The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1913-05-08
CITIZENS OPPOSE
REFERENDUM
MASS MEETING HELD LAST WEEK
Prominent Speakers Urge That Petition
be not Allowed TO Kill Appropriation
for University of Oregon

strongly backing the petitions that are
being circulated for the purpose of in
yoklng the referendum against the
University of Oregon appropriation
bllla. DR.. j. f. Watt presided at the
meeting, and speeches were delivered
by Miss Emma Void, DR.. j. X. Wilson
and A. II. Harris, of Portland, and
County Attorney Wilbur, of this city.
DR.. Wilson is president of the Portland
Academy and MIR. Harris is editor of
the Portland Labor Press.
Miss Void said that she had been for
the past week in all of the principal
cities of eastern Oregon and that every
where she head the complaint: What
is the matter with Hood River?"
Il am out combating the referen-
dun" she said, because of the fact
that the University of Oregon has done
a great deal for me and my family.
But more than all else because the ref
erendum is menace TO the higher edu-
cation of the state of Oregon The
referendum would tear down all of our
institutions Of higher education. We
believe rather in a reconstruction, an
evolution rather than a revolution.
Among the reasons that we main
tain our educational institutions, one
of the greatest is that of their CONNER
cial value. People already have their
eyes on us, as state that has allowed
our Oregon System turned mainly
against appropriations for institutions
Of higher education. Senator Bailey
in his farewell speech to the United
States senate called attention to this
fact. A prominent Boston educator in
an article that has had wide cireua-
ton, warned the people of Massachu-
setts to beware of voting for plan
whereby such problems were placed
before the electorate of people so
different in training and broadly divid-
ed socially as were the voters of that
state.
Miss Wold explained the purpose of
the Citizens Educational League, at
the instigation of whose members the
meeting was called. 1--WE propose to
study the educational systems of all
countries, she said, land make an at
tempt to better our higher educational
conditions here.
Dir. Wilson, who is member of the
board appointed by Governor West to
eliminate Implications in the two insti-
tutions of higher education in the state
next spoke. DR.. Wilson's address was
strong and would have been interest
ing, even though the questions in-
VOWED as to the referendum had not
| been up for discussion. THE Oregon
Agricultural College. he said, ''is for
the purpose of studying the things that
pertain to our state, while the function
of the University is to go out to the four
cor ers of the world and gather up
knowledge and information for the
people of Oregon. " DR.. Wilson defen-
ded the study of the classical language.
I'VE want to train men to solve those
problems of ours that will confront
them at times when they will have as
guides nothing that has ever happened
before. And for such tasks we want
broad men, well educated men. Stein
metz, the engineer of the General Flee
trical Co., one of the most practical of
business organizations, has declared
that we need such men with such edu-
cations.
And Furthermore, we need to have
place of higher education such as the
University of Oregon, where our high
school teachers may receive their train
ing. We need both institutions; for
both have distinct provinces for their
main work.
Mr.. Harris called attention to the
tact that where the problems had been
studied the tendency was to separate
the agricultural colleges and the other
departments of higher education. He
called attention to the case of Texas
and the University of California. GAS
yet the people of the state have not
had the opportunity of comprehending
the work of the University of Oregon,
while they do understand that of the
Agricultural College, which has been
brought among them by the informa-
tion that has been distributed on agri-
culture, horticulture and veterinary
problems. -
Attorney Wilbur pointed out some of
the most successful of the state insti.
tutions, all of which have been lber-
ally supported by their states. "The
referendum supporters" he said, de
clare that the voters favor amalgama-
tlon, and that the vote at the last gen
eral election points this out. But they
are mistaken there. The people were
so confused on the voting for the many
measures that they determined to wipe
all out and allow the Legislature to act.
And the legislature did this by passing
wise and reasonable bills of appropria-
tions." MIR. Wilbur showed that the
state of Oregon owed to its young men
and young women the debt of main
tanning for them an adequate place to
secure broad education, without go
ing to other states. In this way an
alumni organization, of which the state
can be proud will be built up. AS it is
hundreds of Oregon students are forced
TO seek their education in the institu-
tions Of other states.
On motion of l.. A. Henderson, a
committee composed of Attorney Will
bur. Rev. ~ l.. Hershner and ]. P.
Lucas, was appointed to draft the fol
lowing resolutions, which were adopt
ed:
Be it resolved ty the citizens Of Hood
River, in mass meeting assembled, that
we commend the object and purpose of
the Oregon Citizens Educational
League. T"
First: In bringing the attention of
the people of Oregon to bear upon the
present school situation in Oregon, rel
ative to the referendum against the
University of Oregon and the Oregon
Agricultural College. by fostering
state wide education upon the subject.
Second: In the Leagues effort to
make a complete survey Of the courses
of higher education in university, in
dustrisl and agricultural institutions of
the United States, with a view of bet
terng and enlarging our own needs in
the state and encouraging the young
men and women of Oregon to remain
in their own state to obtain specialized
instruction, instead Of going elsew here.
Third: In discouraging the voters
from signing the present referendum