Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-12-25
REFUTES THE CHARGS.
President Adams Says the TRADE
Against Him is Not Worthy
of Consideration

Madison, Wis, Dec. 19-rSpecial] 7
The charges of School Superintendent
Peterson of Winnebago county against
the Wisconsin university and President
Adams has created a great stir in educa-
tlonal circles. AT meeting of the board
of state university visitors it was de-
clded to appoint committee to investi-
gate the charges against the university
and President @. *. Adams. Gen. Lu-
Gus Fairchild, president of the board,
has appointed the following committee
Prof. Z. III. Halsey. Oshkosh, chairman
Horace Rublee, Milwaukee; Mrs. Mary
Walmsley, Eau Claire; b. X. Miller,
milwaukee,; Prof. George w. Beck,
Platteville.
President Adams gives an entirely diff
ferent view of the case. In an inter-
view Mr.. Adams says:
Il have not seen Mr. Pederson's
charges against the university and it's
management, and l have made only a
cursory examination of the report of his
statements published in the papers. AS
yet am not prepared to say whether
or not L will reply, but if his charges
warrant my making any statement | will
do so. | have not had the pleasure of
Mr.. Peders0n's acquaintance and have
never seen him, and to the best of my
knowledge he has never seen me.
L IQdLIor
thus far am convinced that the charges
DO not deserve more than passing atten-
ton. 1t is surely evident from all the
facts IN the case that his attack was
caused by purely malicious motives. He
came to Madison last week, not to gath
er facts about the university, but to col
lect material to aid him in venting a
petty spite. He did not come to me for
any data, nor did he converse with any
of the university professors or officers,
as far as L have been able to learn.
he spent the greater part of his time
IN visiting offices in the state capitol,
and talked, 1T appears. with several uni
Verslty students, whose opinions about
the management of the institution were
hnal, as far as his purposes were con
cerned.
IF he had taken the trouble to come
to the office of the board of regents here
or to myself he would have been able to
gather some facts about the university.
his attack is one mass of extravaganza
whatever. 1t is so widely inaccurate,
unjust and unfair that comment is un-
necessary. Since | came to Wisconsin
the policy of the university has remained
unchanged. We have endeavored to
carry on the work of education along
the line laid down by previous admins
tratlons, and the result is that the uni
1881 Lex, SiONh anu pIOSpeEeu. aha
was never in better condition every way
than 1t is at the present time
Mr.. PederSOn's statement as regards
the increase IN fees at the university is
entirely wrong, and there is no sem
blance of truth whatever in that part of
his report; that unless members of the
freshman class select their studies with
care they will recite entirely to fellows
AS matter of fact, we have but few
fellows at the university in proportion
to other colleges. The University of
Wisconsin is not a rich mans college,
neither is poor mans college, but it is
an institution of learning for all of the
people irrespective of their financial
standing.
Mr.. Peterson says l receive $1,000 a
year, with $500 for receptions: this is
wrong, as $1,000 year is my salary. out
of which | expend $500 year to stu
dents. He also speaks of my riding in
my carriage behind my liveried servant.
In the first place, [ have no iveried serv-
ant, and in the second place, l have not
during the past year had occasion to use
my carriage more than twice.
I'm regard to the increase in the facul-
ty, to which he devotes so much atten-
ton, / will say that the board of regents
has increased the number of professors
and instructors in proportion to the needs
of the university. His statement to the
effect that it is necessary to belong to
one of the fraternities if a student de-
sires to gain position at the university
is bosh. Greek letter societies are part
of nearly every college in the country,
and if properly restricted, do much
good