The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-25
PROF. LILLEY'S SIDE.
Given by Prof. Scobey, Who Was
Also Removed.
sAcALM BUT FEELING ADDRESS"
lew the Deposed President Took dis
FarswelI-The Assault ON Pref
aeston and Regent Smith.


/ lese, and who was recently removed along
i with President Lilley by the board Of
regents, is in the city. He was inter-
viewed by a reporter for the Posr-ISrELLy-
/ sEscEs in regard TO the recent troubles at
/ Pullman, and tells a story which varies
i considerably from the accounts of the
/ sfair hitherto published.
"In the first place." said Prof Scobey,
'the whole affair has been greatly exaeger-
sted. its details and the incidents leading
ID to it misstated and misrepresented.
l and the blame. If any there be, unjustly
/ laid at the doors Of innocent people. The
l facts about the affair are these, some of
which l know personally and the rest
gathered from the students Immediately
I afterward. several Of them leaving on the
same train did: The Spokane papers of
\ the morning of the 10Th contained a dis
/ patch from Tacoma stating that Regent
Smith and Prof Heston had started for
/ Pullman, with view of enabling Prof.
Heston to meet the pupils before they
/ should leave for their homes. Everybody
| about the college read about their coming.
/ The train came into Pullman about noon,
i but the visitors did not come near the COL
iege, nor call upon President Lilley to
state the object of their visit. The next
morning however, we all expected them
/ before the regular chapel exercises began.
President Lilley and were awaiting them
/ IN the college Office, when Prof Lake
/ came in and said he had seen the visitors
/ outside the college, and suggested that
some one go out and fetch them in. Prof
Lilley said he did not think that would be
/ proper or dignifed. Mr.. Smith knew
where his Office was. He had been there
,,,l ka loI
1 say TO him he should come to his Office.
After waiting ten minutes after the regu-
lar time for holding chapel exercises. and
the visitors not coming in. the president
| and faculty proceeded to the chapel where
/ the Students had gathered. Sitting in
front of the students and to one side were
| Regent Smith and Prof. Heston. The
president and faculty took their places on
| the platform, the former nodding to Mr..
Smith in passing. and the regular exer-
eises proceeded with. You must bear in
mind that President Lilley had never met
/ Prot. Heston before. During his farewell
speech the president uttered not word
/ which could fairly be construed as incit-
i Ing the students to disrespect 1t was
| calm but feeling address, and in it he ex-
| pressed his satisfaction that he had the
/ support and good will of the students in
his trouble with the board, abiding to the
complimentary resolutions passed by the
Students at their indignation meeting. As
near as can recollect the strongest part of
his remarks. he said:
"'Most of you are young men and
women, and will soon be called upon to
sssnrne the duties and responsibilities of
citizens and lawmakers of the state. You
ere now forming your character, and on
the strength and integrity o. that charac-
ter the welfare Of the state in large degree
depends. l have with deep feeling OBJ
served your attitude toward me during the
last few days. and words are, inadequate
n express the deep gratitude l feel for
Il your expressions of confidence, and the
kindly regard you have shown in my be-
half. / am proud of your esteem. You
have a right to your opinions, and to
fair expression of them. and you had
| right to be pectfully heard in regard to
them
"To my mind, the speech was a mild
| one fair in statement and dignified in
| tone. and taking the whole series of events
in consideration there was nothing in it
which could be construed as melting the
| students 10 manifest any disrespect
at has been reported that even during
these exercises the students hooted at
Smith and Heston. aud that the assembly
broke up in a riot which drove the visitors
cut Of the rooms. The truth is this: At
the beginning of the school year rule
was made that each student should de-
| posit $40 with the president as guarantee
that his board would be paid. President
lhley accepted this as a trust fund, and
deposited it in bank in his own name.
Shortly afterward. when Regent Smith
| heard Of this, he demanded that the presi-
| dent should turn this fund over to him,
| which the latter did. The attorney gem
! eral has since given it as his opinion that
| Smith had no authority whatever to make
J The demand. But that does not matter.
/ Now, it seems that several bills had not
. been paid. and this trust fund was liable
for them. So, in order to explain
/ matters about the transfer Of this
: / !Gnd and leave his own record
. clear in the matter, he read
the demand which had been made upon
: him for this fund by Smith. When
. Smiths name was read there was a muir
tnur among the students, and two or three,
rot more, said %, Smith President Lii
ley at once raised his hand for silence and
|, | The murmur instantly ceased. Other
members of the faculty, including myself.
then made brief remarks, all of which
we're OF happy nature, expressive of re-
, | gard and good wishes, etc. Just as Prof.
| hitchcock was closing his remarks a most
. | remarkable demonstration certainly did
| TAKE place, but its character was far from
: nat which 1t is represented 10 have been.
spontaneously. as if impeled by an ire
: ssIioe impulse of emotion the entire
: ehoo! pressed forward and overwhelmed
> sAe platform and the faculty. Ii was in
: eeec moving scene. There were 80
young men and women. mostly grown, all
q them in tears and many sobbing. ami
!: aated by the most affectionate emotions,
: Fesslng forward 20 grasp the hands of the
ascaers they loved asd bid them farewell.
Twas daZed and overwhelmed tor mo-
cent. the action was so sudden aud alto
: E'aer unlocked for, and no one could
: aa'e helped being deeply moved by such
powerful demonstration. The students
: sIged around the faculty, shaking them
|'ae hand and uttering their esteem and
!. ssAFd' ami thus the exercises terminated.
:. "ar'ng this scene Smith and Heston
.'pped out and. as | learned sfterward
: Aom some OF the students, locked them
yves IN room. Most of the students
:. Ae college, President LIlley retired 10
a - Office and after bidding him good-by
N'Aso left Tor town 20 take the train.
4 lac remainder Of the occurrence |