The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1914-10-16
Roman, Mont, Oct. 16, 1914.
CONSOLIDATION

= The campaign for the consol
idation of the state educationa
institutions is being waged earn
estly by both sides. Those who
favor the proposition contend
that much money will be saved
by consolidating the university
and agricultural college at one
point, while those who oppose
the plan contend that nothing
will be saved, but on the other
hand, there will be increased
cost. This question should not
be the paramount one with peo-
pie who have the best interests
of the state at heart. The idea
should be to secure the best edu-
cational institutions the money
can furnish, and at the same
time give every young man and
woman a chance to attend such
school. To our way of thinking,
it can best be done with the in
situations kept separate.
Montana is large state. The
distance pupils are compelled to
travel to and from state educa-
tional institutions is great, and
to place the agri cultural college
and the university both in either
Missoula or Bozeman would work
a hardship on some who other
wise would be benefited by hav-
ing the two schools, one at Boze-
man and the other at Missoula.
Besides, no one town should
have a monopoly of the schools
of the state. If it is good
thing to have schools and COL
leges in town, then divide it UP
and let more than one get the
benefit.
1t is contended that no great
institution can be built up with
out consolidation. Such has not
been the case in Iowa, where the
university and the agricultural
colleges have always been sep
arate and distinct from the other.
No state can boast Of so excel
lent an agricultural college as
Iowa and her university COM
pares favorably with similar
universities all over the west.
The facts are against the con-
solidationists in this respect.
Another point which seems the
most important is that the two
schools are so dissimilar as to
make it impossible to assimilate.
One of the most potent factors
in agricultural knowledge is that
even old men attend the winter
courses and reap much benefit
from what they see and learn
each winter. This winter course
has changed the entire manner
of farming in states where the
winter courses have long been a
part of the schools curriculum.
Citing Iowa again as an example,
it can be stated that not only
hundreds but thousands of young
men and older men attend that
states winter course and with
such an attendance, how would
any ordinary state institution
care for the many who would
ultimately attend from Montana.
They should be separate and
alone.
There is argued for the plan
the fact that at this time and
under the present plan there are
so many jealousies existing that
the efficiency of the institutions
are curbed to a large extent.
Why this should exist is difficult
to understand. If it is caused
by the personel of the faculty
stats, then it should be an easy
matter to dispense with their
services and employ men who
would not prostitute their official
positions and work in the inter-
est Of the state instead of against
it.
The Pioneer wishes to be fair
in the matter, however, and will
print both sides of the contro-
versy, relying upon the cool
judgment of the voter to decide
for himself on election day.
Albert Marion the democratic