Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-12-26
Michigan University Boys.

Michigan University Boys.
A committee of the students of the
University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor,
have prepared the following statement
of the recent troubles which brought
out the local militia with loaded guns:
The students of the university are
young men from nearly every State in
the union, to the number of 300, and
it is not to be expected that all of them
should be we'll behaved; but to charac.
terize the whole body of students as
" loafers and hoodlums" is unjust
and false. While the studen's may not
have been entirely blameless in former
troubles, We deny that the late disturb.
ance was caused by them, and affirm
that it was provoked aud produced by
the ill-advised and wrongful acts of the
town authorities. The trouble seems
to have originated from the fact that the
postoffice is so situated that it is pos
sible for only few students to enter
at time and obtain their mail. The
dimensions of the passage leading to
the delivery windows being about
eight feet by thirty, and the mail being
distributed between 6 and o'clock, at
which time the principal mails are de-
llvered, this also being the time when
it is most convenient for large major
ity OF the students to get their mail, it
necessarily happens that several hun
dred meet at the postoffice at the same
time, and. in consequence Of these in
conveniences, there must be jostling and
erowding.
Last Tuesday evening the students
were somewhat surprised on reaching
the postofiice at being informed that
only one could enter at a time.
At that rate it would take several hours
before the last man could get his mail.
In consequence of this order the crowd
was continually augmented, until fully
500 students had congregated before the
postofiice. Still they preserved re-
markably good order until, incensed by
the profane and insulting language of
the police, they INDUCED in few jeers
and groans, whereupon the police un-
justly assaulted, arrested and impris-
oned ten or eleven students. The re-
suit of Tuesday evenings proceedings
having been circulated throughout the
town and the university, large num-
Der Of students and towns people, led
by curiosity, assembled at the same
place the next evening. This assem-
blage was q preconcerted signal for the
ringing of the fire bell to call out the
militia and large crowd of roughs
depu:izea as special policemen. At
this time some of the students who
were quietly walking down the street
were brutally assaulted by the police
and specials" By order of the Mayor
a company of State militia, to the sur
prise of nearly every one, appeared on
the streets armed with rifles and five
rounds of ammunition, with orders to
fire low If commanded. When the mil
itia appeared many of the students Lad
gone to their rooms and the streets were
comparatively clear; but, attracted by
the fire bell, the beating of a drum,
and the shrill notes of bugle, many
students and towns-people reassembied
on the streets. At this time the streets
were quiet and orderly, women and
children constantly passing. The mill
tia marched down the street to the
Court House square, where they
charged with fixed bayonets and wound
ed several. The only one, however,
seriously injured by this reckless
charge was citizen of the town. The
militia continued their evolutlons for
half an hour longer without further
harm. During their performances the
crowd continually increased until the
militia left. After that tho students
gradually dispersed, SO at 8 o'clock
there were few persons on the streets.
Immediately on the withdrawal of the
militia, the police and specials " re-
ceived orders to arrest every student
found on the streets, and the specials"
were promised 50 for every student so
arrested. That students were illegally
and unjustly arrested and imprisoned
by officers who are disgrace to any
civilized community is proved by the
fact that their actions are condemned
by all high-minded and impartial citi-
zens, ard not one of the officers making
the arrests appeared against him. 1t
is evident, therefore, that the chief
cause Of the disturbance was the arbi-
trary and uncalled-for action of the
Mayor. arising from feelings hostile to
the university.