The independent-reporter., 1910-08-11
ROBERT .SPRAGUE EN-
D0RSED FOR j OF NJ
Influential Sentiment Exists for His
Appointment.

Just now those people who are in
terested in the University OF Maine
are asking the question Who will be
the resident? The answer is that
all over the State there is strong
popular endorsement of Professor
Robert J. Sprague and educators ev-
erywhere are expressing themselves
N his behalf and are using their in
huence to have him appointed to the
presidency of the State University
The following expression OF one of
he friends the university in Bangor
seems to echo the opinion Of many
others:
I'VE want a Maine man at the head
of the university, one who has Maine
interests at heart, and who under
stands Maine conditions-one who
has many acquaintances in the State
and is familiar with its whole terri
tory, and who understands and sym
pathizes with its people. And. he
continued, we want a young man
who desires to live in the State and
work out its educational problems;
one already familiar with the uni
versity and its administration. pUl-
poses and faculty. And more than
that we want one who viii be es-
pecially popular with the student
body-you know the last Prism. The
university year book, was dedicated
to Professor Sprague. so that proves
that he has the student body With him
good and strong"
An interested friend of the Jniyer-
sity of Maine. and one who is in
close touch with the institution, in
Portland, although not in a position
to go on public record as endorsing
anyone in particular. recently said:
Il fully appreciate what it would
mean to the University of Maine to
have such a man as Professor
Sprague at the head of it. In addi-
ton to being a Maine man, with all
of it's interests at heart, and the full
est knowledge of its social and in
dustral questions, he has had broad
educational training in this country
aud abroad. He has all the academic
degrees and he has had considerable
business experience in both the east
and the west and l tell you what il
is, a college president has got to be a
! business man. as we'll as a scholar
! however
spent most of his life in college and
university work. | personally know
that he has been connected with Ohio
Wesleyan university. Boston uniyer-
/ sity. Harvard university Knox col
] lege and the University of Maine. He
also has a permanent appointment on
the staff of the Carnegie institute at
Washington. He has had experience
/ in preparatory schools, too, having
/ taught at East Maine Conference
seminary. and Kent's Hill. Besides
] this he has done special work abroad
4 he has studied in several countries
of Europe. To my mind that is the
i kind of man that the University OF
/ Maine needs and must have to make
/ it the sort of institution Maine peo-
pie want il to be-and ! am glad tC
/ hear that there is a likelihood OF
such a man filling the position
/ believe, more than all this. though
that Professor Sprague is man who
has decided opinions as to how the
institution can best serve the State
in a more practical and helpful way.
| | believe, too, he could make the in
stituton so popular that there would
not be any need of log rolling at
Augusta every time the legislature
meets
1t has been discovered since the
movement began that Professor
Sprague has many supporters. not
only in Bangor and Portland, but all
over the State who believe that he
would make very desirable eXecu-
tive of the university and that he
would be a very wise choice should
he be called to the presidency
He has lectured in many of the
towns in the State and is often called
upon to speak on civic and economic
questions of which he has thorough
knowledge. AS a lecturer he is con-
sidered one of the best and the de-
mands on his time for lecturing have
become so extensive that trade and
religious and civic organizations of
nearly every city in the State have
during the past year. heard Profess
sor Sprague.