Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-28
Governors Message
(continued from Psae Qne)

| NOVcruOI B message
I (centinusd from Psss pns)
The total enrolment 10 147l. These
agures show IL more students than
are accounted for IN the report OF the
President Of the Trustees Of June 30.
1922. on which my subsequent statis-
tics are based. This difference, how
ever. 70 tmmatsrial.
Operation Needed !
Honest differences Of opinion as to
the University's needs should be rec
0gnixed and tolerated while PERSONAL
ties and bitterness Of speech should
not be INDUCED in. I had hoped that
the new President and the members
Of the Board Of Trustees. four Of
whom ! myself have appointed, a
NTH having been persuaded by me to
remain upon the Board after he had
rendered his resignation. would CO.
operate with me in q serious and de-
termined effort to eliminate those
old-timed practices and antagonisms
that for q generation have been the
bans Of the University. Personally.
have done my best to work in har-
mony with those in charge Of this in
stitution. but their response has not
always been cordial.
In this message, shall speak
plainly but fairly. not hesitating to
express my convictions and outline
my; plans regardless Of the views Of
others. The crisis demands 1t.
Demands Upon the State -.
When the committee OF Trustees
and the new President came to the
Capitol last autumn to consult with
me about their proposed budget for
1414-1925. It soon became apparent
that they came to dictate, not to dis
cuss. Their attitude was unyielding
and the President Of the University
made the definite statement that he
would mot cut the Budget a fraction
OF q dollar" There was no sugges-
ton Of any willingness to listen to
the views Of others equally interested
with them in the University's welfare.
Moreover, the positive announcement
was made at this meeting by the
President Of the Trustees that unless
every one Of their demands was COM
piled with that most, II not all, Of the
Board Of Trustees would resign.
Such ultimatums are not conducive
to mutual understanding.
also deeply regret that the Presi-
dent Of the University should have
allowed himself to make a public ut
terance in Washington. on November
%, 1922, six weeks before the Legis-
lature convened. and seven weeks be-
fore the Budget Committee Of which
the Governor is Chairman made its
report, that the Governor OF Maine
was opposed to proper appropriations
for the University and that 1t would
be necessary to carry them over his
veto. At the conference referred to
I had listened patiently to the de-
mands of the President and. the
allied $$1,387.O12.55 and my only COM
State could afford such an outlay and
hoped that the figures could be re-
vised without Gripping the proper ac-
tivities Of the institution. Since the
Washington incident referred to. both
the Presidents. Of the University and
Of the Trustees. frequently have in
dulged In similar unwarranted Ut
terances. and although at all times I
have been ready to confer with them,
they have not cared to discuss with
me, the University's affairs. It may
DO that shall disapprove some Of the
appropriations asked for, but that
does not mean that shall disapprove
proper" ones. and certainly no one
over four months ago had the right
to make the statements referred to.
States Educational Problem
The welfare of the young people at
Orono 10 Of such Importance that re-
gardless Of these incidepts. I ap-
preach the problem unbiased, and
with desire to determine what are
the real needs Of the University and
to what extent the State is able to
meet them. No one more than the
present Governor has at heart the
welfare Of this institution, and I
yield to no one in my desire to give
our Maine boys and girls good start
in life. However, not only am re-
sponsible for the welfare Of the AGO
young people at Orono president Of
also am deeply concerned with the
welfare Of the 237.972 other boys and
girls Of school age, who live within
our State. It is right for us to be in
terested in the 6-10ths Of one per
cent. Of our young people attending
our State University, but the other
ninety nine and 4-1Oths per cent. at
least are entitled to equal considera-
ton. You represent. and am Gov
ernor of. all the people and our VIZ
sion should be Statewide.
The University Of Maine never has
been held in check: It has outgrown it.
self: 1t has outgrown the ability Of the
State to properly provide for it. This
is the root Of its troubles. Year by
year. deliberately and regardless of
consequences. those in charge of the
University in the past have expanded
its activities. They seem to have been
imbued with n desire to make the Uni
versity the BIGGEST educational in
stitution in the State. while there IS
but slight evidence that they sought to
make 1t the BEST. Their hopes for
the University have rested upon false
foundations, the consequence being
that the students now within it's walls
are suffering from the errors OF those
who formerly were entrusted with its
nagement.
These students. as we'll as the tax
payers Of the State. are paying the
price Of ambitions that were not ba sed
upon enduring principles. My ambi-
ton for the University of Maine is to
have it aim to be the BEST institution
in the State and that goal constantly
shall have before me. No other Is
worth striving for.
What Can Maine ARord7
The fundamental problem before us
IS. how much can the State of Maine
afford to expend in giving higher edu.
cation to the 1860 young people at
Orono. 1870 Of whom live in Maine and
100 Of whom come from beyond our
borders. What portion Of the total
amount Of money that the State raises
for educational purposes shall be de-
voted to giving college courses to this
comparatively small percentage Of our
young people? What is fair to those
boys and girls who remain at home on
the farm and who work in the fac