42 LIFE AND WORK OF DR. A. A. MURPHREE

Dr. Murphree, championed the Buckman bill and used his
considerable influence to bring about its passage.
 "It was the biggest question before that session of the
 legislature and one of the outstanding measures that had con-
 fronted the body for many sessions," Mr. Wartmann has
 related.
 "The speechmaking rose to eloquent heights in the debate
 on the Buckman bill. The people of the state literally hung
 on the words in the speeches awaiting the outcome of the con-
 test. Among the questions for sharp and at times almost bit-
 ter discussion, punctuated with a lot of saving humor, was that
 of separating the young women from the young men into two
 schools. The power to do this was left with the Board of
 Control, but it was decided that separation was the wisest plan.
 Whether or not this plan will be followed indefinitely so far
 as the University of Florida is concerned is a question, for
 many changes have come about in our educational outlook
 since 1905, and with the many young women entering the
 broader avenues of training there are strong arguments for a
 modification of the present plan.
 "I was confident during the debate on the bill that it would
 pass. In fact, I had made a thorough canvass of the mem-
 bers, checking them carefully, and I saw that victory for
 our measure was assured. The vote was taken, and the his-
 toric bill became a law."'
 Mr. Wartmann went back to the legislature in the 1907
session, and while there was appointed by Governor Gilchrist
a member of the Board of Control. He had had close con-
tacts with President Murphree in his legislative experiences,
but membership on the board gave Mr. Wartmann oppor-
tunity to cultivate that intimate friendship with the educator,
treasured not only by him but by all who served with him as
official directors of the work of the college and university
president.
 The University of the State of Florida, thus established,
began its scholastic work in September, 1905.
 The State Board of Education and the Board of Control
in joint session, on the sixth day of July, 1905, selected the
city of Gainesville for the new institution.