The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1909-03-19

n
State matters pertaining 70 FloFida's
two highest institutions Of learning
have recently been discussed and com
parsons drawn relative 10 their gro WITH
and advancement.
As is we'll known, under the provis-
ions Of the Buchanan Bill" by which
the coed" feature OF the State Col
leQe was abolished, the University for
men and the College for women were
placed practically upon the same basis.
Each had is own peculiar advantages.
each its individual difficulties. Only in
the matter Of eurTieula did they meet
upon common ground. Here they
started even, pupils from the tenth and
eleventh grades being admitted alike TO
both institutions. and allowed TO enter
the sub freshman and the freshman
classes, respectively.
Nov, however, It would appear that,
Notwithstanding their even start, tie
University Is being left behind In the
race. lie growth and development, It
10 claimed, has not kept pace with that
Of the College. and the people are be-
ginning 10 ask why 2 Statistics show
that each year brings TO the College an
increase IN number and quality Of stud
ents but the University decrease. In
numbers at least. In the College the
number enrolled at the end Of the SEES
sion is greater than 1T the beginning,
in the University there is always a fall
ing Of. In the College every depart
ment has lie quota Of students and ev-
cry professors time 10 fully occupied
with his legitimate work In the Uni
veraity three professors are perforee
idle at the present time because, In the
department Of education 10 which these
educators are assigned, not a single
student is enrolled, and in the other de.
partments Of civil and electrical engi-
neering, and Of secondary education,
there are but few young men in attend
ance.
According 10 the papers above men
toned bat one logical deduction can be
drawn from the foregoing facts, and
that is that the progress Of the College
and the decadenee Of the University are
due 10 their respective pTosidentS. Dr..
Murphree, Of the College, has demon
strated the executive ability, the per-
sonal magnetism, the tact and Sympa-
thy lacking in DR., Slodd, Of the Univer-
slty. The only remedy to be found lies
in the resignation Of DR.. Sledd and the
appointment Of q man more suited TO
the character Of the work required Of
the head Of an institution struggling
against all the odds Of immaturity.
That Dr. Sledd Is an able man, a fin
ished scholar and an earnest Christian
gentleman no one who knows him will
attempt TO deny, but as the president
Of the University he seems a misht.
The Pensacola Evening News goes 80
far as 10 advocate the transfer Of Dr..
Murphree to the University. Il argues
that the same qualities that have
brought success to the College would
do like service for the University, and,
doubtless, m this inference the News iS
perfectly correct but The True Demo
crat fails 70 see why the future vel
fare Of the College should be leopard
lied In order that the University should
be built up. There Is plenty Of good
timber elsewhere, let the Boards Of
Education and Control. 10 whom alone
this matter belongs, look for the man
best suited for this emergency. and Sc
cure him. The President Of the States
University should be chosen with dignl'
fed deliberation and not be made the
candidate Of any faction or section.