The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-16
HE ACCUSES MEANY.
Prof. Hendricks Allegations in
Pullman Hearing.
POLITICS IN APPOINTMENTS.
Prof. Heston 10 Also Charged By the
Some Sensational Evidence.

tue employment Ol tuc AST1SoAtAAoA W.
lege investigation committee has been
particularly interesting and spicy by
long and close examination Of Prof.
Hendricks, who was introduced as Wit
ness to the political influence behind the
appointments Of the faculty. Bellinger
has been testifying in his own be-
half under the examination of his at
torney. and has been specifically ex-
examined by the only two members OF the
committee who have anything pertinent
to say. These are Nc Elwain and Frink.
1t has become the general impression that
the gentlemen named are not prejudiced
in favor of those who think an investiga-
ton necessary. Mr.. Bellinger has an at
torney to look after his interests, and
from the general trend of cross-ex-
animation by McElwain, an informed
person would at once conclude he was
acting in the capacity for President Hes
ton, Edmund Meany and those of that
combination. After q severe examination
by Mr.. Bellinger's attorney of Scobey as
to the charges preferred against him
(Bellinger), which elected tho fact
that Mr.. Scobey could not fur
nish much information from personal
knowledge, but offered to produce evil
dence of political preferment in appoint
ments of faculty. Prof. Hendricks was
ca led and his examination contained sufi-
GENTLY competent evidence to keep him on
the stand for something like five hours.
Mr.. Hendricks when asked what reason
he had for believing that some of the
members were appointed for political
reasons. said that he could see no other
reason for their appointment as they
seem without experience and with scholas-
tic fitness. When pressed to name these
men he would only specify particularly
Prof. Newell. when asked whom he
could mention as having influenced the
board in the appointments, he replied
that Meany had told him he had recon-
mended three new men--Newell, Piper
and Ferguson, and that they would go in.
A letter was here presented by McEl-
vain and handed 10 Hendricks with the
question: ibid you write this?" To
which he replied: II did," The
letter was read. 1t was addressed
to Mr.. Smythe, and accused Heston of
not being competent or qualified to do his
work, and that after being appointed for
twenty days, he had been in attendance
but four DAYS. He also offered to give
pointers to Mr.. Anderson from Pierce.
Witness was asked if he still held the
opinion expressed IN the letter with re-
gard to HestOn. He said he did, because
the condition Of the school today fully
warrants it. and it was his opinion that
Heston was not doing his duty and does not
seem to comprehend the magnitude of his
duties. When asked what reason he had
for writing the letter he said he was in
formed that he was to be deposed and
Inundated, and as q school man he
could see that the institution was
not made what it could be. In
reply to other statements made in
the letter, he said that he was
assured that Heston was at Olympia to as
sist in getting . committee favorable to
the presant powers of the committee.
Considerable interest was manifested by
the committeeman and Hendricks was
asked by McElwain if he did not suppose
Heston might be at Olympia assisting in
preparing bill for the college.
Prof. Scopey was again examined az to
his fitness as an educator for mis- appoint
ment as professor of agriculture, eliciting
what seemed satisfactory state
mcnt as to his fitness for that
position and was asked in regard
to how he had accounted for the products
of the farm, the examiners seeming desir-
Gus to discover whether Scobey or others
had kept private horses or cows upon the
products of the farm without paying for it.
In the long examination Prof Hen
bricks made many interesting pertinent
points as to how appointments were
brought out. Senator Frink asked
witness if he knew certain things
from street talk or from personal
knowledge. He replied: IL know the
facts pertaining to certain things, one be-
ing that Heston had said he hoped that
Frink would get on the committee. but
feared he might not"
do you think Heston has been here
long enough to organize the school? 2" was
| asked.
Eyes, sir. 1t could be done with the
help he has in two days"
Prof. Hendricks incisive manner Of tes-
tifying and shrewd handling of the per-
picking questions of the combined COM
mittee and Mr.. Bellinger's attorney showed
him to be a man Of great foresight and
ability. All the questions seeming to find
a weak place in his armor interested the
large company assembled in Odd Fellows
hall. all the meetings being open.
Hendricks was asked by Scobey what he
knew of the connection of Meany with
the appointment of President Heston. He
replied that Meany had told hin: on sew
era occasions that a certain candidate
would be elected to the presidency Of the
faculty, saying: 1--WE have decided to
do So" and when asked if he
really supposed Meany to be such polit-
ical power as to be able to say who would
be appointed, Hendricks said that in this
instance he certainly thought so. As
the sequel proved, he had told each
time who would be appointed. He
was also asked what members of
the board Meany seemed to influence and
replied that he seemed to be very close to
Regent Smith. He said that Meany had
said that if his message had reached
Pullman in time. Heston would have
been elected president here instead of at
the following meeting at Yakima. In his
examination by Scobey, Hendricks stated
that he had visited the college when
in Pullman at a meeting of the
Worlds fair commission when the
institution was under Lilly, and he was
struck by the earnestness and good will
apparent among the students and
teachers. While all were in a
crowded condition and under adj
verse circumstances, everything seemed to
be going tremendously. The attendance
was very large. At present, with less than
one-third OF the attendance, there is dis
sension. bad feeling and incompe' ency of
instructors Hendricks was asked If he