The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-05-15
THE ISSUE EVADED

Aberdeen's scheme of developing a
big state educational institution for the
benefit of Aberdeen but at the expense
Of the state. is so purely selfish in its
origin that the people of Aberdeen APP
parently can see nothing but selfish
ness In any opposition to the plan. For
example, the Aberdeen newspapers try
TO make their readers believe that
Regent Hitchcock and the Mitchell Re
publican are actuated solely by a de-
sire to build up the UNCONVENTIONAL col
lege in Mitchell, when they protest
against the plan of Aberdeen to de-
velop a second university there.
Now as it happens, the very course
desired by the Aberdeen partisans is
the one most calculated to build up the
university at Mitchell. And the plan
evolved by Regent Hitchcock for the
consolidation of the states education
al institutions for the purpose OF de-
veloping a few strong institutions, in
place OF a larger number of weak
ones, is the one most likely TO injure
the Dakota Wesleyan University. For
II ought TO be perfectly clear that If
there should be developed in South Da-
kota a state university like that of
Wisconsin and a state college like that
OF Ames, the Dakota Wesleyan would
be subjected to the keenest OF competi-
ton for her students. If, on the other
hand, Aberdeen's ambitions are grant
ed, there will be two universities, one
in the north part of the state and one
in the south part, meaning that neither
one could ever have any high stand
ing in the educational field and open
ing wide the field to Dakota Wesleyan.
But, even granting for the moment
that those in Mitchell who do not APP
prove of prostituting the revenues of
the state for the furtherance of Aber-
deems business ambition, were actual
ed by loyalty to the Dakota Wesleyan,
that really has nothing 10 do with the
merits OF the question. Let the mo-
tives of individuals be what they may,
they cannot either justify or condemn
any policy IL considered upon its real
worth. Aberdeen will be Obliged to
find some better argument upon which
to ask the state TO build a second uni
v~ersity in Aberdeen than simply call
ing Hitchcock a king or an egotist.
The question involved in the refer
endum of the law adding a collegiate
department to the Aberdeen Normal, is
really a vital one to the states educa-
tional policies. Give Aberdeen a chance
a mere start, and she will secure her
university, all right. When it comes
to political maneuvering, Aberdeen
can give Vermillion cards and spades
and still win out. This was demon
strated only last winter, when the
Brown county members and the Aber-
deem Commercial CLUB actually sue
ceeded in clubbing the Clay county
members into line for the first step
toward the establishment of a second
university at Aberdeen. Think of it!
Aberdeen clubs Vermillion into sup,
porting a scheme to build a rival insti-
tuition in competition with the state
university at Vermillion! Why, If this
keeps on, 1t will be necessary for some
body to nail down the capitol building
whenever the Aberdeen politicians in
wade Pierre. Allow Aberdeen to keep
the advantage of an entering wedge
for a state university at Aberdeen, and
there Is no reason to doubt that the
city will eventually obtain the object of
her efforts and that two universities
will be saddled upon the taxpayers of
the state.-Mitchell Daily Republican.