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Caption: Book - History of the University (Powell)
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40 History University of Illinois vention as to who should be considered members he specified very carefully who were invited. The final paragraph of the call reads as follows: \ \ And, that there may be no question in regard to the qualifications of members, it has been decided that all citizens of the state in attendance shall be entitled to seats, who are fully pledged to the principles of Industrial Education in accordance with the general views set forth in a report to the Granville convention the message of Governor French, and the Memorial of the Springfield Convention to the legislature—or, in other words, the call is for those who desire the application of the College and Seminary Funds to the immediate creation of a free University for the practical instruction of persons of all classes, but more especially the specific education of the great producing classes and the teachers of common schools (who are mainly charged with our instruction) and the substitution of useful knowledge, for barren learning. " 3 0 The representatives of the small colleges were not at all pleased to be excluded from participating in the coming convention. The temper of these opponents of an industrial university and the sort of arguments to which they resorted is shown by an article that appeared in the Mount Morris (Ogle county) Gazette, written supposedly by the editors, two professors in an educational institution at Mount Morris: "We notice in the Chicago Tribune that J. A. Kennicott, President, has called the 'third Industrial Convention, ? to convene in Chicago, November 24th. The President very magnanimously invites all who are in favor of devoting 'the College and Seminary Funds' to the immediate creation of a free University, to attend, assuring them if sound on this point, they will be allowed to participate in the deliberations and decisions of the Convention. Thank you, Sir. But suppose we should differ from you, are we then to be excluded? Most certainly; for how else can the Utopian school be established with the people's money? 'It will be remembered what a beautiful and practical plan was proposed by Professor Turner, a short time since, for an 'Industrial University/ admirably calculated to ease the State of a few millions, and establish at Jacksonville a mammoth workM Illinois Journal, October 9, 1852.
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