The log cabin Democrat., 1911-01-21
HURT OPPOSES
TILLMAN'S PLAN
COLLEGE CONSOLIDATION
WOULD NOT BE ADVANTAGE
Gus, THINKS CONWAY
MINISTER.

Rev. J. J. Hurt of Conway appeared
in the Little Rock Gazette several
days ago, but other demands on our
space have been such that the Log
Cabin Democrat could not reproduce
it earlier. The paper is one worthy
of careful consideration by everyone
interested in education:
Editor Arkansas Gazette:
In your issue of several days since
there was published an address which
was delivered before the Arkansas
State Teachers Association by my
good friend, President j. N. Tillman,
of the University of Arkansas. l
have waited for some one of the
states leading educators to show the
utter impracticability of the views
advocated. However, the services of
an educational expert do not seem re-
quisite to the task, which fact ac-
counts for the lines that follow.
The substance of President Till
mans plan is as follows: That the
legislatures of the several states of
the osuth and west invite all reputable
religious organizations to provide de-
, nominational adjuncts to the state
universities, in the form of suitable
buildings on the university campus,
and that in these buildings there shall
be given, by representative men of
the several denominations, instruction
in theology and religion as under
stood by the denominations furnishing
the course. THE work of this de-
nominational college," says he,
"should be confined exclusively to Bi-
BE study and doctrinal teaching and
the preparation of its students for
the ministry, or missionary and relig-
ious labors."
President Tillman's proposed "mer-
ger" of all the colleges of the state
into the State University rests upon
the following theories, which he ad-
/
vances as arguments: (D The tend
ency of the times is toward consoli-
fctiCr; (2( Such a merger would
bring about harmony among the col
leges and university, (3) The expense
of education would be greatly cheap
ened; (4 Education, after all, is an
affair of the state.
will notice each of these theories,
and then give several reasons why the
unmerged UNCONVENTIONAL college is
an indispensable factor in our educa-
tional system.
/. President Tillman says, ''the
trend of the times is toward consoli-
dation." but he does not give us evil
dence to show that this is any lauda-
Die tribute to the times. He offers the
statement that during recent years
the New York Central and the Penn
sylvania railroads have, by repeated
mergers, greatly reduced the cost of
operation and added to their efficien-
oy and net earnings. But the state
ment is not added that these two rail
road systems are thought by some to
have excelled all the rest in political
and commercial iniquity. He evident
ly forgets that a student of economic
conditions has declared in a recent
magazine article, and pointedly, that
it is no longer proper to address a
certain senator as the senator from
New York Central" The many cases
which crowded our courts few years
back growing out of the Pennsylvania
railroads favoritism to the coal mines
in which its chief stockholders were
heavily interested, are too fresh in
our minds for illustrations drawn
from that source to have much pith.
The Arkansas Gazette of this date
chonicles the very suggestive news
that 13 great transportation compa-
MES have just been sued by the fed
eral government for unlawful combin-
alton; and another news item states
that two railway companies and a
steel company have been fined S40,-
600 each for unlawful conduct. Had
the maximum penalty been imposed
it would have been $7,450,000.
Theer may be too much consolida-
CaofnlDpirtc rNpnftu l1Hr
admit that two points at which Amer
lean government has failed thus far
are in the management of her cities
and in, the control of her consolidated
interests. May be we had better hold
up on the increase of consolidation