Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-12-29
Scientific Lobbying.

Almost every exchange that comes
to our desk is now carrying from one
to four or five columns of plate mat
ter which tell a remarkable story in
regard to the higher educational in
stitntions of the state, and more es-
pecially the State University. In
common with other country newspa-
pers The Review has printed lot
OF this stuff If the story is to be
believed, the Unworthy is in sad
condition, on account of a lack of
proper buildings and equipment. The
enormous sum of money dumped into
this institution year after year ap-
parently accomplishes very little. The
city of Seattle alone is paying $116,-
444 year, being considerably less
than one-fourth of the entire expense
of the institution. They are. however,
getting fully 80 per cent of the bene-
fit, and can we'll afford to stand for
this expense, for in reality they re-
the fact that the entire appropriation
is expended in that city, and further,
they get the advantage of the living
and a considerable portion of the trav-
cling expenses of the students who
live outside the city.
Somebody is undoubtedly paying
fhic arl.o b1o
propaganda which is now being pub
lished by almost every country news
paper in the state The Seattle dali
les are full of stories which tell of
the great need and dire straits in
which the State University is suppos-
ed to be at this time. In addition to
the usual scientific lobby which is
maintained for the purpose Of mulch
ing from the tax payers Of the state
these enormous appropriations, they
now use the press in every way pos
sible to create public sentiment
which will compel the legislature to
increase by a large sum, probably
halt q million dollars, the already
extraordinary appropriations.
II this scientific and soulless lobby.
ling system will succeed, it will only
be q question of q very few years
at the most when the taxpayers Of
the State Of Washington will be in
the same position as those Of Wis
consin, and will be compelled, as have
the citizens of the eastern state, to
rise in their wrath and compel these
leeches to desist from their blood
sucking operations. The State Uni
versity should be we'll cared for with
one-third less expense, and could be,
provided the law was changed which
would compel the city of Seattle, and
others Of the large cities of the state,
to keep their sons and daughters in
the high schools proper length OF
time. It would be a vast saving for
every portion of the state, with the
exception Of Seattle. II the high
schools Of the state would maintain
a teachers training department,
which could be done with practically
no more expense than required I'M
der present conditions, and a normal
course were provided at the univer-
.sity, the three normal schools Of the
state could be dispensed with, to the
great advantage Of everybody concern
ed. Teachers would be given a more
practical education in this manner, at
less than one-tenth of the expense
required to maintain and run the
three normal schools.
It will require radical protest on
the part of the taxpayers ii they ex-
pect to defeat these ever-increaslng
appropriations. Members Of the leg
islature are importuned and bounded
to almost the limit of endurance by
these high minded advocates of high
er education Every citizen should
write the members of the legislature
from his district, protesting against
the present system, and demanding
that a moro sane policy be pursued
in connection with these higher edu-
cational institutions.-Ray Re-
view.
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