Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1897-06-25
OFFICIAL STATEMENT.

OfflC1AL 81 n EI4fA As
Of the University Review
the Situation. Charges Against
Gault Shown to Have Been I'm
founded.
The board of regents of the state
university has issued the following
concerning the dissen-
sions that have prevailed in con-
nection with the institution:
Moscow, Idaho, June II, $780,
To the people Of the State OF
Idaho: 1nasmuch as statements
detrimental to the government Of
the University of Idaho have been
widely circulated and such state
ments being injurious to the pres
tige of the institution and to the
reputation of the faculty thereof,
we deem it advisable to make the
following statement:
The university was organized in
1892, since which time it has had
a steady and healty growth. After
taking into consideration the con-
ditions and surroundings, and hav-
ing examined its methods of work,
we are of the opinion that the uni
versity is success. This success
is due.iif great measure, to the
splendid ability and untiring in
dustry of the respective mem-
bers of the faculty, and to none
more than to President Gault
Upon the advent of this board
we found ourselves confronted
with the lamentable condition ola
lack of harmony in the faculty.
Charges were made against the
president and sundry members of
the faculty, snch as pernicious
political activity, incompetency,
and charges equally serious and
dishonorable. We have patiently
and honestly investigated the
charges called to our attention and
found these charges had no founda-
ton in fact, or were too trivial for
notice.
For the past four years the
charge has been freely and fire.
quently made that the university
was being conducted upon political
lines to advance the interests and
ambitions of the late chief exccu-
tive of the state and the party
then in power. We express no
opinion as to the truth or falsity of
these statements. We simply de-
sire to state that our Investigations
have failed to reveal any sufficient
evidence that any schemes of par
tisanship were participated i'll by
any member If the faculty. The
University of Idaho cannot be
made political machine while we
are in control.
In conclusion we wish to say to
the people of Moscow that situated
in your beautiful town you have a
splendid institution of learning;
that while it is the state university
you, in its immediate vicinity,
reap the greatest benefits from its
existcnco. 1t is equipped with a
fine library, necessary scientific APP
paratus, and conscientious, in
dustrious and competent faculty
each member of which is striving
to make the institution better and
more. useful to yOu and to the state.
1t is an institution of which any
town or state may be justly proud;
and this board, and the leol le OIL
the state, have a right to demand
that you use every effort to assist
in the upbuilding of the institution
and not concentrate your efforts in
futile attempts to impair its useful.
ness or to destroy its existence
You must not expect that the PEG,
pie of the state will continue to
bestow their beneficence upon this
institution if you, in whose midst
it is located and who, for the pres.
cnt, mainly receive its benefits, re,
fuse to give it your loyal support
The habit of the unkind and un.
thinking in venting persona
prejudice or spite in attacks
upon the university shoule
cease. We speak in no un.
friendly spirit. We desire only
the success of the university, and
if any individual has any griev-
ance bearing upon the institution
and will bring the matter before us
in proper spirit at any meeting
we will give patient hearing and
use our best energies to secure re.
dress. But we must and we dc
distinctly deprccate indiscriminate
attacks upon the university and
upon the members of the faculty
for charges which we have demon.
strated to be without substantial
| foundation.
BY order of the regents of the
university, j. ii. FoRNEY,
+. T.. CORNWALL, President