University of Oregon - Oregana Yearbook (Eugene, OR)

Page 18 text:

. . . support higher education, and many of whom were actuated by motives of sectional jealousy and personal prejudice, circulated petitions invoking the referendum on the appropriation. The campaign was hard fought, but the alumni and friends of the University succeeded in justifying the measure in the eyes of the voters, and it carried by a safe margin June 1, 1908. But this appropriation barely provides for the running expenses of the University, and makes no allowance for its natural growth. The last legis- lature, recognizing the handicap under which the institution was laboring in comparison with other state universities through lack of facilities, voted an appropriation of 375,000.00 for repairs on the old buildings and another of 2jS100,000.00 for the erection of a modern fire-proof administration building. Immediately the enemries of the University adopted their old weapon, that of the referendum, to annul these appropriations and thus eventually destroy the institution. The issue in the late camlpaign, therefore, was in reality whether the state should continue to support higher education or re- pudiate it altogether and consign its sons and daughters to other states or to private schools for their training, In the campaign, citizens, alumni, and students, rallied to the cause of the University as never before. It would be impossible to enumerate all the forces which combined to win the victory. The Oregon Educational League and the People's 'leligher Education League, two powerful organizations of representative citizens, with headquarters in Portland, were largely respon- sible for the result. The Oregon Federation of VVomen's Clubs also reni- dered aid which was far- reaching in its effect on the vote cast by the newly- enfranchised women of the state. The Portland and Eugene Commercial Clubs stood by the University loyally. The press of the state was 'almost unanimous in its support of the ap- propriations, so much so that it is estimated that 99 per cent of the publicity given the campaign was favorable to the University. Finally, the students themselves, by their personal work and their letter-writing campaign, did much toward saving their alma mater from disaster. The vote on November 4, 1913, proved that the people have at last awakened to the usefulness of the University to the state and the necessity for its preservation, Both measures carried by a vote of almost two to one. Next year there will be another chapter to add to the history-the story of the enlarging of the facilities of the University by the addition of a splen- did building and other much needed repairs, and ofthe opening ofia greater era of prosperity land service to the state than it has yet known. -L. G. H. Si.1-teen

Page 20 text:

,, .,Y. ,..,. . ,, .. , . ., .... ,. , .. ..vv , V -Y V, .v..- .- v--- . -- v -. ,, ,. .....-.-v.-....,1 ,I , ,,.,-.,g- Ifinnk 2 ilkxrultg anil Ahzniniairatinn