The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-01-19
ARGUMENT FOR THE CONSOLIDATION IS GIVEN HERE
Letters From college Presidents Written in 1892 Used in the mm dM Present Plan

Following is the text of a circular
sent out through the state last week
by the supporters of the consolidation
plan. It is published here at their
request M in The Missoulian's de-
sire to give both sides of this ques-
ton a fair hearing. 1t is only fair to
state, however, that these letters were
written 20 years ago, when the Mon
tana institutions had not been located.
The great educational experts of
the nation endorse the plan for the
consolidation of higher educational
institutions, and proclaim with one
voice scatter you secondary schools
but consolidate our higher %institu-
tons of learning" 1t may be truth
fully said that practically all the great
university presidents, all the foremost
educational experts of the nation, en-
dorse the plan for the consolidation
of the higher institutions of learning
in Montana. They unite in saying
that it means not only more efficient
instruction for the youth of the state,
but the saving even of millions of
ollar to the commonwealth in the
coming years. 1t has been shown that
even at the present time the state
Will save $15O,000 a year in running
expenses if the schools are put to-
gether, and vast sums, if we are ever
to have in this state a We'll equipped
university. 1t is folly; it is almost a
crime for the state to undertake to
administer four higher institutions
when it has not none enough to ad-
minister one.
Twenty Years Ago.
Twenty years ago when the poll
t%icians, to crafty their own selfish
ambitions, were threatening to estab~
Ish four higher institutions of learns
ing, the educators of 10Th the state
and of the nation cried out against
the outrage. The State Teachers AS.
ISOLATION, assembled at Missoula, unan-
imously petitioned the legislature
not to scatter these schools but to
build up one strong university. The
legislature did not heed the protest of
h teachers of the state. One great
law maker, one prominent member of
that legislature, declared that he had
helped to scatter the higher %institu>
lions, but in so doing he had COM
mitted a crime. Below is given the
opinions of a few of the score of
great educators who twenty years ago
plead for a consolidated university.
Most important, perhaps, of these let
ters, is that of the illustrious Andrew
d. White, which is given almost in
full. The arguments he sets forth are
as unansWerable today as in 1892, /;
when they were written:
President Andrew D.. White, U. S..
Minister to Russia, Ex-President of
Cornell University, wrote:
Il regret to learn that there is an
effort making in your state to divide
and scatter the schools for advanced
instruction and research, namely, the
State University, the School of Mines
and the Agricultural College.
II trust that you will not think me
meddling or intrusive if, in view of
the great Importance of the subject
to your noble state and the country
at large, 1 address you on the sub
ject.
Il do so simply as an American
citizen interested, like all my fellow
citizens, to have the splendid endow>
ments given by the nation, by the
states, and by public spirited indi-
viduals used to the best advantage,
and I trust that this fact will be my
excuse for writing you.
ALLOW me to say in addition, that,
as you may know, I labored long and
successfully to prevent such a mis-
take in the state of New York. | was
at the time opposed strongly by many
of the best men in the state, but there
is not n Of them who will not ac-
knowledge now, that they We're wrong
in attempting to scatter the resources
for advanced education, and that i,
was most fortunate that better coun-
sells prevailed, and that one adequate
institution was provided for the state,
instead of several Wretchedly imper-
feet ones.
Each must have a. library, each
must have buildings, and each must
have, to a considerable extent, profess