Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1915-02-08

Farmers Union. State, district and
county, together with other farmers
organizations OF The State have re.
peatedly urged and requested the Leg.
islature to separate the two institu.
tions. The board OF directors OF the
Agricultural and Mechanical College
does not desire any conflict conten.
ton or strife, and In order to remove
what Is said to be the cause OF strife.
namely, the division OF the University
permanent endowment fund between
the Agricultural and Mechanical Col.
lege and University the college here.
by declares It's willingness to recon.
mend that this matter be relegated
to the Legislature or to nonpartisan
commission to be provided for by the
Legislature, and the board hereby ex.
presses its willingness 10 cheerfully
accept and abide by any award
so made.
We believe that the agricultural In.
terests are Of such importance that
all agencies Of instruction should con.
tribute In every way to the promo.
ton OF a knowledge OF scientific agrl.
culture In the preparation OF teach.
ers for agricultural schools II Is i'm.
portant that the University the Agri.
cultural and Mechanical College and
the normal schools should provide
adequate instruction and facilities for
teaching this subject.
The board Of directors Of the Agrl.
cultural and Mechanical College real.
ize that the University has been
greatly handicapped IN It's develop.
ment by the constitutional prohibition
that prevents the appropriation Of
funds by the Legislature for perma.
nent improvement. We therefore
urgently recommend that this restrc.
tion be removed In order that the
Legislature in rs good judgment may
provide for the building needs Of the
University.
To merge the institutions under one
board and one administration would
be to destroy the institutional ldeuti.
~ which has existed for thirtyelgh
years and to minimize the importance
Of agriculture in a State whore agri.
culture constitutes more than ~ per
cent OF the States productive indus.
try The paramount Importance of
agriculture IN Texas rs sufficient roa-
son for the maintenance " separate
agricultural college. and experiences
In other States firmly demonstrates
the wisdom Of separate agricultural
colleges.
Therefore, IN view OF the repeated
agreements and communications be.
tween the board Of regents Of the
University Of Texas and the board Of
directors OF the Agricultural and
Mechanical College for separation, in
view Of repeated declarations Of Dem.
ocratic party platforms in this State.
which represents the public opinion
Of this people. in view OF the popular
election in 1913 unequivocally oppos-
ing a measure OF consolidation. in
view Of the action OF all conspicuous
and representative agricultural organ.
izations, and in view Of the new and
similar responsibilities which have
been placed upon land-grant colleges
under the Federal legislation known
as the Smith-Lever act. the directors
Of the Agricultural and Mechanical
College believe that measure Of
constitutional separation should be
submitted at once 20 the judgment Of
the people, and that I'm no case should
the Legislature attempt to change the
historic policy Of Texas in respect to
these two institutions without the ex-
pressed approval Of the popular vote.