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Caption: Book - History of the University (Powell)
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308 History University of Illinois CHAPTER XII THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF UNIVERSITY WORK After the enthusiasm incited by the inauguration had died away, the university settling down to every day existence found itself confronted with hard facts and hard times. It had to work its way against unbelief; money was far from plentiful and a propen expansion impossible without it. It was soon apparent that unless the legislature could be induced to appropriate funds for the new enterprise, it must certainly fail. Attention was then directed to the method that should be employed to secure legislative aid. t In 1868 Dr. J. W. Scroggs obtained the republican nomination for representative, and one fact strongly urged in his favor was that he would push the financial interests of the university in the general assembly. At least one newspaper, when it was understood that the legislature was to be asked for appropriations, recalled that Champaign had grandly announced when bidding for the location, that she had ample buildings and means to run the university without cost to the state.1 But what a group of politicians eager to possess had promised, a group of educators had to fulfill and fulfillment was impossible. Money was absolutely essential and in the opinion of the Champaign Gazette J. W. Scroggs was the man to get i t But the mention of money plus the name Scroggs aroused apprehension, and the Illinois Democrat, of July 3, 1868, in its alarm thus indignantly inquires: "Are those 'several things' which the Gazette says the university wants, an intimation that Champaign is to send agents to the legislature to repeat the infamy of 1865 and 1867 ? Is the Champaign swindle ring about to reorganize, and is another fraud to be perpetrated among the people by the county and another raid made upon the county treasury? Has somebody another tumble down old man-trap to sell to the county at three or four times its value? Is another committee to be appointed Jacksonville Journal, Docember 17, 1868.
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