Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-23
i TO CREATE
NATIONAL VARSITY
Dream Of Washington Realized
if Wilson Approves Bill
for Institution.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-Congress
is about to pass the Tess bill pro-
viding for the establishment OF Ma
sional University in Washington.
should the bill De signed by Presi-
dent Wilson, the pen stroke wnich
will turn the national capital into
centre Of scientific research for TINS
hemisphere, will also link with the
Accomplishments Of the present ad-
mtnistration the dream Of George
Washington and the first administra-
ton.
From the time that the first Pres--
dent deposited $4,000 worth of Pc
tonac Company stock in the tresury
TAO be used as a foundation for
national university, practically every
President an sfavored the idea. Time
and again bills have been reported IN
Congress to bring about the desired
end, but all previous efforts have
stopped just short OF accompllsn-
nent. It now looks as L washing
tons dream Of a national universit.
IS about to be realized.
Washington Original Patron.
rhe original $4,000 deposited ~
+ Geo ge Washington In the United
States Treasury would have amount-
ed to s4,00O,00O0 today, if ii had been
retained there and drawn interest.
Somewhere IN the early days Of the
republic the money disappeared.
There is no record OF 1t anywhere.
1t has been suggested that possibly
the fund lapsed back to5the Nashlhs-
ton estate.
Volumes have been written on the
need and scope of a natural uniVer-
sitv in Washington. The report on
the Fess bill, now pending, explains
che purposes of such an institution
in part as follows:
'The purpose is to promote the ad-
vance in science, pure and applied,
and of the liberal and fine arts by
original investigation and research
and such other means as appear TO
be suitable to the purpose in view.
1T is to be a graduate institution.
Students VIII not be admitted until
they have obtained the degree Of
bachelor OF arts or science. at some
reputable college in this or other
countries, for a full equivalent train
Representative Fess, who is an Ono
member, said that the national uni
versity would not interfere with the
work of any other institution OF
higher learning.
1T is not to be an additional uni
versity of higher learning. similar TO
those already established he SAD.
'Such an institution is both unneces- 4
sary and undesirable. The national
university is to be the climax OF
American educational structures. be
ginning with the kindergarten and
ending in this contamination. 1t Is
the virtual asseInblig of the country's
richest material found in this greate7t
centre of scientific activity of the
world, by opening to it the research
graduates under the direction of the
finest group of experts in the world"
Purpose of Institution.
Explaining this statement more
fully Mr.. Fese said:
when we find anywhere in this
country an unusually brill ant person,
who has great promise, we have no
place in America for him to go TO
continue his original research he is,
therefore, compelled to go abroad.
We should be able to provide such q
place here. That Is one OF the reaso-
why we are advocating the 'tablish
lnent OF university, national in name
and fact"
The agitation for the establishment
II a national university was beg n by
George Washington about l25 ye rs
ago. 1t was approval by many OF MS
successors in the Presidents chair,
supported by at least a dozen justices
II the United States Supreme Court,
recommended by numerous cabinet
ministers and advocated by at least
100 heads Of colleges and universities.
1t has been indorsed by the leading
elergymen of the country, and by
thousands of instructors il various
schools Of learning.
Representative Fess, who is back OF
the present movement, has been iden-
sified with q, number Of colleges. At
one time he occupied the chair OF
American history in the Northern
University at Ada, o. He also has
served as yice-president of that in
stitution. He has at various times
been connected with the University of
Chicago, and is now president o. the
Antioch College. He is the author Of
a number of historical works.