The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-02-26
THE GREAT SPEECH,
Delivered by Regent Rynd, BE-
fore the Board Of Regents,
January 22.
A Concise History OF the Laboratory
Row.

On the resolution Of Regent Clinic.
TO dismiss the University chancery
suit. As against DIR. r. b. Rose. Regent
Rynd addressed the Board substan.
TALLY as follows:
/ am gratified that this discussion
has been conducted thus far in a spirit
of courtesy. 1t is now my purpose to
review this case-in which Rice A. Beal
has been an important fgure-from
the standpoint occupied by Regent
Clinic aud myself from the beginning.
In giving an impartial history OF the
case. do not intend any reflection on
the honesty OF my colleagues.
HISTORY OF THE CASE.
The Board of Regerts met Oct. 18th,
1875. / had long felt that the manage
ment of the affairs of the Chemical
Laboratory which DIR. Douglas was
director-if not absolutely dishonest,
was not in harmony with the general
interest Of University finances. i,
therefore. introduced the following:
Resolved, That the director OF the chemical
laboratory shall. In future, present quarterly
estimates. covering all probable purchases.
4
Gals TO students, be culy accounted for and
I paid quarterly Into the treasury; and further.
/ that duplicate vouchers be presented. as In all
other departments, covering all payments, in
accordance with the existing law.
Notwithstanding certain immaterial
objections urged by the director, the
resolution passed. About three days
after. DR.. Douglas claimed to have
made an important discovery. DIR.
Rose had been, for nearly ten years,
an assistant. His integrity had never
been questioned, but in a moment--in
tho twinkling OF an eye-it flashed
across the mental vision of Douglas
that Rose was a thief; that lie had
been defrsuding the University all
| these years. The director secured the
ear and obtained the influence OF the
President. A partnership was formed
TO ascertain the amount. in the aggre-
gate, of Roses petty larcenies. Prior
TO any investigation, il was estimated
that he had stolen about "a, 500. / was
officially notified of this fact. Regents
Z. G. Walker aud McGowan, and after
wards Regent Gilbert, were summoned
TO Ann Arbor. They appointed COM
mittee to investigate. DIR. Douglas
was its ruling spirit-the President,
Mr. Bennett, and Mr.. Knight consent
ed TO his methods. l protested ia
writing. because / considered At unfair
to appoint man TO investigate. whose
very existence depended upon the es.
adjustment OF Roses guilt. The pro-
te.t proved upsvailing. The plan had
been arranged 10y Douglas. The work
went on. Rose furnished n ''list Of
errors" treated his aocusers courteous
/ ly, and gave them n deed Of his proper
ty ito protect the University did
all this rOiVataTiiy, with the poor-house
in view. Douglas reported. The Ex-
ecu.iye Committee endorsed the re-
port Not until after oil this star
chamber performance were The Regents
called together. They met near the
close Of December. Douglas WIS
ready. Rose fguratiyely in irons. The
report wss made. based on Douglas
| findings. or course IL saved its real
aui hor, and recommended the suspen-
siun Of DIR. Preston B Rose. lie was
| suspended 10y methods SO toIturous
and unfair that nobody prides himself
10. lay on that dark performance. The
assistant, without n trial. branded as a
thief-Douglas walked forth bold as O
lion, the guardian Of our finances.
/ urged the Board TO either retain or
suspend both, pending full, honest,
/ upartial examination. Every protest
at 4 every plea were unavailing. Moth
ing short Of the skin Of the poor, aud
then friendless, cripple would satisfy
his accusers. They got il, but that
sL u, like old John Zisca's. has served
c. drum 10 animate L. A. Beal, and
through him the press, the Legislature,
and the people of the state, to eternal
battle against the base transGction.-
! Az apology was offered for the stupid
/ ity of tho director. The minority OF
the Board considered him in the light
Of criminal, and felt Indignant. Con-
trust this with the injustice aud cruelty
manifested towards Rose.
In March, 1876, l introduced a reso.
luton suspendiDg Douglas. / was
/ asked TO withhold this end introduce
ODE reinstatiDg Rose. I did so, but
/ tie very man who IN this way labored
/ 10 save the director, voted against my
motion. Rose was reiustated, howev-
er, aud the equGlity OF both for the
time being secured.
At this December meeting, Regents
Cimie, s. s. Walker, and myself were
appointed a committee 10 report on the
financial relation of Douglas with the
B ard. Regent l.. @. Walker turned
II &c over to the tender mercy Of n
/ WashtenAw court, without daring, as
events proved, TO trust q Washtenaw
county jury. We investigated. A ma.
jority report, signed 10y Clinic and my
self, was presented at the March meet
iDg-a minority, by Regent J. s. Walk
er. They did not differ materially as
to the amount involved. The Clinic
report gave the sum total Of the defal-
cation. We thought IT should be
charged TO Douglas.
We felt like saying 10 the director -
You have always managed, or pre-
tended to manage onr affairs: always
reported, or pretended 10 report, the
sum total OF money belonging TO Us:
you have never asked us in ten long
years TO settle with Rose; We have new.
er been aware, through you or any one
else, that Rose handled our money,
and you must not ask us now 20 as.
sumo enormous expense in trying to
fx the result Of either your avarice OF
negligence on an assistant whom We
have never known or even heard of a.
a financial agent. Now, DR.. Douglas,
W want you TO settle up the thousands
which you honestly owe us. Pay over,
and II you have any trouble with Rose,
adjust the matter in the courts or else
where" To us this appeared simple.
direct and Inexpensive. We have not
changed our opinion.
At the March meeting the McGowan-
Grant committee was appointed. They
had authority 10 settle by arbitration.
This was refused by Douglas. He
daro not trust TO arbitration. They
we're asked to accept OF and agree TO
pass on all the evidence. They claim
ed that their authority was not so far
reaching. They were Urged to call the
| Regents together-Mr. Beal agreeing 10
pay the expense attending such call
and submit the case Co the Board. This
too, was refused. Douglas was graft.
tied-he had carried every point: the
assistant Rose could not have hear.
ing-he had been adjudged guilty
eight months previously. The Regents
we're called TO meet ten DAYS before the
usual time. General C1tcheon remon-
sirased in n vigorous and manly way.
They ascortained he could not be pres
ent. i was at the Cincinnati conven.
ton. So much the moro reason for
prompt action. The fkree; foUrfis Board
/ appeared like an UHfimelg birth. Chnie