Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of the University (Powell) [PAGE 254]

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History University of Illinois

demned the "self appointed guardians of the industrial interests of Illinois." "The convention,'' it asserted, was a "packed affair from beginning to end, *' and that a scheme was hatched for packing the next legislature.15 Champaign's committee, sent by the board of supervisors to this Bloomington convention, made its report, which was published in the Union and Gazette, March 2, 1866. In this report they condemned the second and fourth resolutions of the convention and stated that other parts of the state did the same. They remarked on the small attendance, only 24 out of 102 counties represented, and on the general spirit of the convention. They objected to Turner's assumption that his views should dominate the next legislature. Finally, they urged the necessity of taking action, and mentioned among other things that some of the counties wishing the location did not expect it and would yield their claim to Champaign, and other counties if convinced that they could not obtain it, would shift their support to Champaign, and lastly, that Champaign county should be vigilant and should expend money, if necessary, promptly and without stint.16 Another side-light on this convention is furnished by the report of the Mercer county committee to the convention. It commented on the earnestness and unanimity of the members and the determination that the next legislature should not use these industrial matters "as a mere log-rolling measure." 17 The comment by the Prairie Farmer was similar in spirit on these points for it urged, also, that the people should see to it that members for the legislature were selected who should "be ready and willing to carry out the wishes of those by whom the movement was begun and for whose benefit the fund was donated.'\ 18 ' Although the college men had received little attention at the session of the legislature in 1865, they had not given up hope. On October 5, 1866, an informal meeting of several college presidents was held in Chicago and it was decided that a meeting of all the college presidents of the state was desirable. A com**Central Illinois Gazette, Urbana, December 22, 1865. ' T h e report is printed in the appendix, p. 481. "Illinois State Agricultural Society, Transactions, 6:240. "Prairie Fanner, December 23, 1865, October 20, 1866.