Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-03-06
TO DO THE BIG THING


letter comments as follows:
A verdict has been rendered in the
state university situation. IL came
from the minds of six men, members
OF the legislature, able and true, who
had been chosen TO perform the i'm
portant work of reaching Judgment
in the intricate premises, this because
the people, cherishing the welfare OF
their university. were so very anxious
to have light thrown thereon that
would be intelligent, clear and fair.
And the verdit constitutes as fine an
endorsement OF a university president
probably as was ever written. And IL
constitutes also-directly and indirect
ly-quite as magnificent an arraign-
ment of the small and petty and mean
things of life as we have ever had the
pleasure of reading. President Viii
son once said-"The big thing is the
only thing that we can afford to do
and, indeed, as We have studied this
state university controversy. raging
around the head OF its new president,
we have come to the conclusion that
in the actions and deeds of some OF
those opposing the head of the insti-
tution-opposing the very welfare OF
the institution itself-we have seen
a perfect antithesis of the thing that
the president of the United States
meant when he spoke that glorious
sentence. And we are sure that uni
yersities are created that they may
lend their best services to the accom-.
plishment OF big things and we are
certain that small things should have
no place therein.
The report of the investigating com.
mittee is quite lengthy but withal ex-
ceedingly interesting. Its "cIeverness,"
II We may put it that way, is quite
striking indeed. By that we mean that
where apparently, there was a dispo-
sharp criticism against the malCon-
tents in the situation the temptation
was INDUCED only in moderation and
in favor of Calmer workings, more
effective possibly in that dress and
certainly also carrying meaning, well
defined, between their lines" But
here, for the purpose OF casting our
spotlight upon the very heart of the
committees conclusions and upon the
very cause of all the universities re-
cent gtroubles and also upon the one
concluding sentence that spells" a
very correction in itself, we here pre-.
sent paragraph in the report that
Is splendidly outspoken. 1t runs in
these words:
The members of this committee
during the course of the Investigation.
acquired very favorable impressions of
President Hendrick in many ways. In
the first place, in spite Of all adverse
comment, we feel that the affairs of
the university could not have been ad.
ministered better during the past two
and one-half years than President Hen.
driek has administered them. We feel
that he is man who will make enc
m'es wherever he may go, because he
has the enthusiasm and the ability to
accomplish. There is no question but
that much of tho opposition to his ad
ministration has been occasioncd bv
MS strong desire to work for the best
interests OF the university as an in.
sutution and to consider secondarIIy
the interests of those individuals who
failed to profit thereby. He has made
many changes, ali apparently justified
and made with the highest motives.
and with uniformly excellent results
though undoubtedly tending TO create
opposition to himself in certain direc.
lions. The committee also feels that
further changes in the personnel Of
the institution might be desirable.
But now we are through with inyes. |
tigating, or at least we should no |
Those who now continue to "investi. |
gate present university affairs by
means of columns in public print can
do so out of no other desire than TO
place their spleen above the welfare
or the institution. The big thing to
do now Is for all hands that are clean
To get together In determined effort
to heal. as soon as is ever possible,
the wounds that have been inflicted
upon the welfare OF the university,
That Is the real big work of the day
ana we feel that those who are con.
tent only with the continuation of n
policy OF fault finding cannot by any
course OF reasoning, qualify under the
heading OF state builders and construc.
tive citizens. One OF the biggest of
All the elements that go to make IN
human character Is to admit that you
are wrong when you are so convinced.
when you feel II in your very heart
Life Is short at the best and the man
Or woman who Clings tenaciously TO
that he or she believes,
away down deep" is wrong. this out ,
u small pride or lack OF the strength !
4 character TO admit fraiIty. has no y
nance on earth or anywhere else of I
yer being really comfortable. In such E
lses the very soul suffers. Again we lI
~: The big thing is the only thing
lat we can afford to do" b