The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-07-04
STATE UNIVERSITY.
The Trustees. Give their. Reasons for Re
moving DIR. Scott.


moving DIR. Scott.
COLUMBUS. July 2.-The Board of Trus-
tees of the Ohio State University met
here Friday afternoon in pursuance of
the request of Governor Foster for some
official report or statement from them
explanatory of their action in retiring
President Scott from the presidency Of
the institution. After an exciting meet
ing meeting, a committee was appoint
ed to draft a reply to the Governors let
ter and report this evening. The fol-
low Is the report.
''To His Excellency Charles Foster, Gov
ernOr of Ohio.
Sir: In answer to your polite letter
of the 25th inst, addressed to the Presi-
dent of the Board of Trustees of the
Ohio State University, in reference to
their not re- electing the Rev. Walter Q.
Scott president of said institution, the
board of trustees respectfully submit
the following statement:
The powers and duties Of the board in
relation to the president and faculty of
the Ohio State University, are prescTib-
ed by section 1920 of the Revised Stat
utes, which reads as follows:
"The board of trustees shall have the
power to adopt bylaws, rules, and reg
ulatiOns for the government of said col
the number of professors and tutors,
elect the same and fix their salaries.
They shall also have the power to re-
move the president or any professor or
tutor, whenever the interest of the col
lege, in their Judgement, shall require
it, to fix and regulate the course of in
structiOn, and to prescribe the extent
and character of experiments to be
made"
Under a rule adopted by said board in
1873 and adhered to ever since, the pres
ident and faculty have been elected an
nually at the meeting of the board held
at the close of the college year. Fol-
lowing this rule the Rev. Walter Q.
Scott was on June 2lst, 1881, elected by
the board President of the university for
one year. On June goth, 1882, he was
reelected for one year. At the meeting
held on the 10Th day of June, at the
close of the current collegiate year, his
term having about expired, he failed of
reelection, receiving the vote of only
one member of the board. 1t is difficult
to place before you and the public all
the causes which resulted in such ac-
ton. We deem it sufficient to say that
each member of the board who voted
mo" on the proposition to re-elect DR..
Scott, acting upon his solemn oath, and
looking solely to the best interests of
the university, for the following, among
other reasons, decided that such inter
ests would not be subserVed by his fur
ther retention:
First, He had neglected for more than
one year to carry into effect a positive
resolution of the board, the performance
of the duties required by said resolution
being one Of the reasons for his election
as president.
Second, That in public lectures at the
university and elsewhere, he prOmulga-
ted unsOund and dangerous doctrines of
political economy.
Third, Neglect of duty in withhold
ing communications sent to the board
through him.
Fourth, General lack Of executive
ability.
ISignedl T. EWING MILLER.
L. j. GODFREY.
JAS. B. JAMESON.
s. III. ELLIS.
THOs. A. COwGILL.
l disapprOYe of the foregoing report,
and dissent from its conclusions in
whole and in part.
[Signedl j. II. ANDERSON.