151 



the institution from which the college could be developed. It 

 is doing a good work in its own sphere. Its graduates are 

 equipped to enter the first or second year of the High School. 

 Hence it is in no sense a college nor does it furnish the basis 

 for one. Its attendance of over one hundred students shows 

 that it has a place to fill as an industrial school. It is also dis- 

 tant from the center of what educational advantages we have 

 in the islands, and to try to make a college of the place would 

 be to guarantee a low grade college and spoil a first class in- 

 dustrial school. 



Our report was accepted by the Board of Public Instruction 

 and presented to the legislators. The Governor also took an 

 active interest in the work of getting the institution started. 

 A plank in the Republican platform endorsing the project was 

 secured. 



While the Legislature of 1907 was in session everything was 

 in good shape except for the framing of the act creating for 

 the institution. This was an all important detail, and we were 

 fortunate in securing the appointment of a special committee 

 from the members of the Universit}^ Club. This committee 

 consisted of Hon. H. E. Cooper, C. R. Hemenway and R. S. 

 Hosmer. They cooperated with A. G. M. Robertson and the 

 result w^as the law establishing and the law appropriating for 

 the Hawaii College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. The 

 bills were introduced by Senator Coelho of Maui and were, as 

 has been said by Mr. Cooper, passed without opposition. 



Some one has said that the act creating this college should 

 be entitled "An Act to Secure the Federal Appropriation for 

 Hawaii." As one of those having to do with the early work 

 for the institution, I desire to "acknowledge the corn." That 

 was exactly what 1 had in mind and as I read history the 

 INTorrill Act was originally passed to inspire the States and 

 Territories to do just what Hawaii has done and what every 

 other State and Territory of the Union did before us. 



While this is a meeting of agriculturalists, I do not believe 

 that the scope of this college should be exclusively agricul- 

 tural. It should be a college of agriculture and mechanic arts 

 in fact as well as name. It must be if we are to obtain the 

 Federal appropriation. It must be if we are to give our vouth 

 an opportunity for a liberal advanced education. 



Nor am I altogether m sympathy with the idea that this 

 institution will not be doing its work unless it turns out farm- 

 ers. I am convinced that each man should determine for 

 himself his future field of work. I shall not consider this 

 college a failure if it turns out more chemists, or mechanical 

 engineers, or civil engineers, than farmers. There is as much 

 reason to claim that a man should put hayseed in his hair and 

 fertilizer on his feet in order to be at home in a farmer's in- 



