Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-01

I duct of the State that goes into every
State in the Union and wherever the
American flag floats men Who nave
reflected honor on the place or their ma
tiVity. Now, gentlemen, is there a mar
here today who would recede from the
proud record of our State and curtai
or limit for a moment the educatlona
advantages that we nave oHered
whether in the country schoolhouse, III
the academy, in the High school, in
Bowdoin, in Bates, in Colby, or the
University of Maine? There Is WORK
enough for all and they are doing II
nobly and doing it well.
1 did not rise as 1 said, for the pur-
pose of making Il speech but 1 am the
bearer OF a message, message from
the agricultural and the mechanical
and scientific students of the University
of Maine who do not believe tnat they
should be Inundated, as In their De-
lief they would be by the cutting Oh
of the privilege and the honor they
feel they have in the degree of A. B.
which is now conferred upon them by
the institutions which the state mas
fostered: and I present SIMPLY tnel-
message and l ask you what you are
going to do with it? And they say
this:
THE undersigned, students of the
University of Maine, registered IN the
department of agriculture and the me-
chanic arts, take opportunity TO appeal
to the members Of the Legislature OF
1907 in behalf of that course in arts and
sciences which lead to the e. A. degree
In coming to the university we were IN
fuenced largely by the fact that our
technical work could do more success
fully and profitably carried on at an
institution where opportunities for lib
eral culture was offered. Many of our
most helpful courses lie along THESE
lines and supplement the work in
which we are especially concerned. we
regret the elimination of our courses
leading TO the r. A. degree as a hu-
initiation to ourselves, to the alumni
and to the university. We most ear
nestly petition that the men who nave
the welfare of our State university IN
their keeping permit no action to be
taken which shall remove this depart
lnent or in any way diminish its USE
fulness. We believe the fact that the
university confers the B. A. degree
adds dignity to every other degree con-
ferred.'
1 bear this message and I ask what
YOU are going to do with it? Cap
plause)
Mr.. TOLMAN of Portland Mr..
Speaker. there seems to be some mis-
understanding in regard to the remarks
of the gentleman from Yarmouth. As
I understood him he is against the ma
jority report. The gentleman from
Rowdoinham seemed to talk as though
he was asking for an appropriation. He
never mentioned appropriation, but 1
hope that this college may receive an
appropriation such as it is proper for
them to have.
/ do not say that 1 am in favor OF
the minority or the majority report
but 1 do protest here against dropping
the B. A degree from that college.
What are you going to do with those
students that are there? You have
pledged to them that they should have
it IF they have earned it. 1t makes no
difference whether the B. A. degree is
worth one cent or one thousand dol
lars; give it to them. If they have an
A. B. in that college which isn't worth
anything, so be it. 1t may not be as
good as an A. B. from Harvard or
Bowdoin, but it is worth something to
those men, and gentlemen, give 1t to
them. Applause)
Mr. DANFORTH of Skowhegan:
Mr. Speaker, the hour is getting late
and it is rather. too late to say much
upon this question, but I do not sit
here when there is an opportunity for
me to speak, especially as l hold in my
hand a message as the gentleman from
Patten says, from the student body.
Yesterday at chapel there were resolu-
tons. or q petitions if you wish to call
it so, adopted. asking this Legislature.
praying this Legislature, that you let
the B. A. course remain as it is; and 1
received that petition from them this
morning. asking me to present it to
you. as l will read it here:
The students OF the University of
Maine have read with surprise and hu-
initiation the recommendation of ma
jority Of the committee of education
that the g. A. courses be discontinued
after June, 1907. We wish to protest
against this recommendation as en-
pha tically as we are able. We came
to this institution with the clear under
standing that we were coming to a uni
versity with all that it implies; where
courses i'll general training could be OH
tanned side by side with those agri-
cultural and technical lines. AS those
who are most vitality interested in this
institution and would be affected by
the proposed action, we believe we have
a right to be heard.
We respectfully petition the MEM
bers of the Legislature of 1907 not to
discontinue the granting of the +. y.
degree at the University of Maine.
This is signed by the president of
each class in college. At this time there
were 500 students present, Il body OF
young men that are destined to make
this State more important than it is to-
day, young men who go to an institu-
tion because they wish ii learn all they
A DIFFERENCE.