University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1908-09-29
THE UNIVERSITY
AND LAW MAKERS

dS lOE otHtI uHNtiS
would be to closely ally itself with the
States lawmaking. \ university Is
fundamentally a diiluser of knowledge
of how to live well. IT is not com
munity affair to teach Il handful Of
::.cn AMI women some things for their
own culture AMI exclusive benefit. But
il is business of a commonwealth to
support institutions whose influence, aS
whole and through the students 1t
sends out into the State. is to advance
c.tizcnship and elevate the standard OF
living.
This is the basis of supper, of state
institution of learning. and the spirit
insisted upon is admirably manifested
by the University at Columbia. But it
might do far more by scientific ALI
ance with the State government, which
i'm itself has no reason or excuse for
existence other than so to run things
that the welfare of the people is Sc
cured.
Obviously state government, and
more particularly the lawmaking depart
ment of the government, cannot fulfill
this reason for it's existence unless it
has sane and scientific spirit in its
method of running things. 1t must
know. in other words. what the funda-
mental principles of any proposed
measure are and what consequences
would follow from any measure. 1t
should know what experiments in law
making have been tried elsewhere. and
it should be informed of the experiences
that have proved beneficial or hurt ful.
These things are essential because er-
cry special interest that desires some
new law enacted or some old one re-
tanned. knows exactly why it desires it |
and knows all about its ramiiied work
inc>. The peoples representatives must |
be equally informed and alert or the
people will suffer.
\ number OF universities. among them
the one at Columbia. have done Il good
work for enlightenment in issuing bulle-
tins on various subjects, like those OF
he sociological department on aims
houses, and the more numerous pam
phlets issued by the agricultural col
eges. But the real way to bunch the
hts" and make the world continuously
Elective has been illustrated by the
University of Wisconsin in its Bureau
ii Information. As Charles Ferguson
If Kansas Gity-whO has been trying
o do much the same kind of work
through Il peoples organization called
he Municipal Univer>ity-sayS. this
epartmen of the Wisconsin institution
esigns to establish equality behind the
aw as well as before it. Concerning
his reference department, Mr.. Ferguson
as said: 'Of all the bills on every =,
onceivable subject that pass through
he committee rooms. nothing of I'M !.
ortance to the commonwealth cludes .
he white light of the worlds expert
nee. That light floods the council
ais 1t may he said that also at
.lbany. in connection with the New
"rk state library. a department is
laintai for gathering information on
II subjects of legislation and matters
hich ought to he subjects of legisIa-
ON and matters for laying this in
before the lawmakers of the
tate
Suppose that the Missouri University :,
iould thus thrust itself definitely into ~
Ic course of the States life so far .,
: social living is concerned. Suppose ,
should do this it would soon be Il o,
,werful factor in so enlightening the h
'Ople and spreading knowledge that a n
nal Legislator would be powerless l.
yainst honest servants. and ignorance ~
infinitely more of an evil than venal h.
v, because more commonwealth not o.,
: a potent drag upon the State. 4,
1t occurs at the beginning OF the Uni co
'rsity's School of Journalism that here W
ould be Il promising medium for this &c
and dissemination of news a,
at goes to the bottom of the States al
ilization.-kansas City Star. ed