The Portland daily press., 1897-07-23
WANTS A TRUSTEE.
President Harris of the New University
Favors Hon. Seth L. Larrabee.

Especial Dispatch to the Boston Herald J
Augusta, Me-, July 21, 1874 vacancy
on the board of trustees of the University
of Maine, formerly known as the Maine
State College, has been caused by the res
ignation of G. j. Shaw of Hartland, and
in connection with man to succeed him
there is some interesting gossip. The
office will be filled by appointment by
Gov. Powers. Several candidates have
appeared, but as it is the policy of the
Governor not to cross stream until tits
reached, he has not as yet signified whom
he will appoint.
President Harris, who is the head of
the university, is said to be very anxious
that assCumberland county man shall be
appointed to the place on the board, and
is equally anxious that that person shall
be Bowdoin College graduate. He has
decided in his own mind that the Hon.
Seth L. Larrabee of Portland, the present
Speaker of the Maine House of Represen-
tatives, is the man to I'll the bill. Mr..
Larrabee is nottknown to be DESTROYS of
the position, sand, in fact, it is believed
he does not at all wish for it. AS an in
ducement for Mr.. Larrabee to accept the
place, it is said that President Harris and
his friends will promise to him the sup
port of eastern Maine when he comes up
as candidate for the Republican nomi-
nation for Governor, as he will when Gov.
Powers has served out the customary
time.
1t has not been before generally known
that State College is to figure in politics
but 1t seems to be the plan now to intro
duce it in that field. The matter, SO far
as it has become known, has been the
subject of some warm discussions. The
State College graduates are little indig
nant to think that any one except loyal
supporter of the institution should be for
a moment thought of as member of the
board of trustees, and there is talk that
very little gratitude is being shown
toward those who fought the battles of
thercollege at the last session of the Legis-
lature, when the 1O-year appropriation
was obtained after a bitter fight.
Among the candidates is Archie L.
Talbot of Lewiston, who as a member of
the Legislature, was chairman of the
State College committee, and made a
speech in favor Of the appropriation which
attracted much attention. Mr. Talbot is
friends say he is qualified for the position
and to displace him for Mr.. Larrabee,
or any other man who was not pro-
nounced friend of the college at the last
session of the Legislature. would be, it is
claimed, ingratitude which could never
be pardoned.
Much interest Is shown in this matter,
as the appointment will probably be made
at a session OF the Governor and council
to be held next Tuesday. Among Mr..
Larrabee's friends there is feeling that
If he should accept the place 1t would in
jure his political prospects among the
large class of men who think that the
state institution should not sbe made a
foot ball in politics, as his acceptance
would be construed as a manifest bid for
the support of faction, and this would
be such poor politics that it is believed
man of Mr.. Larrabee's political astuteness
will not be caught with any such chat.
The State College people have generally
classed the graduates of all other colleges
as their enemies, and while Mr.. Larrabee.
as prominent Bowdoin graduate, took
no decided part in the discussion of the
Legislature on the State College affairs
it is believed that he is not in sympathy
with the general plans of President Har-
ris in regard to the institution. The
position IS not a salaried one, but the
members are paid stated sum per diem
and travelling expenses when actually en-
gagged in business connected with the in.
stitution.
Gov. Powers is himself a graduate of
Colby, and it is known that his only wish
is to appoint competent person for the
position. and one who will be satisfactory
r, tha friends of the institution