Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-01-24

Then in company with Judge McFie
Col. Twitchell and Mr.. Cromwell
went to my room in the Palace Hotel
and aided by notes which | had pro-
cured Neill b. Field of Albuquer-
Que, the week before to pencil out fol-
me, as | was TOO busy to look up every
question regarding the framing OF
such an important bill, l dictated the
Omnibus Bill, creating the four in
stitutions, and we passed it next day in
both houses of the Legislature. This
was in the very last days of February
1889. The bill has not since been ma
terially changed, and it speaks well
for the care exercised in its franz
ing. even considering the hurry we
were in, You will all notice the care
| ful wording to make the institution
the State University when we be-
come a state. Ever since that time /
have protected the University in ev-
cry statehood bill that has been be-
fore congress. and | am looking after
/ it in the present one, as | sent to
! Washington last week for a copy OF
the enabling act The faculty ought
| to send for copies also and be sure
that the rights and interests of our
greatest educational institution are
protected in it,
Since we established our Territor-
! It'll institutions, / have seen those of
| Arizona. nearly all of which are To-
Gated at Tucson, and while | do not
think that is the best location i'll Ari-
zona, still locating several of the Ter
ritorial or state institutions together
in one place is, in my opinion best,
ana | think several Of the others
ought to have been added to
| the University at Albuquerque. one
great institution is often better than
several weak ones. Our University
Agricultural College, School Of Mines
Military Institute, one Experiment
station and one Normal School, should
have all brcn located together, but
such is the force OF local jcalousics
and selfishncss, that 1t could not be
done. But thanks TO your splendid
mon having the University in charge
it has been kept up, and | can fore
see its future greatness. Realizing
this, there is not in all my lifes work
anything | am so proud of as being
the humble author of the bill that
brought the University to Albuquer-
que. Therefore my gratitude at the
consideration shown me in naming
the splendid new building Rodey Hall
Is deep indeed.
am sending you for deposit in the
library of the hall or the University
a Ponce de Leon medal, struck here
last fall ON the great occasion of the
four hundrcdth anniversary of his
landing in Porto Rico, and even be-
fore he went to Florida to find the
spring that would renew youth. | am
also having the island ransacked for
histories of the Conquistadores. and if
succeed | will send some work of
that kind regarding Cabesa de Baca
or Coronado to the University library.
If l was ricn. II would be my pleas
ure to endow our University in some
becoming manner, and nothing would
please me better than to have my
bones deposited within its campus af-
ter I shall pass away. If there APP
pears to be hope for our statehood
bin this short session of congress, and
| viii know in a week or two, then
/ will go up to Washington about
February lst to the 5th. to help out in
its passage, ana look after our inter-
ests. God bless you all, and may the
University of New Mexico ever be
credit to its state and its country, and
every Rodey ever be
may every Rodey ever be its friend.
Sincerely yours,
b. s. RODEY.
At the conclusion of the reading of
the Rodey letter, president w. G.
Tight introduced Frank w. Clancy
president of the Board of Regents.
Mr. Clancys speech was in the main
somewhat retrospectice. He stated
at the beginning Of his address that
although there was ample room for
dwelling on past accomplishments OF
the institution, he believed that 1T
would be much more in keeping with
the occasion if he INDUCED in a few
remarks on the future. The speakers
review of the past was short, but II
brought wildly to the audience, the
labors. struggles and difficulties. of
the members Of the Boards of Re
gents and others who took an active
interest in the University in its in
fancy Mr.. Clancy's glance at the
future of the school. however. was
optimistic and encouraging. He de-
leo was Just beginning to assume its
rights and predicted that before
many years it would be an institu
tion of learning second to none in the
United States. Mr.. Clancy's remarks
we're brief. but were to the point. and
he received much applause.
Harvey B. Ferguson. who formerly
represented New Mexico in congress.
was the next speaker to be introduced
by President Tight. DR. Tight paid
handsome tribute to Mr.. FERGUSON for
his work in securing for the Univer-
sity a magnificent donation of public
lands while in congress. and the at
torney was given a generous recep-
ton He paid tribute to the MEM
bers of the faculty of the University.
praising their work and with words
OF encouragement urged them on to
further efforts. Mr.. Ferguson de-
clared tha; the University of New Mex
leo, sithccxh alseady> ae,1good- sized