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Caption: Book - History of the University (Powell)
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30 History University of Illinois Thus the friends of the plan and of Turner were urging careful consideration but many were desirous of early action on the subject. Turner himself was very busy during the months following the Granville convention in preparing addresses and articles for the press and in corresponding with individuals both private and public in regard to this new movement for industrial education. That part of his article in the Prairie Fanner L for March, 1852 to which reference was made above and in which he proposed a grant of public lands by congress to each state in the union for the establishment of industrial universities reads as follows: "And I am satisfied that if the farmers and their friends will now but exert themselves they can speedily secure for this State, and for each State in the Union, an appropriation of < public lands adequate to create and endow in the most liberal manner, a general system of popular Industrial Education, more glorious in its design and more beneficient in its results than the world has ever seen before. There is wisdom enough in the State, and in the Union, to plan and conduct it—there are students enough to patronize it—there is useless land and wealth enough to endow it—and there are hearts enough that want it. Shall they have it? A proper movement now by the fanners' and mechanics' real friends will secure it—and no man, and no other person or interest in the universe will suffer for it. But there is always a tide in the affairs of men—let several of the states become committed to some other scheme, and the golden opportunity may be lost forever. Now, all is open and favorable, and the way is plain. Soon, it may not, and probably, will not be so. Shall we not, then, labor for this end? and if plans now suggested are not the best, let us take that which is. But let us, by all means, strive together, as one man, for the glorious end of the liberal - and appropriate practical education of every class, of whatever name, throughout the state, and throughout the Union. Bespectfully yours, J. B. TURNER." On May 18,1852, J. B. Turner as chairman of the committee appointed at Granville for the purpose, called a convention at Springfield for Tuesday, June 8th, to consider further
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