The Washington times., 1910-04-05
James Fears pet Project"
May Be Jeopardized, De-
clareS Harlan.
QUOTES LETTERS
SENT TO EDUCATORS
Says Grant Would Be Drop in
Bucket" Compared With Ma
tional University Needs.

An explanation Of the vigorous oppo-
sition of President James. OF the Uni
versity Of Illinois. 20 the proposal that
the benefits Of the Morrill, acts be ex-
tended TO the District Of Columbia. Is
given today by DR.. Richard D. Harlan,
Of George Washington University.
In a statement 20 The Times. DR..
Harlan charges that President James
has a pet project" in the proposed
National University which he would
like 10 see estal !ished in Washington,
and that he fea-s the granting Of the
Morrill, appropriation Of $4,000 a year
10 the District. through George Wash
ington University, would be discOuras-
ing 10 the greater enterprise.
DR.. Harlan points out that President
James admits that IL such an institu-
tion is ever created II viii be for post
graduate work, and he says that while
II would be great thing Tor a COM
paratively few students from the coup-
try at large it would be Of no direct,
material benefit 70 the young people
Of the District Of Columbia, who are in
immediate need Of opportunity for un-
dergraduate study.
Immediate Benefits Proposed
DR.. Harlan makes the further point
that the Morrill, fund would be but a
drop in the bucket OF appropriation
which It would be necessary for the
Government TO haul forth for a nation
al university
Celebrating his statement that what
George Washington University proposes
/ is immediate benefits for local young
| people, and that what President James
wants Is a national institution which
| takes no cognizance Of local needs, Dr.
l Harlan said:
WHY does President James OF the
4 Illinois University, continue TO lombard
/ the members Of Congress with his pc
! titions against the Galllnger Boutell
/ bfl2 What is his motive?
Most unwittingly, DR.. Jazaes has an
swared that question himself, in the
course OF a private circular tetter which
he sent out over a year ago 10 the
/ presidents of all the universities and
/ colleges OF the land that arc now ad-
ministering the Morrill, appropriations
| for their respective states
Quotes From Letter.
by accident that letter came into
our possession. After saying that this
/ bill would set apart the same sum OF
money for the District that is now given
to the various States under the Morrill,
acts, his letter go IS on 20 ask a aues-
| ton which uncove 8 the real motive for
1 the strange zeal Y hich President James
| is showing in his efforts TO defeat what
we sincerely believe 10 be the only
/ plan that Is. at the present tir1e, feasible
/ for providing the young peo 0le Of the
District with the practical forms Of
| education called for under the Morrill,
acts. President James seif-revealing
question is as follows:
" Is It not wiser for this money % go
/ 70 the National University. v-bicb ousR+
I 10 be established in the District Of Co
1 lumbla and which surely will he estab-
I lished in the course Of time, rather than
I 70 a private undertaking. II this is
/ your view, I wish you would write
| strongly upon this subject 20 your Sen
/ atOrs and let them know the sentiment
1 Of the Land-Grant Colleges on this sub
/ Ject'
President James bill for a national
/ university was presented 70 the Sixtieth
/ Congress II provides for graduate
| work Of a very advanced character, re
quiring the degree Of master Of arts as
/ a condition Of entrance. which is high
| er standard even than Johns Hopkins.
/ II calls for an initial subsidy of 10000.
| leaving the further special subsidies
! and the large annual appropriations 10
! be determined after the National Uni
/ versity camel gets his head and front
/ feet inside the rent
! DENIAL NOT convincing.
| at the hearing before the House Com
/ mittee President James protested that
/ the campaign which he has organized
! against the Gallinger-Boutel bill had
/ nothing to do with his own ambitious
1 project. To the dis.nteresteG and candid
/ mind, his denial was not very convinc-
| ing. That circular letter of February
/ 1g09. was the beginning and the inspiring
/ motive Of the campaign he has been
| waging against the Gallinger-B BOutel
/ bill for the past fourteen months.
/ IF the two things had no connection,
why did he indicate in that letter that,
! in his Judgment, IL would be wiser
that the same sum Of money that has
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