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Caption: Book - History of the University (Powell)
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Activity Illinois Industrial League 65 During the summer of 1853 the work of the industrial league was retarded by a struggle which arose over the management of the hospital for the insane at Jacksonville. A group of men commonly spoken of as the "clique" wished to manage the affairs of the institution for their own pecuniary benefit and Turner took a leading part in the battle that was waged against them, the outcome of which was not only important in itself but held linked with it the fortune of the university movement In a letter to Bronson Murray, Turner explained the general situation: "This war," he wrote, "has had a direct bearing upon our league of industrial interests, and must necessarily delay them all till it is through or ruin them for the present at least if our opponents are not thoroughly defeated. -"This we all see here but it is too long and complicated a story to explain in a letter—But we feel that they are pretty well used up now, and they feel it more than we do—and I hope for a clear sea, fair wind, and sailors rights even after this most desperate fight—for all admit that it has been the most desperate fight ever had in the State—But we have given them 'the grape' to their heart's content and now I hope they will let us alone. "And if this job is as thoroughly done up as we intend it shall he, and think it now is, the University and other State Institutions will hereafter have fair play." 0 Much in regard to this sharp controversy found its way into the local press and feelings were aroused to a high pitch, and as the fight grew more bitter it brought suffering to Turner and his family. The acute stage was reached near the middle of October. On the evening of the 13th while Turner was in Springfield, where he had gone to deliver •' The millennium of labor" address before the first state fair, his barns and valuable greenhouses were set on fire in three different places. The incendiary hoped to have Turner called home and thus prevent him from making his address but when informed by telegraph that his family was safe Turner concluded not to be outwitted by his enemies and therefore stayed to give the address scheduled. In the end Turner won an important victory in his fight to secure just and honPTurnof to Murray, August 9, 1853, Turner manuscripts.
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