East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-04-27

Although an error was made n the
first referendum petitions a new set
has been gotten out by the Linn coun-
ty grange, and the attempt to hold out |
all appropriations for the school is still |
carried on. Cyrus II. Walker of AL |
bany, Is in charge of petitions and will |
probably send copies to this county.
II so, the John Day News hopes that |
they will not be signed. and in order to |
inform the public what 1t means, the
following explanation is made:
The last session of the legislature
raised the annual appropriation to
$125,000 The money was asked for by
the regents for buying new grounds,
building girls dormitory and adding
$4,000 worth of books to the library.
Regular expenses will absorb the re-
mainder.
In comparison. Washington has ESQ
acres for n university grounds, Ore
gon, about 27 acres. Washington has
large and modern buildings, while
most OF Oregon's are hardly up to the
standard. Washington receives very
liberal support in appropriations, al
most 81 900, 900 for biennial period and
land incomes, while Oregon's has al
ways been scant In both. a suitable
state pride would remedy these things
II the required number of names Is
filed with the secretary of state prior
to May 23, the entire funds of the uni
versity will be held up for two years.
or course the university will run, and
90 onnrnn1 indebtedness
will be paid. including heavy "Eefer-
endum" and heavy interest bill. All
the people will have to pay these bills,
although no doubt fully three-fourths
OF them want to see the appropriation
stand. 1t is not fair that so small
minority should dominate the big
majority, and the principle is in con-
flict with the principles of our gov
ernment.
The relation of the university to the
public school-or rather to the other
public schools-is pointed out In the
following letter written to Mr.. Walker
by the county school superintendent:
'I acknowledge your letter enclos-
ing poems in praise of exploration, in
dustry and the domestic life, and a
COPY OF tnt piii. oh'
so heartily in sympathy with you In
the appreciation Of the farm home,
school and Industrial life, that 1 can
only regret the wide difference be-
tween us on the best means Of pro-
noting It, 1 have done what I can In
this county to bring the rural schools
into line with their mission along in
dustrial and agricultural phase. In
this / have always found the state
university an able and sympathetic
helper. Only one application for heir
has been refused, and that was owing
to the referendum movement, the
school might find 1t has no money tc
issue n second edition of the leafle'
asked for. The university has beer
the most essentially democratic of an,
of our. state institutions, and it'
influence with the public schools is al
ways uplifting.
"In view of the fact that we are botf
public officers engaged in public busi
ness, l do not consider that giving
copy of my former letter to you to thu
Oregonian correspondent was an.
violation of propriety.
"As other branches of your order II
other parts Of the state are agains
the movement, and as you point ou
that your brother superintendent II
Linn county Is against 1t while other
in other parts Of the state are agains
It. the local character Of the move
ment together with the local reason
therefor, seems to be clearly estab
lished. .t"
Ina kIo .,tf 80