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Caption: Book - History of the University (Powell)
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06 History University of Hi est management of state funds but at a sacrifice that bore heavily upon him and his family. The week of the first state fair was utilized also for a lecture by R. C. Rutherford who was now in the field in the interests of the league. The papers of the day reported that he gave an able address to hundreds of farmers and mechanics at the state house in Springfield. At the close of his address James N. Brown, a farmer and the first president of the Illinois state agricultural society, and Bronson Murray, the corresponding secretary of the same society, made earnest pleas for the league and the things for which it stood. "Probably not a person was present,' * said the Illinois Daily Journal, "who did not sympathize with this great movement of our state and age." 10 Thus the league was entering upon a campaign to carry the principles of industrial education very directly to the people by means of well prepared lectures. Late in November, 1853, still other plans were undertaken to bring lecturers into the field and to get the press of the state interested. Bronson Murray went to Springfield, November 23, to attend an editorial convention before which he urged the importance of newspaper interest in behalf of agriculture- The editors agreed to assist. While there, Murray, after consultation with friends, decided it was best that Turner should be provided with a sufficient sum to enable him to become a lecturer for the league. Immediately he started a subscription paper to raise one thousand dollars for Turner's salary for a year. Each man was to give twenty dollars. Murray was one of five to sign at once. He then wrote Turner what he had done.11 That he was to become a traveling lecturer was by no means pleasant news for Turner and it was still less pleasant for his family who entered a vigorous protest against it. His friends at home, too, thought it would be ruinous to his business for him to leave home for a single year and so thought Turner. He wrote Murray, however, that if there was no other way to accomplish their purpose he would go whatever the sacrifice. "Life is short and soon over," he said, "and our work must be done and if we ^IlUnois Journal, October 14, 1853. "Murray to Turner, November 25, 1853, Murray Manuscripts.
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