University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1910-09-29
PRESIDENT KIRK
ENDORSES MILL.TAX

lOulteTSlIy DIS given ny several large
political and editorial conventions is
certainly important and encouraging,
but should not be taken as a
guarantee of success, believe now
that the amendment has bet
ter than even chances for adopt
ton and that judicious work should
insure its adoption. But there is a
good deal of Indifference among vot-
ers. There is also some active op-
position. Some school men are rather
slow to give the measure. their sup
port. They of all men, it seems to
me, should be cosmopolitan.
From the day of our memorable
battle for the Yeater Bill in the Re-
publican House of Representatives, of
1895, have watched with intense in
terest the various movements to turn
revenues to the support of the Uni
versity, and trust that my support of
each measure has been of some value.
But favor more than all other meas
ures the amendment under consider
alton, because it promises something
of permanency. look forward with
much hope for the day of enlarged
freedom. greater independence and
more of local initiative in all educa-
ton; and now is an opportune time
to establish landmarks. Widespread
insurgent sentiment in all parties is
favorable to universal advancement.
think we should once for all place the
University upon an adequate perma-
nent financial foundation growing as
the state grows, thereby making the
University permanently free from the
menace of fluctuating sentiment and
from all exploitation for any other
than definite educational purposes.
l, Of course, wish that we might
some day have the Normal Schools
equally free and independent; and
would hope to have the Public Schools
for all time free from all possible
domination which can through judg-
ment or jealousy be ascribed to insti-
tutions or to>classes of men.
But we have to begin at some. point.
The University is our greatest edu-
cational institution, our one all-per-
meating agency. 1t belongs to us all,
not to a town, not to board, not to
a faculty; but every taxpayer every
worker and every productive thinker
in Missouri owns some of it. We can
have but one University. It should,
for the sake of reputation alone, be
as independent and well supported as
any university in the country. Mis-
souri, is abundantly able to havef so.
Only when permanently endowed can
the University begin to be of highest
service. But helping the University
should be interpreted to mean help
ing all education. The movement tends
to take the University out of politics,
to give larger opportunity for other
institutions, to place the University
faculty upon an independent basis, so
that they may work, think and oct in
accordance with their honest Judgment
and be entirely free from the neces-
sity of compromising with any other
men or institutions for the sake of
support or sympathy or rec
ognition.
For all the great purposes of exper-
lment, research and instruction, think \
the University should have ample per-
manent revenues, so as to enable it |
to reach out into every phase of edu-
cation from kindergarten to highest
graduate study. l think the Univer-
slty should not be looked upon as
merely the GROWING feature of our
system. That idea savors too much
OF separation. isolation and caste. The
pervaslve spirit Of democracy is the
force that stimulates to highest ef-
[ectlveness the efforts of all. Dem
ocracy in education means less and
less OF mechanical articulation, wheth-
sr voluntary or enforced, and more of
cooperative Intervening between in
'titutfons and among them. We need to
nave the University built into our en-
ire system, overlapping and duplicat-
ng whatever may be of use in the dis
;overy, the dissemination and the ex-
of truth, as illustrated by
'ur existing School of Education, This
Democracy in Education; and all |
his can be done without in any sense
interference with the free |
ION OF any part of our educational
ystem, or with the opportunity for
ocal initiative, or with good concep.
ions OF local self-government.
The success of this amendment.
therefore,, seems to be the beginning
I great movement to set free from