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Caption: Book - History of the University (Nevins)
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NATIONAL AID DEMANDED 17 of an Industrial University," this plan being almost identical with that he had explained at Griggsville. Not only were the resolutions adopted, but the convention requested Turner to furnish the plan for publication in the Prairie Farmer and in a pamphlet of which 1,000 copies should be distributed, instructed the members to do all they could to promote reading of the pamphlet, and petitioned the Governor and Legislature to move towards the establishment of the institution. Before adjournment steps were taken to obtain lecturers and hold "primary assemblies" to influence the Legislature. Thus far the plan referred only to Illinois and was little more than a movement among the farmers to obtain for themselves, as opposed to the sectarian colleges, the Federal funds. But Turner already had visions for converting it into a national stirring of the industrial workers, which would result in the planting of a national chain of his universities. In February, 1852, he suggested that the Buel Institute petition Congress for help. In June a second convention of his supporters was held at Springfield, which, attended by representatives of the colleges, was marked by hot dissensions, but which adopted a memorial to the Legislature clearly intended to make the movement national. It desired that a beginning should be made in higher industrial education, and, it recited, "if possible on a sufficiently extensive scale to honorably justify a successful appeal to Congress, in conjunction with eminent citizens and statesmen in other States, who have expressed their readiness to cooperate with us, for an appropriation of public lands for each State in the Union for the appropriate endowment of universities for the liberal education of the industrial classes."5This convention also
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