Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-25
Get Together!

The effort to secure extension of the
Morrill, acts to the District of Columbia,
VITA George Washington University as
the immediate fundamentally Of their
application, has met with more diversi-
fed and more untustif1able opposition
than has been encountered for a Ions
time by any other thoroughly worthy
legislative project.
At the outset 1t suffered the attacks
of both the enemies and the advocates
Of a great postgraduate National Uni
versity at Washington. the former fear
ing that George Washington would be
such university. the latter apprehend-
ing the legislation would kill the Ma
tional University project. After thorough
discussion it is probably now recognized
by every reasonable and unprejudiced
mind that both sets of contradictory
fears are baseless, that a loe al university
or college for the District of Columbia,
capable of being utilized as the instru-
mentality through which the District
shall enjoy the benefits of the Morrill,
acts, will neither establish nor destroy
the prospective postgraduate National
University.
Then the enemies of George Washing
ton University. conceding that the Nor
rill acts should be at once extended to
the District, charged that the university
was ineligible as a sectarian institution.
a charge quickly and thoroughly refuted,
and have proposed In succession other in
strumentalities to be utilized in this con-
nection instead of the university. These
have in turn either withdrawn from COM
petition or been demonstrated to be i'm
practicable. certainly for the present.
leaving the university as the only avail
able medium through which the benefits
OF the Morrill, acts can at this time be
locally enjoyed
Finally assailants of the credit and very
life of the university have contended that
the institution is unworthy to be the in
strumentality utilized under the Morrill,
acts. that the Washington ans who have as
trustees freely given time and money; and
anxious thought to the task of keeping
alive and up to high educational stand
ard for the benefit OF Washington this
sorely harassed institution should not be
given the administration Of the Districts
allotment of the Morrill, fund even though
three high national officials are added to
the board to assist in or supervise this
disbursement and the general administra-
ton There may he question whether
there have not been errors of business
Judgment or mistakes in good faith in
legal Interpretation on the part of the
university authorities; but can it be
reasonably contended that such past err
rors. II found to exist, work a disouali-
fcation OF all trustees. past, present and
future. and of the whole university as an
administrator of the Morrill, fund?
The fact that the university is in finan-
cial straits, SO far as ready money is
concerned. has been emphasized in this
connection as convincing proof of the
institutions unfitness to be utilized under
the Morrill, acts. Several months ago The
Star commented on this contention as
follows:
1t has been urged that George Wash
1ngton while eligible, should not be uti-
nzed Tor the purpose of giving the In
struction provided for under the Morrill,
acts, because it needs the money Against
this extraordinary argument which as
sumes that the law intends the money to
work a minimum of benefit by its use
only where Ii is not needed the District
protests most vigorously Every one
KNOWS that George Washington Univer-
stty. In extending it's lines of work and
putting itself on true university basis
and In endeavoring to make itself worthy
made by rich men of today and failing
10 get these private endowments of which
there was reasonable expectation, is finan-
ciaiy hard up so far as ready money
Is concerned and must either secure an
endowment In some shape OF must cut
out certain portions OF its courses of in
struction. OF that fact there has been
no concealment. This year there is q
deficit of $4,000 in the very lines of in
struction to promote which the benefits
OF the Morrill, acts are conferred. If the
appropriation under the Morrill, acts is
given this year to George Washington It
wiz mercy reimburse the university for
expenses incurred over and above it's re-
ceipts in connection with instruction in
the mechanic arts and agriculture and re-
lated courses. II this benefit is not con-
ferred and this deficit is not met .hese
courses of instruction must be eliminated
and the educational facilities Of WASH
ington to this extent crippled The fact
that the appropriation under the Morrill,
acts. If it goes to George Washington. is
necessary and will work a maximum of
practical benefit. and will be Immediately
available in keeping in operation exactly
the courses of instruction contemplated
by the acts. instead of being an argu-
ment against the utilization of George
Washington, is the strongest possible
consideration that can be urged in its
favor.
With its high educational standards. it's
fine corps Of instructors, it's 1.4oO SUI
perior grade students. George Washing
ton is one OF the greatest and most useful
OF American universities. Its death or
hopeless Gripping would be nothing short
81 disaster 10 Washington. Public
spirit and intelligent and enlightened
selfshness should enlist all Washington in
Its support. whether private or public en-
dowment is sought for its benefit 1t is
time especially for all loyal sons of the
university. in their devotion to alma
mater. to sink personal prejudices and
hatreds. however bitter. and to fight
shoulder to shoulder for the life and fu-
ture welfare of the university
long time ago Mr. Hearst said he was