Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1913-03-12
STATEMENT FROM
PRESIDENT M|LNER
Refutes Arguments Of Those Favoring
Consolidation of A. and M. Col
lege and State University.

II we are to take into account the
momentary humors and disposition OF
men and things, 1t would seem that
there is some danger of the Agricul-
tural and Mechanical College being
moved to Austin. The miraculous con-
version of the Dallas News to the
scheme is little surprising in view
OF the fact that it was so sudden. But
neither the News nor the other advo-
Gates of moving the college to Austin
have seriously weighed the argument
on either side. All the arguments that
can be adduced now in favor of NOV
ing the college to Austin existed at
all times in the past and the late
"emeute" at the college neither
strengthened nor weakened that posi-
tion. The recent troubles at the col
lege, in the opinion OF all fair-minded
and sagacious men, have entrenched
discipline behind a student sentiment
which will grow stronger and stronger
in the future and thus make it impos.
sible for a recurrence of anything like
strike"
The fact that California, Wisconsin
and Illinois have built up large and
influential universities, in which agri-
culture is taught, is not even an ingen-
iOus argument in favor of consolida-
tion. The fact that the News excepted
the University OF Illinois, the greatest
of them all, from its list of successful
/ consolidated schools shows how little
that paper has investigated this i'm
portant question. No question has
been discussed in Texas, by men of
intelligence, in which there has been
displayed more ignorance or animos-
| ity than in the discussion of this very
question of higher education. The con.
tention that the university and the
college of agriculture have been con-
solidated in California, Wisconsin and
Illinois furnishes no argument in favor
of consolidation; but; on the other
hand. when compared with States hav-
ing separate and Independent schools,
the proof is abundant and uncontro-
vertibly in favor of the latter.
The University of California has a
total enrolment of 1906 students; only
400 are agricultural students, or per
cent The University of Illinois has
4S43 students; 631 are agricultural
students, or 13 per cent. The Univer-
sity of Wisconsin, the one about which
more is said and less is known than
sny other school in the group, has
4149 students; 609, or IA per cent only,
are agricultural students. Now let US
consider a few States in the same
group whose universities and agricul-
tural and mechanical colleges have
been Independent of each other from
the beginning: The University of In
diana has 1902 students; Purdue, the
school of agriculture and technology,
has 1917; IS per cent OF whom are
agricultural students, or s per cent OF
the total number of the two institu-
tions. And it is but just to say that
the scientific werk which Purdue is
doing is not surpassed in any institu-
ton in the country while its work
along lines of engineering is second
only to the Boston School of Tech
nology. The University of Kansas has
2403 students; the Kansas Agricul-
tural College has 1875. 26 per cent OF
whom are agricultural students, or 3
per cent of the total number OF the
two schools. The University of Mich
Iigan has 1880 students; the Michigan
Agricultural College has 1919, Al per
cent of whom are agricultural stu
dents. or 8 per cent Of the total num-
ber in both institutions. In the Uni
versity of Iowa there are 2066 stu
dents; there are 1871 in the Iowa Agri-
cultural and Mechanical College, 40
per cent of whom are agricultural
students, or 81 per cent Of the total
number of the two schools, So 1t Will
be seen that larger percentage OF
students are studying agriculture in
the independent agricultural and me-
chanical colleges than in the consoli'
dated universities.
Is that all that can be said in favor
of the system of establishing and keep
ing the agricultural and mechanical
colleges separate and independent OF
the State universities? Not half One
person out of each 449 in Michigan
attends either one or the other OF its
two State schools above mentioned
and in addition to them Michigan has
flourishing school of mines, inde'
pendent of the other two. In the much
overrated State of Wisconsin one per
son out of 564 sees the light of Its