The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1909-11-12

A careful canvass of the state by
committee interested in the establish
ment of an Agricultural, Mechanical
and Normal College for Negroes, as
provided for in the bill which passed
the recent session of the State Leg
iSlature for four nOrmals, three for
whites and one for Negroes, is bring
ing out, according to the report of this
committee, the fact that all over the
State of Tennessee the Negro is de-
manding that the normal for Negroes
be of the greatest service to the
largest possible number of students
in location and equipment. 1t will
be remembered that some have agi-
tated for the past two or three years
the establishment of this school.
This agitation did not cease even
when the legislature convened, and
the continuance of the agitation
brought about close and careful inves-
tigation into the educational affairs
of the state of Tennessee which re-
vealed some startling facts. This in
formation was handed out in almost
every quarter of the state with such
constancy and such force that public
sentiment was at once crystallized,
and there was apparently nothing to
do but have the legislature act in ac-
cordance with the will of the people
which was plainly for the establish
ment of a normal, agricultural and
mechanical college for one-third of
the states population.
The citizens throughout Tennessee
who have been interested in and
worked diligently for the passage of
this bin were, it is evident, looking
out for the educational advantages
that were being denied this large pop
ulation The. organization which was
perfected in this city more than
year ago, known as the Agricultural,
Mechanical and Normal College AS
sociation, was organized for the pur-
pose of promoting the interest of the
school and for securing favorable leg
islation along these lines.
1t now develops that the same or
ganization has been quietly at work
taking a poll of the opinion of the diff
ferent cities in the state as to the
very best section in which to locate
this school. The result of the can
vass as given out this week by Of
ficers of the association is very sig
nifcant in that the unanimous opin-
ion of the cities and citizens from
Bristol to Memphis indicates that this
school should by all means be To-
Gated in Middle Tennessee. They go
further than this in their unstinted
expressions. They say it ought to be
in Davidson County They give as
their reasons: first, that there will be
but one Negro Agricultural Mechani-
cal and Normal College and that ev-
cry section of the state where there
are Negroes must look to this one
school for accommodations and ad-
vantages, and if it were located in the
west the east would suffer, and if it
were located in the east the west
would suffer, while the middle of the
state would get an advantage either
way. But if located in the middle of
the state Carter and Shelby could
meet in Davidson second, that the
school ought to be placed as near as
possible under the supervision of the
state officials; that it ought to be in
close proximity to the capital, where
there would be no extra appropria-
ton needed every two years for the
much talked of iunketing committee
Continued on Page 8.)