The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-05-07
TROUBLE AT MILLS COLLEGE.

L
cen talk of friction at Mills Col
eye between Mrs. Mills and the
resident, DIR. Stratton. The matter
vas kept quiet for time, and the
tate of affairs was only known to
hose intimately acquainted with
he management of the institution,
he trustees and members OF the
'aculty. 1t finally became matter
Of public comment, and ten days or
two weeks ago the reports first
reached the Enquirer. These rum
ors were of improper acts on the
part of President Stratton, in fact,
to serious charges OF the
gravest moral delinquency. His
friends promptly denied that there
was one word of truth in the
charges. Thinking that whatever
might be the truth about the matter
the college was bound to be the
worst sufferer by the ventilation OF
the scandal, the Enquirer took no
step toward publication of the mat
ter. 1t was hoped that all news.
papers would take the same view OF
the situation, and that the facts
would be ascertained and justice
done without injurious publicity But
to-day it was learned that newspap-
er reporters were at work on the
sensation and that publication was
inevitable. We think it proper
under these circumstances to pub
lish certain facts, purposely omit
ting details, which as circulated,
may be true or false, and are GER
tainly disagreeable.
In response to all inquiries the
trustees have been found very re-
luctant to say anything concerning
the matter. The facts, however, as
near as could be ascertained, are as
follows: Some time in January one
of the assistant teachers at Mills
informed DR.. Stratton that she
would make some charges against
him of indlscreet conduct. DR..
Stratton Immediately went to the
Board of Trustees and stated the
information he had received and
demanded an investigation. There.
upon the Board held several meet
ings and heard the statements Of
all the teachers who chose to come
before them who were only three
FOR four in number.
All the members of the Board
were present except two and as q
result of the investigation they
unanimously adopted report and
resolution. a copy of which the re-
porter was unable to obtain, but
which 1T was ascertained was sub
stantlally as follows:
"That the charges should not be
entertained and the official stand
ing of all the teachers should re-
main as before the investigation.
The board recommended that all
the parties connected with the diff
ferences out of which the charges
appeared to arise should lay aside
all feelings of anger, and should
work together in a spirit of 10y
atty to Mills College, remembering
! that the college work was OF
greater consequence than all ques-
tions of official precedence"
We are assured that this resOlu-
ton was adopted at the suggestion
of a trustee who was not a parti-
cular friend of President Stratton,
and that DR.. Stratton insisted that
the idea of his resignation at any
time should not be condition OF
the adoption Of the resolution. DIR.
| Stratton did not call witnesses on
his own behalf but he made full
and complete denial of the material
facts and charges and gave a re-
cital of the annoyances and antag-
onisms which he had found in the
performance of his duties as presi-
dent of the college. The statement
is also made by DR.. Stratton and
his friends that he has not resigned
nor written resignation, and does
not intend to do so under the pres
sure of any charges or suspicious
OF conduct unbecoming his previous
character and reputation as a
Christian minister.
At the same time it IS stated by
his friends that for other reasons
principally that he has not been al
lowed to be more than q figure
head at the college and not to exer-
else any real authority-he would
be glad to resign if he could do it
without seeming to confess that
there is foundation for charges of
improper conduct.
It is stated that the alleged acts
which constitute the basis of the
charges against President Sratton
relate to period a year or q year
and a half ago that his accusers
are teachers in the seminary, and
that no students are in any way
connected with the charges.
Rev. G. G. Stratton, D. d., who
succeeded Homer Sprague as Pre-
sident of Mills College, was former
~ President of the University of
the Pacific at San Jose. and It was