The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1896-08-01
EDUCAlIGN PROSII7'UTED.

OF the leading institutions of learr ing
in Oregon, has unfortunately been
drawn into politics. This grand insti.
tuition, magnifcently endowed by the
general government, has been made
vehicle by which the politicians who
burden the state have rewarded a
political henchrnan, or rather by which
the chief executive has shelved pos.
sible future rival. By brazen.!aced
trick he has placed at the head of that
great college, one unknown to eip-
cational life, with everything to learn
within the scope of his duties as presi.
dent of school. He has elevated to the
position of president of the agri
cultural college Hon. H. B. Miller, of
Eugene, man who has had no ex-
perience. whatever to fit him for the
position, except. that he is a sue.
cessful politician, and possibly might
become successful rival for guber-
Material honors two years hence.
1t was through the planning of the
state house ring, the governor, secre.
of state, state superintendent, and
lieu land commissioner that the cause
of education has thus been prostituted,
and Mr.. Miller made president Of the
agricultural college. The Corvallis
Times, in giving an account OF the
meeting OF the. regents at which Mr..
Miller was elected, ,-throws some light
upon the idhuences that were brought
to bear to secure his election in the
following language:
"It was indeed the governor Of Ore
goD and not the board that named Mr..
Miller to the position, and he did it by
political legerdemain more suited to,
the practice of ward heeier than the
governor of a great state. He is the
first governor whose selfish personal
ends and ambition have caused him to
forget the dignity of his position, and
caused him to prostitute it in order to
reward political friend. The gov
ernor made q speech advocating the
claims of Mr.. Mitler tor the position,
and the recipients of his official favors
bowed a meek assent to his sentiments.
1t was proud moment for his servile
henchmen and for the wire.pulling
political boss, VIM. P. Lord. Another
member present was the superintep.
dent of public instruction. In fact
with the results before US, it is plain
that the state house has a ring, and
that it is in the saddle, bent on builc-
ing itself up for future glory hereafter,
and that it proposes 10 make beast Of
burden of the o. A. C.to be ridden so
long as it serves the purpose OF the
conspiratoFs.
"The other mem bers present. who
voted to suit the governor, were Tim
othy Davenport, Joseph Church and
Benton KILN. The two latter owe,
their appointments ON the board to
the governor, and Mr.. Davenport holds
the position of commissioner of the
lieu lands, position whose salary he
was called upon to draw by the states
executive. ~ :,
The men who voted against Mr..
Miller were W. II. Hilleary, master of
the state grange, who made speech
in which he set forth the opposition of
the grange to Mr.. Miller's candidacy;
W E. Yates, secretary; J. K. Wealth.
erford, treasurer; J. T. Apperson, pres
ident of the board, and w. P. Ready.
They are men on whom Governor
Lord had no strings, and who voted
their honest sentiments, regardless of
political promises. They have from
long associations had the welfare of
the o. A. G. at heart, and they spurned
the reckless abuse Of executive power
that smothered honest opinion and
named an o. A. c. president by polit-
ical trick. Their action is commended
by their fellow citizens.
"The election of Mr.. Miller to the
presidency was followed by the crea-
tion of new position, hitherto un-
known at the college, that of dean, to
I'LL which Prof. Berchtold, the Oldest
member of the faculty, was selected.
The duties of the dean were left by
the board to be fsed-by President
Miller and his faculty."