Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-28

wasted by consumption. The re-
quest before the present Legislature
Is the first step in bringing this man
back to his normal weight. II this
IL expansion, 1t IL Of q peculiar sort.
g. The Governor predicts that
within five years the University OF
Maine will number at least 1000
students. This Is not In accord with
the stated policy which the trustees
and have adopted. II 1t IL true
that there are 1000 boys and girls
in the State or Maine fitted to re-
ceive and profit by college education
that this or any other Legislature
will desire to deny them the oppor-
tunity. I very much doubt whether
the enrolment will exceed 100 boys
and 800 girls even should all Of the
material opportunity to expand that
we ask for be given. The policy IS
to raise the standards, and a marked
beginning has been made in this d.
rectiOn already.
4. The Governor states that the
educational cost per student at
Bates College is 1910. have let
ter from the Treasurer of Bates
College stating in effect that the
instruction cost would be nearer
$500.
S. The Governor states that the
instruction cost at BowdOin is $434.
/ have letter from the Treasurer OF
Bowdoin stating that the instruction
cost is $560.-another gross error In
the Governors statement.
6. The Governor states that the
cost per student at the University
Of Maine is $495. The representative
of the State Auditors Office at the
University states the cost to be
1858. If we were to take the College
of Arts and Sciences at the UniYer-
sity alone. the cost per student is
probably in the neighborhood of
S313.-infinitely smaller than that
Of Bates and Bowdoin. both OF
which are similar colleges.
Z. The Governor states that $4,000
per year is appropriated in order that
7 may carry on certain biological cxper-
iments. The truth is that $4,000 per
year is so appropriated and that the
Carnegie Institution, at Washington. is
at present supplcmenting this by a
grant of $500 for the same purpose.
The Governors careful scrutiny of
facts appears to have missed the point.
8. The Governor states that he pro-
tested against my carrying on these
experiments from the beginning"
From the very outset ! made it per-
fectly clear to the trustees, and they
in turn to the Governor, that the OPP
portunity to do this work was one of
the conditions on which l came. My
object in this was. l felt. that the pres
ident of university should try to be
q productive scholar in order that he
might understand his faculty and try.
in possibly humble way, to inspire
his students to do something of Gre
alive nature. The, Governors attitude
on this is. however. no narrower than
nuch which is to follow.
9. In urging the repair of buildings
as of the greatest Importance, the Gov
error intimates that l placed the new
buildings above this item. The Gov
crnor does not state that l had regard
ed the repair of buildings as secondary
to giving to the boys and girls first
class EDUCATION by the purchase OF
equipment and by charging the faculty
to proper point. In view OF this his
uttcrances amount to a misstatement.
10. The Governor criticises the adj
vcrtising launched by university au-
thorities and labels it as undignified.
In this he is pitting his personal judg-
ment against that of committee of
loyal alumni who planned and have
raised the money to pay for the ad-
vertisements. The statement that they
were launched by university authori-
ties is misleading We did urge the
alumni to be active in supporting their
university and they, and they alone,
desire to be held responsible for the
advertisements in question.
VIA - ncfi 1ln
of a. full time publicity man for the
university So do l, and do not know
that they have him.
u. The Governor helittles the ag-
ricultural activities of the university.
I do not believe that the farmers of
the State from their farms or through
the voice of their representatives in
the Legislature will support his asser-
ton that gradually our farmers have
become convinced that agriculture is of
minor Importance at Orono.' At the
university. knowing the truth of the
situation. we are ready and willing to
abide by any verdict that the great
body of farmers in the State may care
to render. We have played fair with
them, done our hest with the Anticipated
equipment provided, and we believe
they appreciate our efforts.
10. The Governor states that the
school of technology stands well
among similar schools in the country
and l believe we have reason to be
satisfied with what it has done" In
this he pits his personal opinion,
backed by the full weight of his
office against an expert in tech
nology of national reputation, who,
after careful personal survey has re-
ported that our engineering school is
at about 60 per cent. of it's proper
efficiency.
Errors of Judgment
/. The Governor contrasts 237,972
boys and girls of school age within
the state of Maine with those of col
lcge age. This gives him a large
number to juggle with and to make
the University enrolment appear
small. The interesting comparison
would be those of college or univer-
sity age. Furthermore. by his own
statement. the value of tho Univer-
sity should not be measured by the
numbers of its students in relation to
other scholars in the State but in the
excellence of their training.
2. He mentions that the total
amount raised by the State in sup
port of schools was. in 1922. s2,125,-
S44.04. the appropriation for the uni
versity being S277.300.3S. He then
remarks these figures and this sit
uation require no comment" The