Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-23
GOES TO THE LEGISLATURE
Wants School of Politics Engrafted
on the University.
IDEA NOT KINDLY RECEIVED
Regents Have Been Keeping the
School Out of Politics.
LEGISLATOR BOWS TO HIS WILL
Miller introduces n Bill in which the
Legislature Makes the Request"
In Formal Way Not
TO He Ignored.
(From a staff Correspondent

CFrom a staff Correspondent)
LINCOLN, Jan. 22.-(Special TelegrsmD--
Senator Miller of Lancaster county intro
duced bill in the senate this morning
uuestlng the regents of the State univer-
sity to establish school OF citizenship at
the state university.
This bill is simply the first step Of Will
liam J. Bryan to establish a school OF poli-
ties at the university. The regents had
refused to endorse Mr. Bryans scheme
and as a result he had the hill introduced
this morning.
Mr. Miller announced that he had intro
duced the measure at the request of the
regents, but as a matter of fact three Of
the regents were not sure that any pos
tive action had been taken in the matte
though Mr.. Bryan's scheme had been dis
cussed on several occasions and It had been
talked over to accept the bill as intro
duced as a compromise.
Tho board is absolutely opposed TO tho
establishment OF this Bryan school Of poi
tics, but when Mr. Bryan announced that
he would shoot over the heads of the re-
gents and force the issue in the legislatutr,
the regents decided to have nothing to d.
with II.
II the legislature decides to pass the
bill the regents will enter no objection
and neither will they endorse the idea
The action of Mr.. Bryan In pushing his
scheme over the better Judgment OF the
regents. who insist on keeping the ins,l-
tuition out of politics, has seriously cui-
barrassed the board OF regents which h,s
asked the legislature for appropriations
cover the imperative needs of the institu.
ton.
Paves Way for Appropriation.
While this Bryan scheme to establish A
school of politics with himself at the head
in the long run carries no appropriation az
Taylor of Custer county. a democrat. said:
1T paves the way for future appropra-
tions."
At one time Mr.. Bryan had II in rnild 10
have the legislature appropriate suffi tent
money to erect a building in which T.
house the proposed political school. but the
the regents absolutely refused to consider
for moment The scheme was turn sd
down cold.
Then it was that the presidential candi
date, rather than let his pet schemr fan
through, let it be known that he would
take the matter up with the Legislature
The regents hoped to avoid an open fight
with Mr. Bryan and so they decided to
simply step aside and let the Legislature
NSN rs pcSl JuuSHltul III lne matter.
The joint resolution introduced by SEM.
tor Miller is as follows:
Whereas, The study of those rIbiecrs
which tend to develop an appreciate ion uf
the duties and responsibilities OF cltiE Ernship
Is OF great Importance to the people Of thIS
| commonwealth; therefore, be II enac ed bv
the legislature of the state Of Nebraska:
That the legislature OF the state Of Ne
braska hereby expresses its approval OF
the action OF the Board of REGENTS of IA
University of Nebraska during tina In N.
years in literally supporting the depa tn M
of political science and allied departments
and further requests that the said r, ard -,
Regents still further emphasize tho wprb
of these departments by the establi 3hmcni
OF a school of citizenship.
Idea Not Popular.
Those few members OF the legislature
who knew that Mr.. Bryan was the IN Al 4.
| spring behind the Miller resolution eX.
! pressed their disapproval of the rescIu-
tion in no uncertain terms. To pass the
resolution they believe would be 20 make
a political institution of the uniycrsity
"Tho proposition is new to me sal
| w. ] Taylor, democrat, OF Custer county,
member of the house, "and / don I
| know what to say about II. I do uoL
know whether any other schools have
such a, department 1t looks like a broad
ening out of the scope of the univers.ty =
While the bill does not carry an apprD-
priation, 1t will certainly pave tac way
| for future appropriations. The faculty
which will have charge of the depart
ment will. naturally, he high-sslaried. |
will have to look into the matter fur
ther before I decide what is best to do"
| Senator Wiltse OF Cedar county was
much surprised when he learned Of the
resolution. He said
"The regents under the constitution are
in charge OF the State university and I be-
in and tell the regents how 10 map out
their course OF study or tell them what to
do I think the proposition is absolutely
wrong The regents should be the judges
OF what is best for the school, They know
what Is needed over there better than do
the members Of the legislature"
! The regents will not ask the lag aturo
10 pass or kill the bill. They preferred tp
keep hands off rather than antagonize Mr..
Bryan. for they fear to embroil the univer-
sity in a fight Of this character HLd they
desired the school of citizenship. which is
another expression for a Bryan school o.
politics, the regents had the right to es-
tablish It. They turned down Mr.. Bryan
suggestion at first, but decided to let him
carry out his plans rather than fight As
| a matter OF fact one of those who knows
what the effect will be should the legisla-
ture pass the bill said it would cause the
regents to reorganize their whole inside
system of teaching and reorganize all OF