The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-02-04
COLUMBIANS START MOVE
MENT TO OPPOSE COLLEGE
CONSOLIDATION
BILL is NOW UP
Campaign Of Argument Against
Merging OF Educational In
stitutiOns-MaSS Meet
ing Is Called

At conference of citizens held in
the directors room of the Columbus
National Bank Monday afternoon de-
finite plans were discussed and out
lined for combating the movement in
the legislature providing for the
merging of the State educational in
stitutions under the rame of a central
State university at Jackson.
In bill introduced in the legisla-
ture few days ago it is proposed to
move the University of Mississippi to
Jackson and transfer the higher
classes of the |. |. and c. in this city
and the A. and NJ. College to the IN
iversity at Jackson.
The meeting was presided over by
Hon. Thomas J. Locke, president of
the Chamber Of Commerce, and Mr..
V. B. lines. officiated as secretary of
the session. 1t was decided to call a
mass meeting of the citizens of the
city for Thursday night at the city
hall at which time the sentiments and
protests of the people of the city and
section against the proposed consoli-
dation will be voiced.
Addresses outlining the situation
and suggesting plans of action were
made by Mr.. T. w. Lewis, Jr, legis-
lature representative from Lowndes
county, Mr.. H. L. Whitfield, president
of the college, and Mr.. p. w. Maer.
1t was determined to launch cam
paign in the State, setting forth argu-
ments why the college here should not
be included in the proposed censolida-
dation plan, and all of the issues in
volved in the matter willsbes present
cd in the campaign.
1t was stated at the meeting that
the |. |. and c. has an unique place in
the educational system of the nation,
that it had been declared by noted
educators and lecturers in the North
and East on more than one occasion to
be doing the greatest work for the
education of women than any other
institution in the country The late
DR.. Bradford Knapp who made care
full study of colleges and universities
in this country and in Europe, said
before his death that the college for
women at Columbus, Miss, was doing
the greatest work for women than
any institution that had ever come
under his observation.
Here is a work and an institution
that has required years to build up
to its present high standard and pres
tige in the nation, and to change and
take from it would mean the demo-
ralization and wreckage of the accom-
plishments of all these years.
The proposed university at jackson
would be co-educational and Mr.. Maer
pointed out to the meeting Monday
in his address that the people of Mis-
sissippi had been offered the oppor-
tunity of co-education at the Univer-
sity of Mississippi, and that it had
been a failure. He declared that the
plan of co-educational proposed was
contrawise to the established educa-
tional policy of the State, and to at
tempt to change it would be a colos-
sal blunder.
Mr.. Locke appointed a committe
composed of Messrs. p w. Maer, r.
e. Johnston and Ira l.. CASTOR to have
active charge of the campaign, and
Messrs. V. B. lines, Henry Beard and
Sidney J. Loeb were named as a COM
mittee to look after the publicity of
the movement.
The following were present at the
meeting; Messrs. 7. j. Locke, W. B.
Harrington, S. B. Street, Jr., r. E.
Johnston, |. l. Kaufman. v B. lines,
H. L. Whitfield, |. l.. CASTOR, G. O.
Senter, G. NJ. Flynn, T. W. Lewis, p
W. Maer, Henry Beard, d. S. Nc
! Clanahan and S. j. Loeb.