The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1893-03-31
FHe SITUATION AT BRookINes.


tlon with the management of the State
Agricultural college, US ithas recentl,
developed, has MOI been actuated b,
any desire to be captions or faultfindinp
AS supporter of this Republican party
OF this state and as an earnest well
wisher of the various state educational
institutions, we indulged the hope afte,
the recent investigation had closed and
the Governor had appointed what an.
peared to be very excellent Board q,
Regents that new era was dawn,np.
Having no personal interest whateve,
in the makeup of the faculty.. of the
Brooking institution We were satisfied
that the senate investigating committee
had done its whole duty and we felt like
congratulating the people OF the state
over the happy outcome of what threat
ened to be a repetition of the unfortun,
ate imbroglio at Vermillion several
years since. And when the new Board
of Regents organized by putting at its
head Hon. j. W. Shannon, for whom
we have always entertained the highest
respect as a clear-headed, conscientious.
patriotic citizen whom no consideration
could swerve from what he believed his
strict line of duty, i've felt an assurance
that whatever loads the Republican
party might have to stagger under in
future campaigns, it~ould not have to
he on the defensive concerning the
state educational institutions.
II WAS very natural. therefore. that
we should have felt like criticising
severely the first official acts of the new
Board of Regents. for all quibbling
aside the reorganization at Broolxings
is their responsible work. as they must
confirm all the acts of the trustees be-
fore the same become operative. One
of these acts which had I, bad loo, on
the face of il was the selection of Sena-
tor Chiicott, a member OF the investi-
eating committee, To fill the place vaca-
ted by the action of that committee.
We are satisfied, however, from further
investigation of the circumstances that
this appointment was only coinci-
dence and that Senator Chilcott and his
friends cannot be charged with any un-
fair methods in connection with it, He
is said to be eminently we'll fitted for
his work and his appointment was not
suggested until he had closed his du-
ties on the investigating committee.
We wish we could as easily excuse
the second blunder-not to more harsh
ly term (which was made by the re-
election of Joseph Freudenfeld to a
responsible position in connection with
the work OF the board, positionin involv-
ing the handling OF the funds of the in
stitntion. after it was generally UNDER
stood that he had changed his residence
To another state. We have never yet
been able to understand why man OF
Freudenfeld's politics should obtain the
hold on and tl.e influence under RE
publican administration which he has
seemed to have during the past few
years. We are not so hidebOund as to
think thata Democrat is not as capable OF
discharging public duties rs Republi
can. but under the existing condition Of
things, with the Republican party beld
strictly responsible for the conduct of
our state institutions, we do not believe
it good policy to place "A member Of the
opposition in positions as influential as
M,
what his hold on the Nlellette regime
was we do not know b.;l we are satisfied
that Gov. Sheldon is under no obliga-
lions to him, either personal or politi-
cal, and we believe the Governor could
do nothing to strengthen himself more
in the confidence of the people Us a
whole than by calling for MIR. Freuden-
fields resignation forthwith.
The crowning and up to date mex
plicable blnnder of the board, however.
is the confirmation of the appointment
OF eN-Regent Hewitt as secretary Of the
college. The history of the Hewitt
transaction is briefly this: He was
formerly president OF the Board of Re
gents and after Gov. Sheldon's inaug-
nration he asked that official if there
would be any objection to his election,
as secretary of the college. The Cow
ernor said he could see none if it were
properly done. After The legislative
investigation closed resolution passed
the senate lorbldding any former MEM
her 6f the Board of Regents from hold
ing any position in connection with the
college within a year after his resigna-
ton. Hewitt learned of this resolution
and before it had passed the house he
secured his election as secretary by the
trustees and was confirmed by the eNe-
cutive committee which he had himself
appointed as president of the boar'i.
This was an actof gross had faith t,-
nd b., fl,a IN,