The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-07-01
Seniors Could Not Graduate Without Lowering
Their Dignity, So They Packed Up and
Went Home Minus Their Diplomas.
Bold Job Of Kidnapping by Two Vaga-
bonds at Perth, Clay County.
Portland Poisonsr Behind the Bars-Nearlya o
Double Tragedy at Muncis-Old Woman
Found Murdered in Howard County.
AT THE STATE NORMAL.
Board OF Trustees Stands by tie Progrsmn
Previously Announced.

Special 70 the Indianapolis Journal.
TERRE HAUTE. Ind. June 30.-Befors
Governor Matthews had eaten his break
fast, after his arrival from the worlds fair
.hIs morning, he received a message TO
come at once TO the State Normal Building,
where he had expected to deliver an ad.
dress as part of the commencement exers
cises. He had hardly entered the building
before he was informed that there would
be no commencement exercises. but that
the members Of the senior GLASS would like
to hear from him. The nine hundred
students were mostly Assem- bled in the big
hall. but enough of them strolled through
the corridors to make passage diff
cult IL was delightfully."- evident
that the four hundred or more
young women students had decided not Co
permit all tbeir preparation of flowers and
costumes 60 60 for naught The board Of
trustees was holdiny an informal meeting,
waiting for tie senior class to come for.
ward individually and, by signing one Of
two statements, receive q certificate Of
graduation. These are the statements sub
mitted TO the class in body yesterday
afternoon, the text of which the board de-
olines to MAKE public at present. One is to,
the effect that the signer disclaims having
taken part in the demonstrations and pub
lie criticism of the board and the school
management which followed the summary
removal of Professor Tompkins about two
weeks ago. The other was for those who
did take part. and expresses regret for do
ing so. None of tho class could conscien-
tiously sign the first, ard mono wanted TO
make o false statement by signing the SEQ
ond. h
When Governor Matthews appeared in
the room where the senior class awaited
him be was received with applause. and
Mr.. Harwood. @ member of the class, ex.
planned to him the position Of the class.
1t was that they felt they had just cause
for complaint against the school MANAGE
ment on the ground that there was inefii-
cheney in the faculty. and that this was
chiefly due TO the fact that the members Of
the board OF trustees, not being educa-
tional men, failed 60 make proper seIeo-
tions of teachers. The Governor was asked
to appoint only educational men TO MEN,
bership on the board hereafter. and 10
give preference TO the alumni OF the
school The Governor spoke at some
length. saying plainly that he believed the
constituted authority of the school must be
upheld. Whatever business there might DO
In the grievances of the students the para
mount duty WAS the enforcement of proper
recognition of the authority OF the school.
He warned them that they would yet see
their mistake and urged them TO make
every possible concession 10 avoid leaving
the school as they proposed TO do. Alter he
left the room the discussion continued
among the slxty-nine mem bers OF the class,
and it was quickly made manifest that no
one had weakened in the position taken.
On the contrary, the question of the adj
visibility of resorting to the courts TO COM
pei the president of the school to Issue Ger.
titioates was taken up.
EVIDENCE OF DUPLICITY.
The students hold that they have been
led tc believe that what they had done and
said were either overlooked or admitted to
be not out of order. Furthermore they
were told, and President Parsons and Vice
President Sandison were quoted In the
newspapers TO the same effect that there
was no intention to withhold the certif-
Gates of the graduating class.
The members of the senior and junior
classes are the most radical of any in the
school The committee of fifteen was se-
lected from these two CLASSES. The junior
class. more than one hundred 81 roDg, held
preliminary meeting this mo rning 10 con.
slider proposition not TO return 60 school
at the next term. There is no doubt THAI
the students almost without exception,
will return to their homes opposed TO re-
entering the school II the present
management be con tinued. Those who
have not talked with the students IN
private can form no adequate idea OF the
depth of this feeling of opposltion. espe-
oially TO President Parsons. An incident
at the entrance to the Normal this morn
ing serves to show the bitterness of feeling
OF the students. A bog was trying TO sell
lemonade, when q student called to him:
'You need not try to sell lemonade TO Muir
ray Briggss paupera" When the trouble
began in the school, President Briggs. OF
the board o. trustees, in an interview. 70.
ferred TO the fact that the students wero
receiving free tuition. implying that they
were about the same as State psupers.
SENIORS GET no SATISFACTION.
Tonight the senlor class abandoned the
proposition to appeal to the courts. but
agreed unanimously to stand firm In the
position taken. A committee wac sent to
the board to ask for O definite explanation
of what the board considered to be the
rules of discipline and what was
dlsorderly. The board declined to 20
into details. giving the committee to
understand that the members OF the class,
ready for graduation, were supposed TO be
able to distinguish between right and
wrong. The junior class did not pass the
resolution not to return next term. but
adopted one indorsing the action OF the
seniors. and pledging themselves TO leave
school rather than rescind this resolution
II called upon 20 do so when they came
back TO school When the board adjourned
this evening 10 was with the understanding
that President Parsons should issue
a certificate OF graduation whenever a
member of the class signed either one Of
the statements.
The mem mbers of the Normal class of 1891
received their diplomas this morning st
the meeting of the school board and with
out any ceremony. All received diplomas
with two exceptions. The papers were not
ISSUED to c. Ii. Copeland, of Monroyia.
Morgan county, nor to A. J. Woodman,
of Duluth, MINI. These two were
in attendance at the Indiana State Uniyer-
sity and took an active part in passing the
resolutions condemning the board of trus-
tees. Until they make come form of re-
Diplomas are issued 10 graduates after two
years OF satisfactory teaching. A num-
ber OF superintendents and school men
from q distance were here to-day
with view Of securing the teachers
for next year. They were all forced
TO 90 away unsatisied. as but few
schools in the State will take teachers who
do not mold certificates of graduation.
Later IN the day certificates of graduation
were issned TO four members OF rhs senior
class who had not been present during The
exciting events OF the past two weeks.
The board made but one change in the fses
uity AZ 10 now standa This Was . Oh snse