Evening star., 1914-11-10
Educator Charges Them With
Opposing National lnstitu-
ton in Washington.
SAYS THEIR OBJECTIONS
ARE NOT MADE IN PUBLIC
Statement by Ohio State University
President Following His Address
Before Convention.

what ne OcCIaTeS 10 their dtelluue AL W
position to the project of great national
university at Washington founded and
maintained by the United States govern
ment, was the most striking feature OF to-
days sessions Of the various agricultural,
agricultural education and other conven-
tions dealing with allied subjects, which
are now being held in Washington
DR.. Thompson's attack was made at
the convention of the National Associ-
alton of State Universities, meeting
at the New Willard Hotel, which is
to end its session for 1914 this AFTER
non. The public has not been admitted
to this convention, as its sessions have
been executive. but DR.. Thompson in
formed reporter for The Star this
afternoon that he is willing to be
quoted in criticism Of the attitude of
some Of the the great universities OF
the country. which. he says. are pre-
venting action by Congress on the bill
of Representative Fess which would
establish a national university. Dr..
Thompson mentioned several universi-
ties as being of the type Of institution
which is preventing action.
DR.. Thompson's Statement.
81 told the convention" DR.. Thompson
said. that there is q complete misun-
derstanding on the part Of some of the
great universities of the scope of the
proposed national university.
What we propose is a graduate in
stitution, to utilize the educational or
CARNATIONS and opportunities here at
the National Capital for purely re-
search work. What we want Is q linn
tied university, organized for scholars.
Some of the great universities that are
in opposition to any national university
have not appeared in public with their
arguments, and therefore their argu-
No h0 cd hot Jyn
want is to have them come out in the
open and not privately inform senators
and representatives, as they have been
doing, of their disbelief in the utility
OF a national university"
The subject of a national university
has come up several times during the
convention of the National Association
of State Universities, as well as other
conventions now in session in Wash
ington. An oral and informal report
was made on the subject yesterday
afternoon by DR.. Thompson at the state
universities convention, in the absence
Of DR.. Edmund James James, president
of the University of Illinois. who is
sociation committee on national univer-
sity. DR.. Thompson is a member OF the
committee.
Another Source Of Opposition.
The subject came up again today, and
DR.. Thompson told the convention that
there is OPPOSITION not only from the
great universities he mentioned, but
from a number of senators and repre-
sentatives. who prefer to have estab-
,Nshed. if any. national university Is
established, an Institution for under
graduate work, to which they may send
their constituents.
THE opposition Of senators and rep.
resentatives. however, can be com
bated." DR.. Thompson said, because II
is in the open, and one can meet their
arguments with arguments on the other
side. The opposition Of some of the
universities. on the other hand. is sub
tie and powerful. Their representa-
tiyes have not attended the public
hearings on the Fess bill. and they
totally misunderstood the scope Of the
project for a national university as we
see it,
DR.. Thompson indicated that he would
welcome a public controversy on the
subject He said it is the duty OF the
National Association OF state Gnivsr-
sites, as we'll as Of the National Edu-
cational Association, to convince mem
bers of Congress. as well as educators,
that a postgraduate school would not
REQUIRE much money outlay at the
start; that it would organise the edu-
cational resources of the National Capt.
tai, and that 1t would be mucn
more useful monument to democracy
than an institution which woulo draW
to the National Capital thousands OF
youths who could better get their ele-
mentary education at home.
Delegates Call at White House.
President Wilson today received the
members of the association at the
White House, and the convention will
come to an end this afternoon with the
election to the presidency of the Or
ganization of DR.. Benjamin Ide Wheel
er of the University of California. p
P. Claxton, commissioner of education
will be named as vice president, ex-of-
| fcio. ,, =,
elected: Cary b. Hutchins. Michigan;
Guy Potter Benton, president of the
University of Vermont, secretary treas
urer; executive committee. in addition
| to the officers: Frank Strong, chancel-
| lor OF the University of Kansas, and
George H. Denny, president OF the
University of Alabama.
In addition to the National Assocfa-
tion Of state Universities. the Society
| Science met at the New Willard Hotel
| in convention today.
The American Association for the Ad-
| vancement of Agricultural Teaching G
also met at the New Willard TO-DAY ~
Institute Workers continues to meet
at the Raleigh Hotel. and the American
Society Of Agronomy ended Its sessions
at the New Willard Hotel. the Land
gather at the New Ebbitt Hotel tomor-
row, and several other organizations
have announced meetings to follow
among them the Association of Feed
Control Officials of the United states
and Society Of Omcial Agricultural
Chemists, Raleigh Hotel. November is
II and Is.
Young People Distinguished
| in Ohio Farm industries
| l. tE.;x Mo&ian9e ~ -