Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of the University (Powell) [PAGE 297]

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The University Located

265

"That our good county went through this trial and came out the winner is to us a matter of proud satisfaction. That this result was attained without the lavish expenditure of money that attended the efforts of other competing points, or the pledging the faith of the county for the payment of enormous sums of money as a bonus, is a matter of congratulation, and proves to us that in locating this college, the legislature was actuated by higher considerations than money alone. That the beauty of our scenery, the fertility and varied character of our soil, and without egotism, we may add, the energy and intelligence of our citizens were the levers that moored the Agricultural College within our midst.1' On the part of Champaign county's competitors there was a natural disappointment because they had made a great effort and had been defeated. Added to this disappointment was bitterness because they earnestly believed that they and the state also, had been cheated. They based their complaints on the grievance that the university had gone to the lowest bidder— McLean having bid at least $200,000 more, according to the report of a committee of the legislature, and also on that of unfair methods—especially in the use of a '.'slush" fund to influence unduly members of the legislature. The parties that were exasperated beyond limit at this situation were the organized agriculturists of the state headed by J. B. Turner and a small group of men who had worked with him for sixteen weary years in the interests of industrial education. To them it seemed as though the whole project had gone to smash on the rocks. A few days following the enactment of the law locating the university a report was published by the committee appointed at the state fair in Decatur and reappointed by the Bloomington convention in December, 1865. This statement, which was made to the people of the state concerning the action of the committee and the cause of its failure to secure the charter proposed, was signed by J. B. Turner and was printed and sent out on request of the members of the committee who were present at Springfield during the contest. It was chiefly a scathing arraignment of what the committee called the "Champaign ring" and of those members of the legislature