Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-03-20
PLEA FOR UNIVERSITY
APPROPRIATION BILL
Graduate OF tho University oi
Oregon Spec ks in Favor OF
that Institution.

10 the voters of Josephine County
Through the kindness of the Courier
I am permitted few words in which
to express feeling of loyalty and de-
votion to our State University which
is deeply engravep in my heart and
mind and to present a few arguments
in favor Of the bill which will be
presented to the voters of Oregon at
the June election for the appropria-
tioL of the sum of s125, 900 yearly for
the support and maintenance of the
University of Oregon; and which ar
guments l believe voice the sentiment
of the most cultured, progressive and
enlightened element lin every com.
munity.
The last session OF tie Oregon legis-
lature passed bill allowing con-
tinuous appropriation Of $l25. 900
yearly toward the support of the
University Of Oregon. The referen-
dom was called upon the bill under
our Inititive and Referendum laws
and the bill is before the people Of the
state at the June election. At first
glance the appropriation seems q
rather large one but when compared
to the appropriations which other
states Of relative developments to
Oregon receive for their State Uni
versities and the amount Of tax levy
1t involves upon each person the
amount is mere pittsnce.
The whole state of Oregon is enter.
ing upon a new era Of development
in every line of activity. Thousands
of homeseekers from the east and mid.
die west are pouring into its confines,
new sections of the state are being
opened up and wealth and atfluence
are becoming more characteristic Of
our people than ever before. In the
face Of such conditions can we as .
people afford to retrench upon our ap-
propriations toward any institution
whose object is the propagation of
knowledge virtue and morality
among all classes of ..the people. We
hope to bring within our borders the
wealthy and intelligent farming
classes from the middle wet states
and yet, these are the very states
which make enormous appropriations
ca oh and every year for higher educa
tion. Iowa, for example, appropriat-
ing 1888, 566 during the year 1907
for her State University and Ksns as
1857, 500 for the same year rs against a
niggardly $47, 800 which the Univer-
sity of Oregon receives today. Are
the citizens of such wealthy aud COM
petent states planning to leave their
comfortable homes aud cultured en-
virons for localities where they must
bring up their SONS and daughters in
ignorance and isolation l leave you
to answer the question, bearing in
mind only the fact that every letter OF
inquiry from a farmer of the middle
west asks first of all CONCERNING ouI
schools and churches.
II we are to keep pace with ouI
eighboTs in the race for development
and industrial well being We musi
offer equal, if not better induce
ments for location than do they.
Washington sppropriates annually
for her State University $500, 000
Oregon $47, 5U0. Is not the ditiereu CT
appalling and yet our population
rivals that Of Washington. Idaho
appropristes annuity $l29, 500 and it
popu lstion is little more than hal
that of Oregon. Montana VII oh ha
barely emerged from COW punche
days, appropristes $4,000 annual,
= for her State University, while Nortl
: Dakota, wild, blizzsroly and inbos
J. pitaple, without . single city in it
whole confines half the size of P)rt
Il land, approprlstes sl47, III every yea
for its University. California make
a an annual appropr' alton of $822, ID
V and Wisconsin 1921, 100 So we Sc
It what other states are doing for tn
y cause of education ana what miser
10 able, wretohedly paltry showing Ore
II gon makes in contrast. Do we wan
or new settlers and prospective HON
seekers to think we value all tn
70 higher, nobler sentiment. emotion
and ideals of life by the amount "
h. spend toward the cultivation of th
" same? In spite of our pitifully il
s. sufficient appropriation the sttent
nj snce upon our State University is il
be creasing and we are doing a grave il
he justice toward an ever increasiI
.is number of young men and womel
he Our teaching forces are badly owe
an worked and more wretobedly unde
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