Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-07-04
FACTS FOR FAIRNESS

Doctor Little leaves the presidency
Of the University of Maine with the
best wishes of the Maine people. He
goes to an institution ten times as
large, established for the needs of
much larger number Of people, where
the demands are greater and the sit
uation such that the facilities may
easily be commensurate with the de-
mands. Indeed, no comparison be-
tween the University of Maine, its
field and actual needs, may properly
be made with the conditions existing
at the University Of Michigan. We
regret that Doctor Little has seen fit
to imply a comparison where he said:
my action is in no way prompted
by any unpleasant factors, but by the
fact that have been offered an OPP
portunity to try on a very large scale
the educational policies which the
State of Maine has not as yet been
willing to adopt. At the present time
the State of Maine is lacking woe
fully in its support Of its State uni
versity."
This tends to convey to the minds
Of the public reading Doctor Titles
statement the idea that Maine is very
remiss in meeting obligations to one
Of its prominent educational institu-
tons, niggardly in fact. The readers,
many Of them, are not likely to know
that tho University Of Maine has
around 1900 students and that Doctor
Little has said he did not seek great
ly to increase that number. For ar
irving at fair understanding Of the
situation they should know that the
State Of Maine with population of
but 7es.o14 has within it three other
excellent colleges; that in point of H.
literacy It stands within three tenths
OF one per cent as favorably as does
the State of Michigan, with popu-
lation Of 8,sss,412.
For sake Of clearer understanding
let us consider some Of the contribu-
tions made by our taxpayers to the
University Of Maine, Notwithstanding
the facilities afforded by her three
other colleges. Take for illustration
the States appropriation to this in
stitution for maintenance, repairs
and equipment, beginning twenty
years ago when the Legislature ap-
propriated in 1907 for these purposes
$4,000. the next year $65,000 until
today the appropriations from the
Legislature are, for 1926 100000, and
a like amount for 1927.
Furthermore the last Legislature.
In addition to the foregoing. provided
for an increase Of 40 per cent, or
$4,000 for cooperative agriculture
and an increase of $4,000 for the
Maine Agricultural Experiment Sta
ton operated in conjunction with the
U. of NJ, making a total appropri-
ton to this institution Of practically
half million. Consider also the re-
report Of the Association of Maine
Agricultural Societies, recently made
as result of survey by a repre-
sentative committee, in which de-
mand was made for better recog-
milton of agricultural interests in the
policies of the University before
there was expansion along other lines.
The President of the University OF
Maine received rs per cent increase
In his salary this year, receiving
$500, a heated house and the use of
$4,000 for what are termed "Presi-
dents Experiments"
From these facts some conclude
that Doctor Little was ill-advised
and unfair to broadcast the impress
sion that the state of Maine has
treated him penuriously, though we
hope he will find more liberal treat
ment in the larger field to which he
goes, as is fitting he should; that he
may be enabled to make full use of
the brilliant attachments. which he
seems to think have been cramped at
the University of Maine.