The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-26
THE PULLMAN RIOT.
Prof. HestOn Tells How Students
Were melted to It.
LILLEY's DAKOTA ETIQUETTE.
He Twisted Scripture to Suit His Pur-
pose, and Urged on the Mob With
Praise OF Their Conduct.

agricultural college, returned Saturday
from Pullman, the scene of the recent out
rage upon Regent Smith. He gave full
account of the occurrence to a POsT-lNTEL-
LIGENcER reporter, saying:
81 am thoroughly satisfied that the
demonstration was not directed against
me, and no personal disrespect was shown
to me further than that implied in not re-
specting the company was in at the time.
The attack upon Mr.. Smith, however, was
most unjustifiable and, while half dozen
ringleaeers of the students are primarily
responsible. do not hesitate to say that
think President Lillev melted the students
to the outrage and could have put stop
to it if he had been so minded. 1t is true,
though that there has been some exagger-
alton about the details of the assault.
Neither Mr.. Smith nor / was chased into
town, although the students, who also
were going to town and who were follow
ing him, occasionally hooted at him on
the way. Neither were any rotten eggs
thrown that know of. There were one
or two hard-boiled eggs, which some one
had emptied out of his lunch basket
along with crusts of bread, etc, and these
were hurled at him. But the question
whether the eggs were rotten or not has
nothing to do with the gross disrespect
shown toward him.
Different stories of the affair have been
printed, and l will tell you my version OF
it. Mr.. Smith and l arrived in Pullman
shortly after noon on December 90. Mr..
Smiths purpose in going there was to look
after something in relation to the build
ings. and mine was to meet the faculty and
students before they should depart for
their homes. On arriving in town i
learned that the faculty were scattered,
finishing up their examination work. and
that could get to see only few of them
that afternoon. We heard there was to be
a meeting of the Websterian Society in the
evening, and we thought we would go up
to the college and there meet the students
and professors. Mr.. Smith was told, how
ever, by citizen, that. on account OF the
intense feeling against him, his presence
would mar the proceedings of the society
and render the meeting an unpleasant one
all around. SO We abandoned the idea of
going to the college until the next morn
Ing when We hoped to be able to meet the
students at the chapel exercises.
eve got to the college some ten minutes
before the exercises began. We met one
W
the chapel in front of the students. He
then went into President Lilley's room
and notified him that we were in the
chapel. He told me that he expected to
be told to bring us into the office, but that
Lilley said nothing and merely frowned.
In the meantime we sat in the chapel
about fifteen minutes, being entertained
by the students, who were singing: Well
how T fnr vi
and, "We'll hang Regent Smith to a sour
apple tree 1 learned afterward that
the members of the faculty were in Lilley's
office opening off the chapel, and that the
door between was open. So they must
have heard these songs, and they also
knew that we were there in the chapel at
the time.
when the faculty came out and pro-
ceeded to the platform three cheers were
given for the president and each of the
faculty, just like at political gathering.
The president then waved his hand and
the room became still. The chapel exer-
cises were then begunby the president read
ing Psalm xvii as the Scripture lesson.
This was most ingenious selection, it be-
ing that in which David, in confidence of
his integrity, prays the Lord to defend
compassed him about. This passage of
Scripture gave the tone to the whole of the
proceedings and was admirably calculated
to arouse resentment against Regent
Smith. After reading the Scripture les
son he said he wanted to say few words
on point of privilege, and explained
about the transfer of the trust funds. In
reading the demand from Mr.. Smith.
n ha n no n~n
nounced the name in such a sneering
way that there was an instant response on
the part of the students. and murmur
ran over the room and several CALCULATIONS
were made Lilley then made few re-
marks, which am unable to quote now,
but the tenor Of which was to congratulate
the students upon the manliness of their
conduct and express the hope that they
would always have the courage to stand
up for what they thought was right and
denounce wrong whenever they saw it
and under all forms; that that was true
Christianity. The students then called
for Profs. Scobey and Hitchcock, and
when the latter gentleman concluded the
meeting broke up. Some of the students
went out and some of them went up on
the platform to shake hands with the pro-
fessors There was nothing riotous in
their conduct and 4 few OF the students
who were acquainted with Mr.. Smith and
myself came UP and shook hands with US.
while the meeting was breaking up,
Mr. Smith and went out and down stairs
to the chemical laboratory. which was
locked. We knocked, and the pa inter- who
was painting the desks let lis III and then
locked the door again. as he didn't want
the students bothering MIN while at work.
Mr.. Smith and | were discussing some
n~oposed changes in these rooms when
several of the students commenced rap
ping and showing on the door. Mr.. Smith
was afraid they would break the door
down. and so he opened it and stepped out
in the hall. The boys AT once commenced
10 jeer and boot at him, and he eXpostu-
lated with them. telling them that they
should be men at al times. and that what
he was doing vas for their good and that
of the institution. tie then went on down
stairs and shortly aiterward | followed.
As soon as tie stepped out Of doors the
bows began 10 pet him with snow balls,
fragments of lunch and clods OF dirt
When came out. I spoke TO Mr.. Smith,
and suggested that We so up stairs, but he
replied:
"'Oh, there's nothing to so up there for
Let's wait till this mob disperses'
There was no attempt 20 pelt ME and
Lff At all I stopypf tn talk IN