The Newark journal., 1916-08-17

and where it would not cost
the boys and girls who desire
to attend the University almost
as much to get to it as a years
tuition in some other institu-
ton, we could make it great
University.
You will find in some of the
states of this nation universe
ties instituted since the Univer-
sity of Arkansas with an aver
age attendance of from five to
ten thousand. The University
as it stands today is not acces-
sible. 1t could be and should
be made a great educational
institution but it never will be,
located where it is and mana
ged as it is. The University to-
day is controlled exclusively
almost by one man. [ did my
best last June a year ago to
prevent the Board from vest
ing this extraordinary power
and authority in the hands of
the President but it was done
over my protest, and recently
gentlemen, his salary has been
raised to Five Thousand Dol
lars a year, more than the sal
airy of the Governor of your
state and more than any of the
other state officers. The Presi-
dent of this institution, where
five hundred to six hundred
boys and girls go for theh
training, receives a salary in
excess of the amount paid in
many districts where just as
many children are being edu-
Gated as at the University, to
say nothing of the eighty-odd
teachers employed for this five
to six hundred boys and girls.
| believe the University can be
removed without any addition
al expense to the state, and |
have had the assurance that if
it was placed inthe properloca-
ton in the state some of the
Educational Boards of the Ma
ton would contribute large
sums towards its maintenance.
| have been criticised great
deal on account of what was
called the "Penitentiary Row"
and the Estate Hospital Row."
1t was claimed by some of the
newspapers of the state and
some of the citizenship that it
was all politics. Strange to say
that none of this came up be-
fore the primary election, at
which | was not a candidate
and at a time after the cleo
ton, when | am going out of Of
flee, and still it is claimed that
it was politics. | do not know
what you men think of this
proposition. The Penitentiary
was $150,000 in debt. 1t has
been going in debt since the
Commission was created and |
felt that something was absolu-
tely necessary to change condi-
tions. Today they have the
greatest crops they have ever
raised on the farm, and in my
judgment, unless some great
unforeseen disaster befalls the
crop, the Penitentiary will this
year pay every dollar of it's III
debtedness except the purchase
of new farm. If it does this,
will not many people concede
that a little "shake-up," as
some see fit to call it, help con-
ditions? If the Penitentiary can
pay out of debt this year, and
| can leave the state out of
debt when | go out of office,
with the other good whole
some, moral legislation we
have had, | will feel that my
services have not entirely been
a failure.
The same thing was said
about the Hospital Row."
Ladies and gentlemen, | might
make the same argument. |
must concede to you that it
was through my influence
largely that secured the cleo
ton of the present Superinten-
dent and for this | feel that |
am due you and every citizen
of the state an apology. 1t was
said that it was politics that
brought about this investiga-
ton. They refer to certain peo-
pie who were discharged. We
had discussed the removal of
these employees, with the ex-
ception of one or two, even be-
fore the present Superinten-
dent was employed, and be-
cause some of them were not