The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-12

At the weekly meeting Of the board OF
regents of the state university tonight a
nunaber OF matters will be brought up for
action that will probably make the session
llvs1y from start TO finish First IN order
az events comes the demand recently maes
By President Edwards that the chair occu-
pied BIZ Or. Hamilton. professor OF mental
and moral philosophy. be declared vacant
An issue has been raised In the board over
the matter. in which John r. Fay and
John Wiley appear as the champions OF
the opposing sides
ANOTHER matter that may cause the pro-
ceedinzs 70 be unusually interesting 10 a
letter which Ii is rumored Gov. Rogers
will forward. requesting the resignation OF
Rev. Clark Davis as regent OF the uni
versffy.
Al his last visit TO Seattle. Gov. Rogers
did not have any deiicacy In expressing
his dissatisfaction with the fact that Re~
gent Davis had had himself elected regis
trar of the university. The governor ex-
poets the regents TO look after the manner
in which the employees OF the university
perform their duties. Thus Il VIII appear
that Regent Davis occupies the advan-
fageors position Of being able. as IL were.
10 assist In auditing his own accounts ana
In passing approval on his Own actions.
Al least this IN the view Gov. Rogers is
reported to have taken Of the matter. To
u Wt3&~HUDWH tNEi1G< tk thu tA1Aots fnA ~
Gov. Rogers expressed bis mind along
these lines during his last visit 10 the city.
and the knowing ones expect letter from
his excellcncy giving formal expression to
his distaste of the Davis episode.
The governors success IN his recent
dealings with the board Of control at
Olympia has inspired certain fusioui$fs in
Seattle with the hope that IL Mr. Davis
does not do the graceful and resign as
regent, the governor will WELD the de-
capifaftng AK. These persons imagine
vain thing. however. for when II comes 10
the board OF regents, the governor Is prac-
ticaliy poweriess ard his valor Of
fetal executor OF boards In general must
pale before them Under the law passed
b. the last legislature. and which met
with executive approval. the regents hold
their full terms regardless Of the displeas-
ure OF the governor. Under the old law II
would have been possible for Gov. Rogers
20 have removed Regent Davis. but the
case ID different now.
member OF the board thus explains the
action Of himself and his colleagues In
tieefine Regent Davis registrar:
THE new regents felt like having some
one at the university who could look
around and get posted on the actual con-
dition of affairs. We had heard that GER
tain people were not putting in fun time.
and being unacauainted with the workings
of the institution. we thought II would be
a good thing to have one OF our number on
the ground. Therefore We offered the po-
sifion to NJ. Davis at what we consider
low salary. aud he accepted | was some
what surprised To learn that the election
Of MIR. Davis had caused some unfavor-
able comment on the part of Gov Rogers
can only say that the board will stay by
Mr.. Davis and Will not be dictated 10 by
any one. / hardly expect the governor VIII
give formal expression TO his views OF the
- F1.a 4ss<~f. - k~ f4 "a l.
mated TO Regent Davis that he would &c
pleased IL the board could find place for
hts son. Imagine the spectacle the gov
ernor would make. asking for Mr.. Davis
resignation when he has already evinced
: willingness TO place himself under obli-
CATION 10 him.
As to Or. Hamilton. II can be stated that
his removal from the chair OF mental and
moral philosophy viii not be accomplished
without long and bitter fight. II appears
that President Edwards had recommended
Dr. Hafnilton's removal along with those
OF Or Catch. DIR. Taylor and Miss Cham
berlin. The committee on instruction OF
the board acquiesced In all of these re-
moyals save that of DIR. Hamilton. to
which Mr.. Fay. chairman OF the commit
tee. raised strong objection. The COM
mittee and President Edwards held long
conference or the matter several weeks
ago. IN which an effort was made 10 have
the president reeeda from his position.
This he refused 20 do.
When the matter of the removals was
laid before the board y the committee
the name OF Or. Hamilton was omitted
from the list OF those slated 10 go Al the
following meeting. which was held las.
Wednesday night. Regent Wiley moved TO
reconsider the action of the board by
which Dr. Hamilton had been retained.
Mr. Wiley stated that he had been told
that President Edwards desired the chair
occupied by DR.. Hamilton declared vacant
MIR Wiley said he would stand hy the
president. and after A somewhat protract-
Cd discussion the motion 20 reconsider pre-
vailed. But here the board stopped. and
after wrangiing over the question TIL after
midnight adjourned without taking final
action.
II h understood that th, objection raised
20 pr. Hamilton Is that he invelghs against
atheism and agnosticism Those who op-
pose the professor of mental and moral
philosophy assert that ne is a minister of
the Presbyterian faith. and sncalcates the
teachings Of Christianity and Of his
church IN his lectures Inasmuch as the
university II non-sectaFfan h Is argued
that this sort az thing should not be al.
lowed to continue.
pr. Hamiitons friends say that the req
sou for President Edwards opposition 20
him lies In the fact that he and the doctor
belong 10 separate schools % teaching
that pr. Edwards Is an experimental
psychologist ard would eliminate the idea
Of God IN his teachings. To this view pr
Hamilton dissentS. and believes In incul-
eating belief in Providence along with
his lectures on moral and mental phil
csophy.