. course at the uni
versity is not for the best interests or
the university because too much atten-
ton has been paid to them to tho exclu-
sion of the other departments. A COM
parison OF the number of courses given
in 1858, the first year in which the A b.
degree was established. comparison OF
the two years, 1898 and 1906. shows that
the increase in courses in the depart
ments which arc particularly adapted to
the A. 3. students has been very much
greater than has been the increase in ths
departments which particularly concerned
the other work of the university where
the very large per cent. Of the students
are enrolled 1t is interesting then to
compare the number of courses given in
the departments particularly studied by
the A. B. students at the university, and
the other colleges. and also at Harvard
University, because / suppose for dis
tinctivcly y. Is. work perhaps Harvard
would he the standard in New England: