The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-02-20
PRESIDENT wIDTsoE REPLIES.

On Monday last The Tribune print
ed memorandum from a gentleman
Of Salt Lake City pointing out what
he construed to be certain violations
of law in the course of study in the
Agricultural College. In considering
that memorandum we offered the Ag-
ricultural College equal space with that
which the memorandum occupied to re-
ply to it. President Widtsoe of that
College has responded to the offer, his
reply being as follows:
Logan. Utah. Feb. II. 1918
Editor Tribune have Just read the
editorial entitled 1.-THE Agricultural Col
lege" IN your Issue OF February nth, and
TO reply to the charges made in said edl-
torial by an unnamed critic OF Salt Lake
City,
Were It not that you have taken editorial
notice of the matter, We should pay no
attention to the memorandum OF the un-
named ''observant gentleman" who feels
so insecure that he dares not use his
own name, but must hide under the edi-
torial shadow Men OF the Agricultural
College sign such communica tions.
The Agricultural College is strictly law
abiding. 1t endeavors to be OF the great
est possible service to the State within
the laws governing It. 1t does not wish
to become a university, or to go outside
OF Its defined field of work. 1t does. how
to be as good and up to date and big
visloned an Agricultural College as any
In the land, so far as the needs Of Utah
demand and the available funds permit.
memorandum, almost identical with
the one you print, was presented only
few weeks ago in the course OF a hear
Ing before several leading State officials.
The Agricultural College there made It's
a nd -rIoa 1fG1- bn
was so anxious TO enter your columns that
he could not take time to ask for the
Agricultural College version OF his find
ings, is probably well aware of the an
swers then made by the college
Meanwhile. in direct answer to the COM
naunication:
Agricultural College makes 1t mandatory
that elementary commerce he taught, but
does not prohibit the teaching Of ad
vanced commerce. The Utah Agrlcul-
ing the first western institution TO es-
Ia blsh A course in commerce leading to
a degree. This course has been given
uninterruptedly since il was established
sent OF the State officials. The courses in
law, government; etc. which the memo
randum- maker has observed. are only
such as are needed IN a first class COM
msrcial course A closer examination OF
the catalogue will show that TO be true.
Almost every institution standing for
edges the necessity OF giving greater at
tention to commerce as profession and
as a part OF the education Of every
worker. This is notably true in agri-
fruitsrowers. last summer, show the
intimate INTERPOLATION OF agriculture and
commerce An agricultural college must
maintain strong departments OF economics
and commerce.
.. II It be true that the Agricultural
College gives more work In English than
does the University. II can only be due
to the greater appreciation by the col
lege Of the mother tongue The college
lays very little stress upon the foreign
languages; il does attempt to drive deep
" Into It's students the power to use the
English language and an apprec!ative
| understanding OF its beauty. The mem
orandum- maker should make another
! memorandum to the effect that the mod
| ern farmer. and all industrial workers
| of today, whether aristocrats Will or no,
shall share fully In such liberal arts as
English and music. However as stuff
| for another memora ndum it may be OBJ
served that the only instruction in music
given by the college is in the choir glee
club band and orchestra. All other
music instruction Is arranged for pri-
vately between the Instructor and the stu
dent. without any expense TO the state.
| There Is no violation OF the law in train
| Ing the farmer boy and farmer girl TO
use and 10 appreciate English or TO enjoy
music.
g. No work In peda gogy IS given by
the Agricultural College, excepting the
course in the summer school This is a
| course OF two hours daily for six weeks,
given chiefly at the request OF the teach
ers OF northern Utah who assemble at
Logan IN the summer TO carry on ad-
va anced work. and who desire review
course in some branch Of pedagogy. This
course has been given for many years
with the approval OF the State Board OF
Ea Tnonn The io the is S
randum- maker The teachers course in
home economics-a class OF three hours
weekly through one year-ls necessary
to complete the survey given in any COL
lege course of home economics. No prac-
tice work In teaching Is given but the
uses TO which home economics are put in
q professional way are discussed. IL,
Technically. this one class IS In violation
Of the law. the college authorities win be
glad 10 withdraw IT.
The Agricultural College alone. by
State law. can give college degrees I'm ag-
riculture and home economics. For that
reason Agricultural College graduates
have been used largely and should be so
schools OF the State. In every case how
ever. these graduates have been obliged
and are obliged TO obtaln their profes-
slous work in teaching elsewhere. New
ertheess, the Federal law. under which
Congress makes appropriations 10 the
agricultural colleges. makes IL obligatory
agriculture and home economics. The
Utah College has. up TO the present
disobeyed the Federal Jaw so as to respect
the State law.
Finally. r any doubt exist as 10 the
legality OF the work done by the Agri.
cultural College or the University, per-
nit me TO suggest that the two institu-
tions ask the Legislature, now IN ses-
sion. so TO amend the existing laws that
there can be no doubt about tho Legality
OF am work done by either institution.
May I. IN conclusion, ask why. in youI
opinion. an 'ooservant gentleman" o.
Salt Lake should rush into print with hi:
memora ndum just now. when the Legls-
lature is in session? Also. what IL IN,
| nernora ndum- makers name7
Thanking you for your many courtesle:
20 the Agricultural College, l am. very
sincerely. JOHN A. W1DTSOE.
! As to the sufficiency Of the abov'