Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1894-05-11
STATES OPINION.
Sentiment of the State in Regard to the
Conspirators' Efforts,
The People are Not Blinded by the
Gangs Selfish Work.

Gang in opposing the progress OF the az
ricultural college. That opinion is that
,he motive is a purely selfish one, and
that there is no justice or truth in it. The
folowing, which appeared in last Tues
davis Tacoma Ledger, shows the feeling
on the west side:
OLYMPIA, May 6.-Quite a number OF
neople here who have been watching the
Pullman agricultural college inyestiga-
tions during the past three years are
much interested in the talk of the COM
inc investigation which it is expected
Governor McGraw will make as st ted
in Sundays Ledger. Several things, in
cluling admissions from interested per-
SONS. inpcate that the pending investi-
cation is being brought about by the men
who succeeded in having the personnel
of the board of regents changed once in
a vain endeavor to secure the re-appoint-
ment of Prof. Geo. Lilley as president OF
the college.
Those who comprehend the. entire
scheme see that the men who are setting
up the pins have one chief object in view.
That is to replace themselves in power
at Pullman. To do this Prof. Lilley
must be re-instated. The present board
will not do this.
Asa plain every day removal like that
Of McReavy could not well be made, the
friends of Lilley, the men who want to
run the agricultural college, started in to
scan the records and official acts OF the
regents. The written and signed charg-
es, now supposed to be in the governors
hands, are the result. II they can't be
removed one way they must be another
Prof. Lilley must again control affairs at
Pullman.
Two or three months ago, it viii be
remembered, some charges were made
against the regents but were not signed.
The governor sent a personal friend over.
toPullman, but the men over there, who,
it was supposed, would produce the
proof, said they had had no notice and
were not ready. The whole scheme then
fell fiat. Since then the signed charges
have been presented. There are not a
few OF them, but many.
For instance Mr.. Stearns, a democrat
and treasurer of the board, is charged
with having purchased 75-cent pair OF
Overalls for his own use and charg d
them up to the state. This allegation
will remind the public OF the charge
made against eX-Treasurer Andrew II.
Smith, OF Tacoma, t lat he purchased
night shirt and charged it to the state.
A friend of Mr.. Stearns' says that the
basis OF the charge against him is this.
One day last summer when he was over
at Pullman on college business, his
friends there insisted that he should aC-
cept an invitation to attend picnic, they
were giving down on Snake river. The
only way OF getting there was by horse
back, but Mr.. Stearns hesitated about
soiling his clothes by mounting the ami
NAL placed at his disposal. Seeing his
dilemma the proprietor or clerk OF the
Palace hotel at Pullman, where he was
stopping, sent to store near by and
bought pair of blue overalls. These
were handed to Mr.. Stearns. He put
them on and went to the picnic. The
thrifty hotel keeper or his clerk, simply
charged the overalls upon Stearns' hotel
bill, which he had receipted and subse-
quently turned over to the state when
he had his travelling expenses refunded.
Whether Mr.. Stearns knew that the
overalls were charged to him on the bill
or not, is unknown Lere, but the sup
position is that he didn't. His enemies
discovered the charge on the receip'ed
bill and now they are making merry
over it.
second cause for removal, as alleged
by the complainants, is that the eastern
Washington members OF the board on
one occasion returned home from meet
ing at Olympia via Portland instead OF
straight eastward over the Northern Pa
ciiic via Tacoma. The trip via Portland
cost 81 or So more than it might have
the other way, and this, like other tray
cling expenses, is supposed to have been
charged to the state.
Then again, the members OF the board
still ride on passes and this is made an
other cause OF complaint. To be sure
Mr.. Ingraham is member OF Seattle
publishing house and gets his transpor-
tation on that account. So he said when
the investigation was started early in the
spring. His transportation, he claims,
represents so much cash to him nd very
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