The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-03-03
THE UNIVERSITY IN POLITICS.

THE UNIVERSITY IN POLITICS.
Whenever institute endowed by the state; bu
created by law; department established by the
Constitution desires to extend the sphere of its activities
elaborate and plausible argument advanced for the
pose of showing ) that the proposed extension is con
sisent with the purposes of the institute bureau or de-
partment; 2) that it is necessary work not being
done; 60 that it will promote the general welfare 1t is
noticeable that argument advanced only when extra
lmitary activities contemplated No ever heard
of college of agriculture extending length its
for experimentation in plant culture. However when
college of agriculture wishes to convert its bureau de-
voted soil chemistry into college of medicine the
argument, twisted and unconvincng though it be, is i'm
mediately forthcoming. You may it down fact
that whenever man, association, party nsti-
tuition introduces proposed line of action with elaborate
explanation argument that he it is about to propose
something extraordinary revolutionary, improper
lawful Men do not explain great length their
for taking ordinary, commonplace and lawful actions
The University of Idaho wants to mix in the political
affairs of Idaho The purposes of the University do
include such activities and the law creating the institute
did not provide for them 1t becomes necessary justify
the proposed and is had to old
general welfare In the interests of the people the Uni
versy through Professor Howard T. Lewis proposes
ito place its department of political economy and political
science at the disposal of the people," The University
has, declares Professor Lewis "a practical and
ly theoretical function to perform in matters pertaining
to economics and sound government" Mr. Lewis holds
that ct is obvious that the main function of unver-
SHY Is 10 people OF the solve the many
and perplexing problems confronting it."
The Zone main function of a university" is not so
obvious to the people of Idaho it is Professor Lewis
AS was stated in this paper last week by the Elk River
Sentinel, the one main function of university is to
furnish education to such young people desire it,
That is at any rate the main function of the University
of Idaho. 1t be argued that there has been devel
opment in the university and that the scope and
activities should be broadened and enlarged Activities
which the founders did contemplate conditions may
now demand That presume is the position assumed
by the University of Idaho 1t is probably great
many respects, and for that great latitude was
allowed the institution However the law providing for
state university has this provison mo instruction
either sectaran in religion partisan in politics shall
ever be allowed in any department of the University
Whatever may be the needs of present conditions they
should not be supplied in defiance and controvenon of
the law The clear import of the law is to keep the
University out of religious and political controversy The
immediate effect of the proposed will be to bring
the University into such controversy.
Matters pertaining to economics and sound govern
ment are simply matters of partsanshp Many theory
IN political science subject controversy The science
itself is all theory and consequently subject conro
versy Since the time of Adam Smith the academies have
been tree traders The theory of free trade was held to
be unanswerable. Yet today we find an ex-Presdent of
great University free trader by training education
and politics. turning to protective tariff. We refer to
PRESIDENT Woodrow Wilson. In the of State tax
"''o" you VIII Hhu the same controversy methods
proposed tor alternating the situation You will find one
party advocating this and another party advocating that
In plain terms the University proposes to st the argu
ments and promugate that which appeals the mind of
Professor Howard T. Lewis. The University in perform
ing its practical function will get into partisan contro
versy and by SO doing do that which the law explicitly
states it shall not do
The Tribune denies that the University of Idaho has
any practical function to perform politics. The state
board OF education and the officers of the University are
making grave mistake in permitting Mr. Lewis to un-
dertake his proposed work. They will find that contro
versy will breed bitterness and partisanshp opposition
Even though right and there evidence that Unver
SHY poticans are apt to be right than other polit
clans, the University is laying up trouble for itself II Is
projecting itself into matters that are not its particular
affair. N''>''"