The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-08-31
MOSCOW PEOPLE ARE ASKED
TO REMEMBER THEIR FRIEND

Calling upon the people of Moscow
and Latah county to remember thd
man who stood by them and saved
the University for Moscow when a
strong effort was made to remove ID
to southern Idaho, State Senator MI
E. Lewis has issued the following ap1
peal to the voters of Latah county
Lest We Forget.
On March Goth, 1906 the old adj
ministration building of the univer1
sity was burned. Those living inl
Moscow at that time will remember
! it well. 1t cast gloom over the city
not only on account of the loss to thel
state, but on account of the possi-I
bility of its removal. People gather
ed in groups on the streets talking
over the loss invariably asked them
selves the question, "Will they move|
the university now?" The question:
of removal and of segregation, had
been up so often, that it was upper-I
most in the minds of Moscow people.
Few people really know how grave
was the situation at that time. The
previous session of the legislature
had been asked for an appropriation
to build an agricultural building, but
had refused it. The outlook was
dark, indeed
Soon after this, F. R. Gooding, who
was then governor of Idaho, visited
Moscow to look over the situation,
and in a public meeting assured the
people that the university would not
be removed; that there would not be
any segregation, and that he would
do all in his power to see that a new
building was built to replace the one
burned. This was indeed good news,
and gladdened the hearts of Moscow
people.
Following this promise of the gov
ernor, the regents of the university
used the insurance money received
for the old building to build the pres
ent Morrill, Hall, and the foundation
to the present administration build
ing. This could not have been done
if the governor had opposed it. It
has not been done with the Lewiston
normal, or the soldiers home, both
recently destroyed by fire.
The real struggle came, however,
in the following legislative session,
to get the funds to complete the ad-
building. 1t was here
that the fortunes of the university
reached the darkest hour. 1t was here
again that Governor Gooding saved
the day. The bonding capacity of the
state was very small at that time.
The attorney general had ruled that
no buildings could be provided for
by the state except by issuing bonds.
The other state institutions really re-
quired all the funds that the state
could raise by bonding for their
needs, when they were provided, for
the state was bonded up to its limit.
There was nothing left for the uni
The outlook was discourage
ing indeed. Finally it was found that
there was money in the treasury to
pay off at least $4,000 of state
bonds soon after the legislature
would adjourn. Based on this a bill
was introduced and, backed by the
governor, was passed, providing that
when these bonds were paid like
amount would then be issued, payable
in two years, to rebuild the admin
istration building These bonds were
issued. Some of the good friends"
of the university questioned the le-
gality of these bonds, and there was
talk of injunctions against issuing
them, and against paying them.
Nothing but the strong arm of Gov
ernor Gooding stayed these people
and no one but he induced the state
land board to buy them so no one
would enjoin their payment when due.
1t was in this way that the admin
istration building was started. This
building is, next to the state capitol,
the best building in Idaho. This
building has done more to anthor the
in Moscow for good than
any other one thing. Governor Good
ing is the one man to whom the !,
people of Idaho are indebted in gen
eral, and the people of Moscow in
particular, for keeping our leading
institution undivided, and
keeping it in Moscow.
At the next session of the legis-
Iature a similar bill was passed to
provide bond issue and funds for
building the auditorium wing of this
one of the "good friends of the uni
versity got out an injunction against
issuing the bonds. This was in the
supreme court. After trial the in
junction was made permanent, the
bonds were not issued, the work on
his wing was stopped at great loss
to the contractors, and we did not
get this wing built for four more
years. The decision in this case was
written by Justice J. F. Ailshie.
1t is well for the people of Latah
county to review these matters of
such vital interest to them from time
% time, and particularly at this time,
lest they forget