The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-01-06
UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Proposed by the Palm Beach POST
Distribution

We hold certain things to be true
self-evident and not to be questioned.
Of these plain and undeniable
fundamental than
The right of the people to make
and enforce all laws and rules for the
common good;
The right of the people TO absolute
equality in sharing the benefits and
the burdens arising out of the opera.
ton of the laws and rules they make.
Now it is equally plain that until
all men are governed by the golden
rule, absolute equality under the law
cannot be attained. There will be
found in every community certain
acorn hunters always trying to get an
unfair advantage, certain lawyers to
tell them how to do it and keep out
of Jail, and enough senseless syco-
plants, worshipping success, to make
expert acorn gatherers respectable.
A hard combination to beat. And
all the efforts made by man to main
tain democracy in fact as well as in
theory have not prevailed against it.
The best we have been able to get is
the form and that part of the sub
stance from which we have been able
to scare the acorn hunters away. Let
US be thankful that we are hopeful.
No conscientious objector can rise
up against the assertion that any plan
by which the benefits of an institution
maintained at the public expense, can
be carried to all the people who are
tax burdened, is a good plan. Any
plan that will scatter the benefits
better is also good in proportion to
the length and breadth of its scat
iteration. Let US also be thankful
in our expectations.
Believing all these things our mod
esty has taken no shame in venturing
to suggest to the board of control that
university extension work be no long
er confined to the farmers. God bless
'em!) but passed along to the fisher
men, laborers, lawyers, clerks, doc
tors, merchants and stenographers-
and all others included, when the
governor puts forth proclamation to
the people of Florida.
Now these same people of Florida
take just, joyful and proper pride
in the fact that by their self-denial
in making a law imposing upon them
selves a tax which deprives them of
part of their income, more than fif-
teen hundred young men and women
of Florida were, last year, given q
chance to receive high class special
instruction that will aid them in
learning how to do better anything
they may want to do. Our Charlie
Schwabs, John DIS and Henry Fords
call this increased efficiency" and
tell their cashiers to increase the stuff
fling of the pay envelopes accordingly.
There is no doubt about it, we were
all glad of the chance to give this
chance to these fifteen hundred or
more men and women. Our rejoicing
would have been greater if the num-
Der of those receiving benefits from
our university and our colleges had
been larger.
1t was a great privilege that these
fifteen hundred or more enjoyed and
which the same or even larger num-
Der are enjoying this year. They are
entitled to it. they are welcome to it,
and we all join in wishing them the
greatest good out of it.
By actual count of the census man
there are nine hundred thousand more
men and women living in Florida who
are equally entitled to this same priv
ilege, and who would be equally well
coined to it, if
Or,lxy lrv@rxy hour 70 rnf ~ m
them.
Once more we run up against that
hoary headed old sinner and disturber
of our peace, pleasure and profit
distribution.
Distribution, distribution is the
word that vexes US, and distribution
is the middle name of university ex-
tension.
1t is the only way to reach that nine
hundred thousand Florida folks. we
mentioned, who don't go to college.
By gathering information on sub
jects of general interest and concern
and letting it be known that the uni
versity and the colleges were ready to
help all who applied, our extension
division could reach all of the people
some of the time; by preparing a
corps of lectures and entertainers
from among the faculties and stud
ents, by collecting films and slides to
instruct and amuse and by offering
all free to any community willing to
supply hall, an audience, and actual
expenses, our extension division
could reach some of the people, all
of the time.