The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-03-21
SHELDON BILL
DEFEATED.
AUTHOR OF MEASURE MAX.
ES STRONG APPEAL FOR
CHANGING COLLEGE
SYSTEM.
DEFEATED "a TO 25
University Removal Bill Comes
Up This Week-Will BE
Defeated II Is
Believed.

The fate Of the Sheldon bill, for the
consolidation Of the state colleges,
was settled for the present session
at least on last Wednesday, when the
lower house Of the legislature, in ses-
sion at Jackson, voted to indefinitely
postpone it b. a vote of Of to %.
The action Of the house did not oc-
cur until the author of the bill had
been granted every opportunity to
present his views, and this hc did in
what is referred to as a powerful
appeal" in its behalf. Mr.. Sheldon
was fortified with arguments and
statistics He reviewed the educa-
tlonal conditions and needs Of the
state, and enlarged upon his super
university plan as the panacea for all
of our higher educational needs. He
reviewed the policy Of other states to-
wards collegiate training, and he cited
other states where a similar course
had been pursued. Nor was he with
out following twenty-five per
cent Of his fellow members voted
with him, which is quite respectable
showing for bill involving such rad
ical and revolutionary changes in the
educational systems and policies of
the state.
The legislative stage had been all
set for the occasion. The big issue
was celendered for Wednesday. The
big moguIs Of the state, in an eduea-
tional way, were all there-eager and
alert. Whitfield, and Powers, and
Smith were on hand. Even Joe Cool,
with his big voice and broad smile,
somewhat afraid his state normal
would be enmeshed in the enucation-
al tangle, looked down from the legis-
lative loft, Laying low and saying
nothing Then the big fight began.
The Gentleman from Washington
County" took the floor and began.
lie read the handwriting on the wall,
insofar as the State College for Wo-
men is concerned, and he offered an
eliminating it from the
bill, which was adopted with
whoop.
He then proceeded, in powerful
and impressive speech, to show that
the university is being starved to
death, is doing exceedingly poor work,
and can never be made useful until il
Is moved to center of population
and properly nourished and sustained.
Governor Sheldon was well forti-
fled with facts and figures, showing
what is being done by universities
in other states no richer than Missis-
sippi, He praised the agricultural high
school system Of the state, under
which it has been made easy for poor
boys and girls to get this class of edu-
cation, but showed how poor are our
facilities for giving them university
training.
1t will take about $5.000,0O0 to
establish the university in
Jackson, said Governor Sheldon, and
of this sum the city Of jackson and
the county Of Kinds stand ready TO do
nate $500O0O. He told why the uni
yersity had originally been placed at
Oxford, and declared that it was a
sad mistake. Ohio, he said, had made
the same mistake, first placing her
at Oxford, through mere
sentiment, just as Mississippi had
done, moving It to Athens for the
same reason, and finally moving it
to Columbus, where it has become
great institution.
Mississippi's own showing in the list
Of states on the per capita spent for
higher education was dwelt upon at
some length by the speaker, and the
statistics he quoted were given close
attention.
In conclusion, Governor Sheldon
lengthy statement show
ing that members Of the Mississippi
strongly in favor of the plan Of
removal
Right here Mr.. Ice, Of Choctaw
wanted to indefinitely postpone, but
Mr. Mitchell, of Lee, tried to shut off
debate in calling for the previous
question. representative Wilroy
wanted to speak against the measure
and he was allowed TO DO so, after