Democracy's College, 1962 version part 1

this is the campus of Iowa State College one of the land grant colleges in the United States today such colleges stand as testimonials to the lasting power of an idea an idea rooted in the will of the people to provide that equality of opportunity which is America all over the land grant idea is greater than any one institution Iowa State College is proud to have made a significant contribution to its growth pleased that the efforts of the people of Iowa have helped to make a reality of Democracies college there were no colleges in 1607 at Jamestown or in 1620 at Plymouth Rock but there were freedom-loving men out of the wilderness a nation was born founded on the belief in the fundamental rights of equality and freedom for all men the only safe guardians of Liberty are a free press and an intelligent and reading people an intelligent and reading people this meant education for all the people not just the rich ones or the best ones but all the people in 1800 there were just 63 institutions of higher learning the curricula were limited the requirements for admission strict these were the aristocratic schools for the lawyers the doctors the statesman the clergyman but what about the other citizens what about the planter of Virginia where were his rights for equality of opportunity what were his chances for higher education what about his son's chances for his daughters Thomas Jefferson realized that the American people must be given the opportunity to develop their latent talents in 1817 he founded the University of Virginia making higher education available to more people but his ideas were ethereal for the aid the curriculum was still dominated by the classics and while these were important the pattern of American life was changing bringing with it new demands and forces the nation was moving west no time for higher education here no need for Greek or Latin to help the settler build his cabin or plant his crops but what of the future the nation was growing the frontier cabin became a settlement the settlement a Tom the town a city all over America new trades and jobs were becoming important craftsmen and skilled laborers were perfecting their trades hardworking Americans everywhere wanted to improve their skills from the farmer of the prairie to the rancher of the Far West from the skilled craftsman to the day laborer all wanted to learn more about their trades and what were their opportunities by 1850 the institutions of higher learning numbered 157 but the typical curriculum was discouraging where were the courses in physics geology engineering agriculture they were all too few and far between to satisfy the needs of a growing nation the classics and learned professions still had the upper hand Americans needed democracy's college and we voted it sir without grumbling but when the great laboring class asked for twenty thousand dollars to assist in laying the foundations of an institution which will directly benefit the whole the agricultural interests of the present and future generations we're told that there is no money for this purpose we must wait until some future time I tell you gentlemen that these reasons do not satisfy the people nor do they satisfy me I am aware that we do not have the ability or eloquence of the legal gentlemen of this house but I as a representative of the laboring classes cannot sit here quietly and see this bill disposed out without raising my voice in its defense it is not merely a project of local important but one of vast importance the largest and most substantial class of citizens of our state it is an agricultural college that we need above everything else that we may be able to educate our children who is that speaking but I haven't seen him on the floor before that's that farmer from Scott County merely name's Benjamin you happen about that farmers colleges again for one of the so-called learned profession and a young man cannot go to one of these colleges and prepare himself for his chosen career if it happens to be farming it is not lonely farmer who will be benefited by this bill but all laboring classes the mechanic the day laborer the inventor the manufacturer all are provided for and are equally interested with the farmer in the success of this bill and we call upon all of you who represent the laboring producing is on this floor to unite with us in support of this institution we believe in higher education for all who seek it wow you would extend it only to a few favorite classes you may defeat this measure now but we shall take an appeal to the voters of this state mr. Chairman I move that house file number 129 entitled a bill to provide for the establishment of a state agricultural college and farm with a board of trustees which shall be connect young man you're sorry to save that veil state of Iowa pieces of paper on a governor's desk the pledge of a state to its people you