The Daily Missoulian., 1914-05-25

short forestry course students and
summer school students. OF this num-
her IS, or more than 43 per cent, were
residents of Missoula county; 115, or
practically 81 per cent We're residents
Of Missoula and adjoining counties.
while IA, or more than &c per cent.
were residents of counties on the west
side of the main range of the Rocky
mountains.
OF the ~ students registered at the
state school of mines at Butte for the
academic year 1912-191s, 27 were Mon
tana boys. OF this number 20, or a
per cent, were residents of silver Bow
county.
OF the 1SS students registered for
| four year courses in the agricultural
| and mechanic arts college at Bozeman |
| tthese not including the students IN |
| the sehuul OF pharmacy, the Dfap'tfa /
| tory school, the three year course III |
| Agriculture, the oneyear course In
Rome economies, the music department |
| or the farmers and homemallors' short
/ courses), 100 are Montana boys and
/ girls. OF these CT, or more than 30
per cent, are residents of Gallatin
county: S6, or 81 per cent, are resi-
! dents of Galiatin and adjoining eoun-
ties: 1872. or over IS per cent, are
residents of counties east of the main
divide of the Rocky mountains.
/ These figures. | think. are illum-
mating as showing the handicap which
a centralized university will impose
upon the young men and women OK
this state who are seeking higher edu-
cation 1t is manifcstly unfair to as
sumo that generally speaking the
4 Young men and women of Gallatin or
| Missoula arc more desirons of secur-
ing a college education than are the
/ Young men and women of the other
counties of this state, and the only
| explanation of the fact that S3 Mis-
soula county boys and girls are at
tending the state university and 81
Gallatin county students are attending
the agricultural college. while but II
i Cascade county students and but u
Lewis and Clark students are attend
| ing beth of these institutions is found
in the accessibility of these schools.
1t is but fair to state that We're these
institutions physically united and the
consolidated university located in
Rozeman the greater number of those
Missoula county students nov enjoy
ing higher education would he COM
PEELED to forego their ambition, While
the same would be true of the stu
dents Oft Gallatin and adjoining COIN
ties were the agricultural college
{ transferred to the west side city.
liI Advised.
For many reasons | greatly regret
this consolidation campaign. | believe
that it is i'll advised. ! believe that
we are already working in the right
direction. | believe that a forward
step was taken in 1909 when tho con-
troll of all of the state schools WAS
centered in the state board of educa ~
!, ton and that much more progress
= was made in 1913 wien the lesisla-
ture passed an act which in reality
. consolidated these institutions while
at the same time utilizing the prop
erty and location Of each of the
u schools. 1t is under this law the state
: board of education is now working and
y material progress is being made. Du-
= plcations are being eliminated, Il
working basis is being established
, and these institutions are hcing rap
. idly developed toward the purpose fol
~
: chancellor, to have executive control
:. of the several schools has not yet heen
J" appointed, tho matter is now rcceiV-
;. ing the earnest consideration OF the
: state board.
Il 1t is a regrctable fact that the agi-
: tation for physical consolidation has
# been very largely developed by thos,
a connected in an official capacity witt
g these institutions. 1t is even more re.
d srctahlc that this agitation has re
q suited in the making Of unWarrantet
n statements concerning the efficenc,
N of these schools. Personally. | talk
10 great pride in each of these insttu
~ tions. Considering the age of th
Il state ! feel that Montana is TO b
d congratulated upon the splendid prog
rcss it has made in the development
OF its institutions of learning. rher
is nothing to be ashamed of in on
j. colleges and university. and If an
,e3 official or employe OF the state feel
4, that he, is compelled to go ahou
" apologiMng for Montana's cdueationa
T system he first owes it To the stat
10 and to himself to tender his resigna
N ton For such a man on such
J. mission the governors office is ope
~ six days y week.
>, With only the best interests of ia
1e state at heart, | appeal to the pcopl
~ of Montana Ia consider carefully be
| tore they cast their Votes Tor thus lnl
1T tlallVc measure. II they do but stud
m 1t earnestly | do not believe they WI
l. permit this consolidation scnenG [
A. become Il Jaw. do not believe The
I'd desire more lntefseetlonal strife, ! Il
a. not beleNe they are anxious to n
Iy 1 satne further large burdens OF taxa
ST. ton with 80 little prospect ot gam.
Se do not belieNe they viii hreak lalt
rd with tile people of itozelnan and Butt
u and MisSnMla and with the 1eder;
T. government which made our stat
IN schools possible. | do not believe thu
ld they VIII deliberately throw away tive
al thirds oil II million dollars OF stal
Id property or deliberately sacrifice tt
he i fruits of ~ years OF patient, earne'
u effort Which have brought thes
be schools TO their present high standar
Id | I do not believe that they will ca1fll