The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-23
Voice Of the People


To tn" Editor OF The Times Dispatch:
Sir agree win you in your cdi-
torial approval OF Or. Joseph - EG-
elestoli as the new president Of the
v T.. l.. but then YOU 40 on To criticize
this Virginia polytechnic Institute in
a very unjust manner, and make
statement that has a queer sound. You
say, While the State was crying aloud
for young men who could develop our
resources In farms and orchard diaries
and cattle, the Y. +. I. east The hest
portion al its influence TO the educa-
ton OF mechanical ana electrical en-
eincers, who were by the nature OF
things compelled 10 abandon their ma
tive state If they hoped To gain re-
turns FOR the time ana money spent in
their education
Docs Virginia cry aloud for young
men when She allows inc "cotehouse
enough To maintain the old antc-bcllum
slavery standards OF living?
Does Virginia cry aloud FOR young
men when she allows the cote house
riiLG 10 put men in the Legislature
who won't or can't see the need for
tax reform, and All entirely new tax
assessment law
Does Virginia CRY aloud FOR young
men when any schoolboy can see that
In every desirable community with Il
social and commercial radius. the men
who make much money out Of the
ground are the men who speculate I'm
community values and by this means
get the ''uncarncd increment created
by honest capital and labor tand the
mere presence Of populatiOn).
Now. Mr.. Editor. If YOU were twenty
two years old ana had just graduated
at y. J.. !. in agriculture. what would
YOU do If YOU had no money to buy
q farm q mean real farm. with de-
sirabic social ana commercial, sur
roundinss, such. rs roads. schools,
moi 10 Ia ln H. .art it,lI
do what most V. r. L. graduates have
done from the beginnine-take the
civil service examination and get a
salary from $500 10 $500 per year in
The work YOU had specialized on. or
attempt that queer stunt of managing
a land speculation for some one who
could control the necessary capital.
AS your quip says to-day. the real
lesson is how human us humans are
am aware that Your Industrial Ed
itor has II very vivid imagination, and
that it is true that much land can be
bought in Virginia AT absurdly low
figures, but the University of Virginia
omy. aud economics tells us that "A
large per cent Of this low priced land
is below the margin, Of cultivation,
and until the desirable land is used
TO the maXimum, no wise man should
waste his labor on such land until
time and community needs shall raise
1t above the margin OF cultivation
So To conclude. the fact that v p. J..
does not make many practical farmers
proves nothing. Some consider III n
| damning indictment. but every edu-
Gated man knows that education (?) is
Inherently a thing that cannot be
measured in Immediate results and
concrete tcrms--thc magic yeast of
knowledge must have time to work.
( The V. r.. |. belongs to all the people
OF Virginia Gncluding the womcn).
I The word farmer" is very much mis-
used. so that il really has no meaning
I ut all II may mean Il J0-ccnt laborcr
az millionaire land monopolist lf
our boys prefer TO study engineering
at V. =. l.. why shouldn't they? IL
Virginia is crying out for young men,
| why don't she turn ont the '.cotehouSe
! ring" and employ 100 V. l.. |. engineers
/ for her 100 counties In road building,
or employ 100 agricultural engineers
as farm demonstrators.
This writer has gotten 81 600 worth
! of knowledge and Information from V,
J l.. L.. though he has ncvcr seen IL. and
many others can do likewise.
Now, Mr.. Editor, you arc Barking
up the wrong tree, II you want to
] hclp the young men and young women
( or Virginia TO become sclf-supporting
! citizens just push along that tax
! REFORM" and thus got more money for
| education and public service. mean
/ good sound modern education tthe
/ only hope Of the future). Our people
! have got enough American horse sen Sc
Ito tell them what to do with and how