The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-05-16
F. C. Howe Says Wisconsin
Leads Union in Great
Reforms.
FOLLOWS GERMANY IN WORK
Head of Peoples Institute in New York
Declares That State University is
Doing Great Work for United States
as Well as for Wisconsin.
t.sassz EESSEE

Wisconsin is doing for America
what Germany is doing for the world.
1t is an experiment station in politics,
in social and in industrial legislation,
in characterization of science and
higher education 1t is state wide
laboratory in which popular govern
ment lis being tested in its reaction on
the people, on the distribution of
wealth on social well being"
So says DR.. Frederick c. Howe, new
head of the People Institute of New
York City, in his volume just issued,
entitled, 'Wi sconsin-An Experiment
in DemocraeI"
"The American state is probably
our most conspicuous political fail
ure," continues DR.. Howe. cit has
not awakened the interest of reform
ers as has the city. Nor has it arous-
ed the ambitions of men, as has the
national government.
Wisconsin has raised the state
from the lowest estate into which it
had fallen and converted it into a
vital political agency. In few
year s time Wisconsin has become the,
most efficient commonwealth in the
Union.
"The university is largely response
BILE for the progressive legislation that
has made Wisconsin so widely known
as a pioneer" declares DR.. Howe.
HsThe university is the nerve center
of the commonwealth, inpelling it to
action in almost every field of
activity.
Wisconsin has bred a spirit of
service that IS unique. There is
nothing like it IN America. 1t sug-
gests the existence of an instinct for
public work that we have rarely Of
fered an opportunity to develop. Men
talk about public affairs in Madison,
they talk city, state and nation, the
problems of the farmer and the work
er, as in no other place I have ever
been.
The university is the state re-
search laboratory, continues DR..
Howe. There is scarcely big leg
islative measure that has not been
thoroughly studied at the university
and in Madison before It was placed
on the statute book of the state. Me
chanical, medical and health prob
lens, the reform of the judiciary aud
criminal procedure, the care of indig-
ent and criminal classes, the conser-
walton Of water power and forests, all
these have been ta9 sabiect of scien
tiic Investigation 2oas before they
were iu.taiaeat as legislation.
''The unitarian activities of the
have not interfered with
the acadeu,ic standards Or high ideals
of research and scholarship. For the
encourages research, it
maintains Nigh standards Of scholar
ship, and its faculty is filed with men
of eminence in their respective fields.
"While comparisons are difficult 1
should say that the achievements and
standards Of tie university are equal
to those of the privately endowed uni
versities Of the east, and that the
publicity given to the agricultural
and extension departments, has led to
more critical standards than would
otherwise obtain. The university has
made notable contributions to science,
while its professors are constantly be-
ing called to other institutions.
"The close contact of the univer-
sity with the state has vitalized its
life. It has done much for the pro-
fessors; it has done more for the stu
dents. There is an atmosphere of en-
of interest in things that
are that is different from anything I
know in any other institution Of
learning in America