Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-06-09
A strong Speech.


In his speech, which was delivered
elouuently, Mr.. Smith explained that
he had introduced the bill, not as
citizen of Madison desirous OF seeing
the streets of that city improved at
the expense of the state, but as CIT
izen of Wisconsin and an admlrer or
her institutions. Il believe our state
university has become What its found
ers intended it should be-the great
est educational institution OF its kind
in these United States" he declared.
It's location and its natural surround
ings are unsurpassed and he believed
it the duty of the state to leave moth
ing undone which is as necessary to
harmonic with its splendid buildings
and magnificent grounds as is the
Improvement contemplated in the
bill"
While Madison has been the subject
of many unreasonable and unjust at
tacks which were doubtless inspired
by ignorance of the conditions pre-
vailing here, it cannot be denied that
the university has received its largest
and most magnificent gifts from citi
zens of Madison. In this connection
the speaker desired to call the atten-
ton of the members to the generous
bequest of Wisconsin's most distin-
guished lawyer, statesman and citizen
the late Honorable William F. Villas
"a bequest which marks an epoch in
the history of Wisconsin's university
and when first made known, attract
ed the attention of philanthropistS
and educators everywhere throughout
the country. Senator Villas was cit
izen of Madison and an honored mem
Der of the board of regents of the
university. Also / desire to call your
attention to the gifts of the Honors!-
bic Mortimer NJ Jackson and the
Honorable John A. Johnson, two Of
Madison's distinguished citizens and
philanthropists. While the gifts of
these two gentlemen amounted to
many thousands of dollars, yet they
would seem almost Insignificant com
pared with that of Senator Villas"
Yet. continued DR.. Smith, they were
of great help to the university be-
cause they came at a time when the
university was struggling for exis-
tence, when there were very few men
of wealth or inclination to be philan-
thropic, and when the legislature was
less generous with its educational in
situations than it is now. Jackson,
Villas and Johnson were men who
entertained a high appreciation of the
value of the university as factor in
the upbuilding Of the state. Their
gifts, said the speaker, may well be
taken as fair indication of the SEN
timent prevailing in the city respect
ing the university and its worth. But
he went on, Il must not draw the
line at the generous donations of
Judge Jackson and Senator Villas, be-
cause if I should. great injustice would
be done another estimab1e citizen OF
our city who is still living. | refer
to that generous. open-hearted. pub
lie benefactor. Thomas e Drifting
ham, who when it was learned that
one replica of the Lincoln monument
could be secured for our university.
provided sufficient funds were raised
for that purpose. went down into his
pocket for $4,000 to meet the ex-
pense.
And so you may accuse the people
of Madison of wanting everything. OF
being after ali the Offices and trying
to secure all the odd state jobs, but
you cannot accuse the citizens OF