42 



than a single ofRoer can flo if lie is to meet the requirements laid down. 1 

 assume that the idea of military education as set forth in the Morrill Act was to 

 lay the foundation for the makin;; of soldiers, and not the technical education of 

 army olHcers. The amount of work, the kind of work required, and all other 

 such (niestions, therefore, should be determined not by an army ideal, but by the 

 conditions under which these colleges must work. It would seem, therefore, that 

 a complete military educaticjn is out of the (juestion, and that the work should 

 confine itself to the teaching of the im[)ortant and fundamental iirinciples only. 



Not wishing to discuss this question at all in detail, I mention it here for 

 the purpose of suggesting to the association the necessity of a careful consid- 

 eration of the place That military tactics should occup.v in our programme of 

 sub.iects. There is manifestly no unifonnity of practice among the colleges. 

 Moreover, the War Department has insisted upon a strict compliance with 

 General Orders, No. C,7j. In former years this association has waited upon the 

 authorities with reference to this subject. It would seem now more than ever 

 incumbent ui)on us to make further investigation of the sub.iect and for the 

 association to take up such methods as shall liring about a general uniformity. 

 This matter, in my judgment, should not be left to a single-handed controversy 

 between a particular college and the War Department. 



By way of conclusion, I now desire to suggest to the association that the 

 expansion of the type of education for which these colleges stand is a pressing 

 necessity. The more civilization itself develops the more imperative will be 

 the demands for education. Moreover it is to be expected that with the devel- 

 opment of civilization the expenditure for i)rotective puri)Oses will relatively 

 decrease, while the expenditures for the developmental functions of the Govern- 

 ment will steadily increase. Education is the most important of all the devel- 

 opmental functions in which the Government engages. I lay it down, therefore, 

 as almost a self-evident truth that the tendency of the State in the matter of 

 education is permanent and that the extent of the work is sui-e to increase. 

 This ai)i)lies to the movement for public schools, for State universities, and for 

 all other types of public education. Now, these land-grant colleges, whether 

 separate institutions or whether associated with State universities, represent a 

 distinct tyjie of education, whose importance will n(tt decrease, but whose work 

 will expand with the development of our civilization. Indeed, a good argu- 

 ment could be made to show that these colleges are more closely related to the 

 ))rogress of civilization than any other tyiie. But passing that argument, I 

 wish only to impress upon ourselves at this time the fact that we are engaged 

 in a work that shall be greatly increased in the future. There ought to be, 

 therefore, more concerted action possible among these schools. At any rate I 

 suggest that there ought to be from this time on a vigorous discussion of our 

 rehition to the expanding civilization in which we live and of the ways and 

 means by which these colleges shall be brought to the highest efticiency. The 

 States should be brought to realize that all i)rovisions for these colleges are for 

 the i»resent only. They are a iiart of the State and of the nation and are truly 

 national colleges located within the States for national development. Their 

 future is certainly an increasing one and their needs will steadily increase. 

 Let us appreciate our opi)ortunity and bring to the i>eoi)le of this country a 

 realization, not only of the importance of the work done, but the duty of giving 

 these colleges adequate support. 



On motion, the convention adjourned to meet the next morning at 9 o'clock. 



Morning Session, Wednesday, November 2, 1004. 

 The association was called to order at 9 o'clock a. m. by the president. 



Death of ^NIajor Alvord. 



H. C. White. The executive committee called attention in its report yester- 

 day to the sad occurrence of the death of Major Alvord. I now move that a 

 committee of tlu-ee, consisting of Bresident Batterson, of Kentucky ; Director 

 Henry, of Wisconsin, and Director Armsby, of Bennsylvania. be selected to 

 prepare suitable resolutions of regret concerning the death of Major Alvord, 



The motion was seconded and carried. 



