The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-05-11
VOICE Of PRESIDENT BROOKS
HEARD ONE HUNDRED MILES
NEWSPAPER IN HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM HEARD UNIvER
sITY PRESIDENT AS IF THE STAGE IN
FRONT OF THEM. TELEPHONY ExEMPLIFIED BY THE
PIONEER TELEPHONE COMPANY

lie welfare. 1t is particularly import
ant in a state where matters of grave
public concern are to be settled by
the initiative and referendum that
the voting public have the fullest op-
portunity to inform themselves ac-
curately as of the facts in the case
and to reach conclusions that are
sound in spite of the influence of in
terested partisans or the oratory of
flamboyant demagogues. No greater
guarantee of the perpetuity of self gov
erning democracy can be devised than
the creation of an intelligent dis
eliminating electorate and to this
task the press and university should
devote their best efforts in hearty
cooperation.
The idea that the chief work of a
university lies in teaching the young
men and women who are fortunate
enough to be able to assemble within
the buildings on its campus, has of
recent years given way to the idea
that an even more important educa-
tional work can be done by the uni
yersity for the citizens of the state
wherever they may be- Throrgh our
extension department. therefore, We
are preparing, as rapidly as our mea.
gre funds allow bulletins, in which we
assemble the best that has been writ
ten on such subjects of public con
cern as Farm Credits, Guaranteed
Schools Woman Suffrage, Unicdncral
Legislature, and similar subjects, the
right solution OF which will material
ly affect the political and social life
of the community. In these bulletins
we collect from books, magazines, pub
lsh documents and daily and week
papers, the best discussions Of the
topics thus making accessible material
that most of our citizens cOull other
wise never see. We hope ultimately
10 have in every school district, how
ever remote, a public discussion club
where these and similar topics receiye e
thorough consideration. In this work
the university does not venture to as
sert its own opinions or to take sides,
but merely to present without com;
ment the best that has been said on
both sides of each question. The pur-
pose is not that of causing the peo-
pie to form a particular opinion, but
to furnish them with the material that
will enable them to reach an intelli-
gent conclusion on policies affecting
their own welfare. In this work of dis
tIibuting information and creating a
more intelligent and discriminating in
terest in public questions the Univer-
sity desires the help and assistance of
the press of the state.
Time does not permit more than
a mention OF the other lines OF ser
vice that the university aims to per
form, such as the preparation of jour
ualists, doctors. lawyers, engineers,
pharmacists. scientists, teachers, and
business men, or the work done in
connection with the departments of
public health and tie state geological
survey. But for each and al of these
the condition OF success is that the
university be protected from political
and personal interference and that
the increase in available funds bear
a reasonable relation to the rapidly
increasing number of students To
obtain these conditions, an intelligent
opinion must be obtained, and only
by the assistance of the press of the
state can it be secured.
| be speak, therefore, the assist
bespeak. therefore, the assist
in the state in the great work of i'm
proving our public school system, in
cluding the remotest rural district
school. the normal and other state
schools. the agricultural college, and
tba university"