Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-02-02

INC OulVerSltys IulEQs VudL ohotfN
the University teach and to what
extent should 1t expand, having In
view the interests of the people at
large-not the ambitions or interests
of a chosen few-and the ability OF
the state to pay.
These questions should be answer
ed wisely and justly once for all and
embodied in a settled policy.
AS the Kennebec Journal very
sanely puts 1t in an editorial January
16, Maine 1t not large enough x to
warrant at the University xxx such
equipment throughout as that which
similar universities in some OF the
larger and more populous states af-
ford" The state should find aid In
agriculture and engineering at Orono.
Governor Brewster in his address
before the Alumni at Orono. Jan. 10,
calls attention to the fact that the
College Of Agriculture has suffered
seriously from neglect" and the
same may be said Of the Mechanical
Arts Department
Strategy
This has been made evident by the
statements put out both by EXPIRES
ident Little and President Boardman.
Last June DIR. Little characterized
the dairy as 'hovep' and Pres.
Boardman has recently called atten-
ton to the needs of the Agricultural
and Mechanical departments in new
buildings, equipment, etc. These
needs were as much in evidence
three years ago as theys are today
and yet the lobbyists" sent UP to
Augusta, succeeded in making the
Legislature believe that new arts
hIIiI6inO than
a new buildings or equipment for the
other departments, and they get
appropriations aggregating $4,000
for that. This was pure strategy.
Get the Arts building first which the
chosen few wanted and afterwards
lament the crying needs of the Agri-
cultural and Mechanical depart
ments. This would touch the farmers
and plain people where they were
most sensitive and most concerned. 1t
would force them to come across"
Reverse the order and when the
Agricultural and Mechanical Depart
ments had been adequately provided
for it would be found that the ex-
pense had been so great that there
would be no $4,000 forth coming
to duplicate a work being done by
the other three colleges without one
dollar of expense to the State.
Again EXPIRES. Little and Pres.
Boardman have proved to their salts
faction that from 500 to $500 of the
students in the higher institutions of
learning-classical and technical
through the country, including Maine
(for l understand they made their
test in Maine) ought not to be there.
That the money spent on their edu-
90 Sc on0d,.
If This Is True
If this is true of the University Of
Maine-if these gentlemen's data
and calculations are right wonder
if they brought this condition to the
attention of the Legislature? I fear
me If they had done so there would
have been no $4,000. Arts building
on the University campus today. And
yet would not that have been keeping
faith with the people of Maine?
| If / know anything about the peo-
pie of Maine, (and / was born and
grew up among thenO they come by
their rather limited resources by
| too hard work to squander it at
| tempting to educate no-accounts in
| the classics in competition with the
other three colleges. If the State
must spend money to educate boys
and girls in classics it would have
| been very much more economical to
have given 100000 apiece to Bates
and Colby for dormitories; after that
( the teaching force and up-keep would
| have cos the State nothing. Just
now it is PAYING for a Faculty of 81
/ teaching in the classical Department
at Orono. That means $150,000 a
| year at least.
1 should expect to find the Maine
| boys who go to the University for
training in agriculture and Mechan-
| ical arts with more fixedness of
purpose than those who enter the
! liberal arts department and that
/ their education would be worth a
! good deal more to the State after
with their training to go back and
develop the natural resources of the
| State. This is much needed.
| should expect to find the Maine
! boys who were bent on getting a
classical education, and, quote Elijah
Kellogg. who were not too rotten to
nail to-" in the Classical colleges
| because they would be sure to go
| where the best classical education
was to be had.
One thought more: A very large
part Of the endowment of the three
classical colleges of Maine, comes
from outside the State. Benefactors
| always want to put their money
| where It will do the most good and
where it will not be in competition
with the State This aspect of the
| matter is worth the serious con-
! sideration of the people of Maine.
Edgar o. Achorn.