The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-10-16
WANT BETTER FOOD.
University Boys Strike Against
New Boarding System.
THEY PREFER THE CLUB SYSTEM.
Protest Entered Against New Land
isdy-Crowsed Out by oassiders-
President Gasch's Edict.

Not since the introduction Of corn PAL
sorry military drlh st the state university,
and the consequent rebellion among the
male students, has there been so much
dissssisfacfion IS now exists among the
young men who room 1T the north hall
The troable this time is in the comlnissary
department As they were told TO Posr-
lsrELLIsExcEs reporter By committee of
the boys = few days ago, the facts are IS
follows:
When school opened this term the boYs
found that during vacation Mrs. Lars NJ.
Larsen. the wife of the ianitor, had been
given the authority by President Catch 10
open boarding house on the grounds.
and that they would not be allowed, as in
former years, to club together and board
themselves. The only restriction placed
upon Mrs. Larsen was that she should
charge no higher than 81 IS per week for
board.
There was q rather strong prejudice
among the boys against Mrs. Larsen. She
had been the club cook last year, it seems.
but had been discharged for refusing TO
stop boarding her husband and her young
son and daughter, as the boys claimed, at
the clubs expense, although Mrs. Larsen
claims that the club was amply remuner-
ated By payment TO the steward elected by
the club. This caused considerable
trouble last year and led to the present
disagreement.
When Mrs. Larsen was given charge of
the boarding house this year. therefore,
twenty-five of the boys refused TO board
with her. leaving bat three students to eat
at her table. The directors went to Presi-
den. Catch and asked to be allowed TO
start another club. They were refused. be-
ing informed that If they refused to board
at the boarding house and got up another
club they would have to give up their
rooms at the north hall. There was no
alternative, they had to keep their rooms,
and SO they began boarding at cheap
restaurants all over the city, eating l5-cent
meals and living as economically as pos
sible in order not TO patronize Mrs. Larsen.
All this in face of the university catalogue
that board and lodging would be furnished
to students by the University Club at s. 20
TO S. per week.
Having only the three students at her
house, Mrs Larsen began TO cast about
for more boarders. She put an ''ad" in
the Pacific Ware. the school paper, asking
for boarders at s275 per week. Several
boarders. A number of young women
| who were attending the university and
| boarding with Mrs. Larsen left after a
| little while, not relishing the intrusion.
| Several of the boys also left, after they had
been. SO they say, crowded away from the
| table by the outside boarders few times,
| but three or four still remain on account
| of not being able to pay higher board else
4 4 -.
| is the present situation.
The young men who composed the for
mer club complain that they are being
unjustly treated. having been led TO re-
| turn to school by the belief that they
| could continue to board themselves. The
house occupied by the Larsens is state
| property, so also are the cook stove,
| cfockerY, table ware and other furniture,
they say, and yet by leave OF President
Catch the Larsens are allowed 10 put it to
| private use and make money by it with
out paying to tho state cent of rent, so
far as has been made public.
The boys who are yet compelled to board
| there say the table is execrable, and that
in addition. if by any chance any one is
late at a meal he Is compelled 10 go with
out unti the next. although several of
them are making their living as pap er
carriers, which work is hard and exhaust
ing. and who need proper food, at least.
The bill OF fare for breakfast Saturday
morning, one of them says, consisted OF
cheap steak. fried to leather; cold boiled
| potatoes, bread and cold coffee, and so
with the other meals The result of the
| protest which has been made will be
awaited with interest, as the boys claim
that they were able 10 live last year quite
comfortably on s. to 81. IS per week, while
they are now paying from S. upward with
i less satisfaetiou