Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-12
Educators of All States Will
Back Crusade for Fed
eraI Institution.
BILL BEING PREPARED,
WILL GO TO CONGRESS
President Wilson's Influence Desired
to Promote Project-Great
Future Predicted.

federal university in Washington,
such as the University of Paris and the
University OF Berlin, with 1000 stu
dents,
Such is the plan of the National As
socialtion Of state Universities, which
ended its eighteenth annual meeting here
last night, and today Edmund J. James.
president of the University of Illinois, Is
preparing a bill TO provide for such an
institution. TO be introduced in Congress
as soon as the regular session of that
body begins in December.
Tie association has approved the re-
port of its committee on national uni
versity according to a statement made
today at the University Club by Mr.,
James. who is remaining in Washington
for conferences on tie subject.
I4 has been appointed chairman of q
committee to draft the bill and submit II
20 President Wilson. the other two mem
hers OF the committee being W y. IhoHlp-
son. president Of the Ohio State Untver-
ST. and Brown Ayers, president OF the
Il ssnessec State University
asreed or General Plan.
.We have not decided who will intro
said to,ay. ..uor the exact date when we
viii request that be heard by the
President. Ii may he said. however. that
thc committee has agreed on the general
oattiue of the proposed measure.
III may also be said that the pressure
for the paSsa &c of this bill will come upon
Senators and representatives from their
home districts. and that no attempt is TO
he made III Washington TO urge It, beyond
81 attempt to obtain the support of Presi-
dent Wilson
We shall as. Tor "A preliminary appro-
i, istipn Of 500 600 for the purpose OF
or.anization. such rs obtaining a location
III Washington. beginning To condemn
land FOR sites, etc. The bill will contain
paSai OF a board of control 10 be ap-
pointed by the President Of the United
states
Previous Projects.
Some previous projects for this led
eral university which has been talked
of since the time OF George Washington.
who suggested Ii. have been based on
having q number of members OF the fed
eEaI government. such as the Chief JUS
tic.. Of the Supreme Court of the United
states ex officio members Of the proposed
board of control. We shall not use that
idea in the bill Our idea Is that efficiency
can be best promoted hv having board
II control appointed by the President for
the special purpose, which Will not be
touched by political influence, and whose
members will be selected, in all ikeli-
hood with some consideration for geo
graphical distribution In regard to their
residence. 50 that as much as possible
OF the United States may be represented
in It's membership.
We want special men on the board.
with long terms. probably OF twelve years
each. one-third of the board to go out Of
ofiice every four years.
No Names Suggested.
NJ names have vet been suggested to
IT,. President FOR the board Of control
ana il may he tuat none will be suggest
- 10 him ov IS. Working with the
Hoard ii control. ". shall provide III the
sill that there shall be an advisory board
made ~ ot delegate from each state
univeySity and III states where there is no
state university want the delegate on
the advisory board designated BY the
legislature of that state.
such 4 system OF government, we be-
.i.ve. would be found To be nationally
representative ~ all times in making up
the policy OF the university. We shall
provide in the bill that the advisory board
may 1T any time hold up the action of
the board Of control until the latter board
has -.coHsidered Sich action and re-
AEFstett+tt II II tttittI upon 10 90 So On the
advisory board. Majorities viii rule
naer such a system the south will
LaE" Just a. much 10 Say about coiored
~t1depts ~ indian states would haye to
say about indian students the eastern
states would have as much TO sav
ABOUT tNell students rs amy other see
tlof and on
Provides Annual Sessions.
Ne shall provide in the bill that the
advisory board shall hold public ses-
sions annually in Washington.
This would be an institution for ad-
Naneed work. IL will compare, when
established, with the University of
Paris and the University of Berlin.
The latter has 1900 students. who
come from all over the world One OF
the advantages OF such "A university in
Washington would be its attraction TO
students OF foreign countries who by
residence here. would be influenced
by our ideas ana affairs in which thcS.
would take part and which they would
observe at close range.
ITO illustrate: The Chinese revolution
was Initiated and carried through bv men
who Lad been educated in this country
We have sixty Chinese students In the
F-niEersity OF Illinois. When they =,
back t. China they viii know all about
the best things that are To be had in tn,
United states, just how and when and
where to get them. \ Chinese student
= e. Wang. took course in railwt,
administration 1T the University OF mi
nois. II. is now second man in contro
~ the national railway system in China
II am told That there are 5000 youn.
men attending the European universitie.
from South America. When the fedora
government establishes this national uni
verSitS here st Washington J.Uu0 mer
and more VIII Co!ue 10 Washington
~ shall probably have more. thai
l..uso students il this national universit,
here at Washington, some day All ma
t,ons will come 10 us. for the sake o.
what wc Will have 10 offer We shall
be placed like Il city on a hill.
Not even sir. Rockefellers s 5. 900 600 q /.
could do mucn Tor the United Sfa,a
IS this feGersI university would do Thor
az. - Washington already tremeDdou
sources q education. especially arnot.
iiie S6N Nerumant collections and in th
Library cT ong-aS~ ono of th.. creates
libraries - ssae wprlc Washington nj,
iDGoLbtat.t become 4 great arf centc.