Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1915-07-12
the GOVERNOR BUCKS THE
PEOPLE.

0overnor Ferguson mas issued
statement on the constitutional
amendments to be voted on by the
people OF Texas on July "a. There
are six Of these amendments and the
Governors statement Is dog-fall.
favoring three and opposing three.
Among the three opposed is Resolu
tion "a. providing for the separation
Of the A. 4 NJ. College and the State
University.
Governor Ferguson. before this
resolution was submitted to a vote
OF the people by the Legislature,
took quite a little stock In the matter
and strongly urged the consolidation
Of the two institutions under the one.
board plan. The people Of the State,
however, were opposed to his one
board plan and the Legislature
Knocked II into q cooked hat by sub.
hitting the separation amendment to
q vote Of the people.
The Governor. taking the position
he did before the amendment was
submitted. must OF course oppose Il
In order to be consistent and TO keer
down the idea that he has gone hos
Wild" on the subject OF higher educa.
tion. The Governor is against the
amendment. but the people are for IL
the press Of the State is for II, the
State officials and other public men
are for II, the political parties are
Tor II, the Farmers Union Is for t.
the Bankers Convention Is for Il, the
District and County Attorneys Con.
vention Is for II. the dean Of the
faculty OF the State University is for
II. all the officials. faculty, former
students and friends OF the A. & NJ.
College are for II. yet the Governor
Is against II. The Eagle does not
believe that In his heart Governor
James Z. Ferguson Is against sepa.
rating these two institutions. but he
started out on the ''one.board" plan
and refuses TO switch. The Houston
Post in discussing the Governors
position on this amendment says:
As for the separation Of the Uni.
versity and the Agricultural and Me-
chanical College, the Governor places
his personal observations which
are BY no means extensive with re.
spect TO these institutions. against
the personal experience Of at least
the vast majority Of those who have
for many years taken a deep interest
In the welfare Of the Agricultural and
Mechanical College.
The president and faculty Of the
college. the former executives and
faculties. the alumni. the present
student body and many Of the noted
educators OF the State are firm in the
conviction that II viii be better for
the College TO be completely separat.
ed from the University In every re.
spec;.
Surely those who have studied the
college problems at close range and
Tor many years are In a better posi-.
tion TO understand the necessities OF
the institutions than the Governor,
whose direct interest in the States
educational a:airs Is recent and
whose opportunities for personal oh.
servation have been admittedly
meager.
The Governor knows. or ought IA
know. that the slight bond which now
unites the two institutions has result
ed in much friction which ought no,
10 exist. To strengthen that bond
would unqnestionably increase the
friction. as would be seen whenever
future Legislatures were called upon
TO provide for them. and in our juds
ment both institutions would suffer
1T would be much better to sever
the existing bond and permit the
authorities Of each institution TO Ia
Dor for II 10 the limit. The people
Of the State have demanded the sep
aration Of these institutions. and the
Legislature In response to that de
mand has submitted the amendment
and very likely the people will ratify
Il by a decisive majority.
The Post believes that the best
results will follow II each institution
can be unshackled. because the fric
ton OF many years viii then cease &c
exist.
II II were a matter OF initial &C
ton, II might be possible 10 create
one grand university comprising the
at Austin. College, Hunts