The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-26
Objects to. Having the Fees at
University Increased.
BLOW AT POOR MAN.
That Would Be Effect Of Larger
Fees.
No Worthy Person Should Be
Refused Admittance There.


a free state university for Kansas.
General w. H. Sears of Lawrence,
Kan, talks Interestingly on this topic.
He is here attending to some matters
before the executive departments. Re-
ferring to an interview with him which
appeared in the State Journal on jan
uary 2, on the subject of abolition of
all fees at the University of Kansas.
the general said:
1 am very much pleased at the re-
ception of my interview in Kansas. /
have received many letters from Kan
sas peoples commenting the stand I
have taken, and even here in Wash
ington3 the Kansans I meet warmly
approve. Among the many commune
cations I have received, the one that
pleases me most is a. letter from DR..
Frank Strong, chancellor of. the Kan
sas University. When the fight was
on before the legislature some years
ago to increase the fees, then the
ing for, fee system. And SO I want
to take off my hat to Chancellor
Strong now. His heart as well as his
head is right-on the side of the far
mers and the plain common people
of the great state of Kansas. AS this
letter was not, written to me in con-
fidence, l will give it for the State
Journal readers should know his po-
sition on this vital question
The University of Kansas,
Ca L L.
Dear General w. H. Sears: I was
interested in reading the dispatch
from Washington. in the Topeka State
Journal In regard to your views about
the fees charged at the University OF
Kansas I wish to thank you for the
same, and to say that have seen som e
indications of a movement to largely
increase the fees CHARGED at the uni
versity. 1 hope that You will be in
terested against the movement.
To- iy1a he foo az a II r.
sity for the purpose of raising reve-
nue. is simply to put tax on boys
and girls who in large numbers pay
either considerable part or the whole
of their way through the university
Large fees are direct blow at the
poor man and his children and are
contrary to the interests of democracy.
81 do not object to a small fee so
long as it is not large enough to be IN
any sense a tuition. It should not be
a burden even upon the poor man and
his children, but should be just enough
to keep out the f1oaters or those who
are not seriously interested lin educa-
ton, and whom the state could not af-
ford to spend its money upon. Thank
ing you again, am sincerely yours,
FRANK STRONG, Chancellor,' =
Every member of the Kansas. leglS-
lature should read the chancellor's, let
ter on this important subject, which is
a message Of hope and opportunity to
the poor boys and girls of the state"
continued General Sears. 1.-The text,
the keynote of this magnificent letter
is found in this sentence: Large fees
are direct blow at the poor man ana
his children. and are contrary to the
interests of democracy. This is
trumpet call to the voters of the state
to restore this great university to the
children of the people who. while, they
are now paying more than half ana
perhaps two-thfrds of the taxes levied
for its support, are too poor to send
their children to it and pay the Excess
sive fees charged.
I'm other words most of these poor
boys. and girls need the money that is
now taken from them for fees, to pay
for their books. board, clothes and in
cidentals, during the school years. And
let me say that the boy that earns
money enough during the vacation to
paw for these absolutely necessary ex-
penses has difficulties enough to make
both ends meet. and has paid enough
to make him appreciate his opportun1-
ties, and to be grateful to generous,
a just state for them. For the motto
of all free governments should be, The
greatest good for ALL and that is what
a free university means.
kansas is already famed the world
over for having the lowest per cent of
iIliteracy of any state in the Union.
Let us not lose this proud distinction.
Let us open wide the door of oppor-
tunity and let no Kansas boys or girls
be refused admittance when they knock
at the door of our state university, be-
| cause of the fees charged.
Rather than turn one poor, eager,
ambitious boy away, who might become
great in the field of science, invention
| or discovery, and, SO enrich the world
| for all time, as Edison has done, rathe:'
| than refuse him admittance, / would
make this great, proud university ap-
solutely free forever.
Present this grave question to the
members of the Kansas legislature in
its true light, and 1 believe they Will
vote unanimously to abolish all fees,
and at the same time give the unlveS-
| sity enough money for maintenance So
that the fees will not be needed.
State Senator Louis P. King of Cow
| ley county was right when he said:
| Small as my taxes are, would gladly
| pay 81 a year more for the sake OF a
| free university for the poor boys and
| girls of this state This is the senti-
1 ment that should actuate the members
of the Kansas legislature today. The
perpetuity of free government depends
| upon the widest possible extension of
| free education, and the higher the
| training that can be given the masses.
| the more surely will republican insti-
| tutions endure.
"aThere are two classes of schools in
| this country for the higher education
of the people. One is supported by
| endowment and tuition; the other, by
i taxation. are publicly controlled. and
| are known as state universities. There
/ are few of the second class in the
| east, only one in all New England;
the privately endowed tuition insti-
j tutions predominating, while in the
west the leading institutions of learn
ing are the state universities.
There was a time when these uni
versities were more or less dominated
by political parties; but in the main
4 they are now practically divorced from
II politics; and as the alumni of these
schools increased from year to year,
and became influential in their states.
and more and more controlled public
sentiment, they brought the people to
understand and appreciate the value
to the state of higher education. and