The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-02-01
BILL FOR SOLIDATION And
REMOVAL OF UNIVERSITY NOW UP
ZELLER-S SHELDON PILL. WOULD REMOVE UNIVERSITY. To
JACKSON AND CONSOLIDATE CERTAIN WORK AT
LILAC AND A. & nj. WITH UNIVERSITY

ervisors, and the boards Of director,
of the Board of Trade, Rotary Clut
and Kiwanis Club luncheon, for dis
cnssion of the concrete form in which
the proposal for removal of the Uni
versity should be submitted.
Mayor Walter A. Scott presided a'
chairman, and Prof. f. l.. Bailey aetet
as secretary. The latter has also beer
added to the general executive com.
mittee named by Chairman Frederick
Sullens, who presided at the mass
meeting Monday night, to confer with
the legislature in the subject.
Ways and means of raising the
$500,000 bonus were discussed, and il
was decided to instruct the committee
to go before the legislature and state
that the city of Jackson and the coun-
ty Of Kinds will make gift Of $780,
900, providing the state spends ST.
500, 900 on new buildings for the uni.
versity.
Would Float Bonds
After some discussion it was de-
eided that the best plan is to have the
city of Jackson float $3.50, 900 in bonds
and the board of supervisors an equal
sum, since the entire county will be
benefited by having the University
located here. Members Of the board
Of supervisors who were present cor
daily approved this plan.
Ore Of the most enthusiastic advo-
Gates Of making the offer was Mr.. j
NJ. fairfield, president Of the Mer-
chants Bank and Trust Company, who
declared that he did not think much
of the plan at first, regarding it as
somewhat visionary, but since giving
it careful study he had reached the
conclusion that it is the biggest thing
ever proposed for Jackson, and one
that every citizen should support with
energy and enthusiasm.
AEx- Governor Sheldons Address
More than dozen members of the
legislature, and large number Of
members Of the Board of Trade ant
tbs. Rotary Club were present at, the
Wednesday afternoon luncheon meet
ing Of the Kiwans Club, at which the
University removal question was the
chief topic Of discussion. The muni-
cipal commission and the board OF
supervisors also attended.
The first speaker was Ex-Governor
Charles l.. Sheldon who served one
term as chief executive Of Nebraska,
and who is now representing Wash
ington county in the lower house of
the legislature. Mr.. Sheldon recent
ly introduced in the House concur
rent resolution proposing consolida-
tion of the three higher institutions of
learning under one management, and
for the removal of the University to
Jackson.
Schools Neglected
The speaker gave graphic de-
scription Of educational conditions in
the state, saying that the public
schools have been sadly neglected, and
we have no State University worthy
Of the name. All of the higher insti-
tutions are now before the legislature
making extraordinary demands, not
for immediate needs, and if Missis-
sippi intends to have institutions of
learning that are really worth while,
now is the time to begin. We need,
and must have, in Mississippi State
University that will rank with those
in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri,
Nebraska and other progressive states
and until we get an institution of
that kind there can be no great de-
velopment of our resources, despite
the fact that the agricultural resourc-
es of our state are in reality greater
than those of Iowa, the richest agri-
cultural state in the Union.
The time is at hand. said Mr.
Sheldon, when we must look for the
future, when we must not only con-
slider present needs, but build with an
idea of permanency. We need among
other things, compulsion system OF
education. and we need, and are going
to make this year, the largest appro-
priaton for common schools in the
history of our state. We must care
for the higher institutions as well
and if we consolidate these institu-
tions we can then give them concen-
trated support. The state ought &c
levy a special tax Of one or one anC
one-half mills for the higher institu
tions alone. There is no use in cry
ing out that we cant afford it. A
good nucleus can be secured by sell
ing three worthless convict farms
and turning the money into building
fund for the new university.
Time to Correct Mistake
II am not advocating this move
ment for the benefit of Jackson, MOI
do | favor it because Jackson will, OF