A Letter From A Chicago Concern

calling iteelf "The Society of University Extensión and Home Culture" asks for the notice of a meeting here. _The University authorities do not recognize this society or encourage its methods. In Minnesota a law has been passed making it compulsory on the courta to imprison a person convicted of drunkenness for the third time. It is said this has decreased drunkenness in that state fifty per cent. in a year, and has considerably diminished the sale of liquor. __________ Joseph B. Moore, cashier of the Peninsular Savings bank of Detroit, and the efficiënt treasurer of the reuublican leaguo of Michigan, will be a candidate for the office of state treasurer. He has excellent qualifications for the position and will, undoubtedly.havethe endorsement of the entire delegation of his county. The Chicago Herald declares, very truly, too, that Russell A. Alger is a "tariff-made man." The tariff has made him very rich. But he is not the only man the tariff has made. It has made the farmer - very poor. - Monroe Democrat. If the tariff will make more men like Alger, give s more tariff. As to making the farmer poorer, that is not so. The farmers of this country were never more prosperous than under protective tariff laws, and they know it too. ___________ The Detroit Tribune devotes a column of its valuable editorial space in last Sunday's edition to one of its most puerile attacks upon the University students One un familiar with thefactsinthecase and with the feeling of opposition to the University usually exhibited in Ihe Tribune editorial department, would, upon reading its leading editorial last Sunday, conclude that the students here .were without exception a set of rowdies fit only for the house of correction. Such articles are clearly designed to injure the University and probably will affect some few voters among the more ignorant classes. It is not reasonable to suppose, however, that right thinking people will be influenced by such nonsense. In the eircus row, which affords the Tribune with an excuse for ita uncalled for abuse, there were among the students not more than a dozen or flfteen at most who were in any way to blame. This is an exceedingly small number of lawless people among solarge a number of law abiding students, representing as they do, aearly every state and territory in the union. It is to be regretted that a conflict was precipitated by a few fellows who doubtless were longing for a little rowdy sport. Could their names be found out they certainly would be dealt with as they deserve. The punishment they should receive, however, should be small as compared with the severe condemnation the editor of the Tribune deserves for publishing such a ridiculous article. While hinting that every student here is none too good to be in state's prison, the Triöune makes the feeble endeavor to curry favor with the farmers by indirectly warning them against voting for legislators who will be likely to favor the University. There is no other class of people in the Btate among whom, in proportion to their numbers, there is less rowdy ism and lawlessness than among the students at AnnArbor. A little investigaron would prove thisto the satisfaction of any right thinking man. As for influencing the more intelligent farmers against the Universty the Tribune has a big jol) on its hands. Anybody with only a little bit of intelligence is able to appreciate the fact that the University of Michigan has, directly and indirectly during the past fifty years, caused a sufficient amount of property outside of that actually belonging to the Universty to be brought into the state or tobe developed within its bordere, to pay, in taxes, an amount more than doublé all theappropriations ihat the state has, in various ways, made for its support during this time. Thus it becomes evident that maintaining such an institution, instead of increasing taxes, is, from apurely financial point of view, actually a pource of profit to the state. This is something the Tribune might reflect upon to gooc advantage. The benefit of greatly increased intelligence in the state does not seem to cut any figure with the above named paper. lts attempt to iniluence farmers against appropriations for a gymnasium is anotherexainple of its wisdom. It i the farmers' boys above all others who need a gymnasium, and who would de rive the greatest benefit from one Hundreds of young men come her ry year direct from the sever physical labor of the farm and devot their entire time to their studies. Th nevitable result is that raany of them jreak down before the end of their ourse. With city boys it is different. They are not accustomed to any great amount of physical exercise, henee the hange is not great and less evil results follow a close application to study. If he Tribune has the best interests of he farmers at heart as it pretend?, and not rnerely their votes against the University, it would urge, above all else,thata first class gymnasium should be built and thoroughly equipped at once. Olherwise the intelligent farmera who read and help support newspapers will only laugh at tne foolish efbrts of the Tribune in trying to gain their favor by ridiculing the attempts mada to secure a gymnasium for the use of their children while here at school. ________