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Caption: Book - History of the University (Powell)
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238 History University of Illinois every man in the profession or business of his life. He gave credit to his fellow townsman in the following unmistakable terms: 0Professor J. B. Turner is fairly entitled to the credit of having first suggested and urged the founding of a series of great colleges or universities for the education of the agricultural, commercial, and mechanical classes of our people in their various callings. For a year or two his views made but little impression upon others; but took firm and fast hold upon his own mind and heart. Becoming thoroughly in earnest, his zeal rather than his opinions began to attract attention. " I t is to be regretted that we have no distinct and chronological account of the first two years of Professor Turner's labors in behalf of this scheme. The unwritten history of nearly all great measures is generally regarded as the most interesting if not the most important.M 2S Colonel Smith continued his article by giving the leading events in this early movement after 1851. Thus by means of articles in the press and by addresses in numerous meetings the effort was made to inform the public of the importance of securing the university for Morgan county. In October of this year one article appeared in the Jacksonville Journal in opposition to the proposed $300,000 tax. The editor of the Journal said that it was the first article that had appeared in print in opposition to the measure and that he regretted it was not abler and more truthful. The vote in the county on the question of the $300,000 tax came not long afterward and to the surprise of Turner and his friends the measure failed. There had been v£ry little opposition and the result came as a decided shock to the friends of the cause. Their only explanation was that many did not really understand the proposition. Following this public agitation in Morgan county and the failure of the voters to sanction the tax President J. M. Sturtevant of Illinois college wrote Turner under date of December first and proposed that the university charter be so framed that it would permit the establishment of " A s many colleges in connection with it, as component parts of it, as individuals or corporations may choose to endow—said courses to be controlled in "Jacksonville Journal, March 1, 186
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