The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-09-17

| tendent of printing. General satisfaction with
the working force and with results of the
work was again and again expressed by mem
bers of the board in the presence of the board.
The only criticism offered me by Mr. Hoffman
was in the statement that an injustice was done
in the suspension for characterization of five
students. two of whom were his own sons. I
may add right here that in appointment of col
lege officers the question Of personal politics
has but once during my connection with the
board had consideration. Gov. Click named.
and the board of his appointment elected three
persons for political reasons chiefly. One
of those retained his place until this
reorganization. In no other case, to my knowl-
edge, has the political adherence of a candidate
been asked or known Appointments under the
populist board were made without such ques-
lions.
When the board gathered in April upon no.
tice from myself as secretary. the five new
members, before filing the official oath. retired
/ for a half hours caucus. leaving three officers
of the board in waiting. Upon entering the
meeting room. the usual parliamentary rule al
lowing an existing officer TO call the meeting to
order ignored and the new members at
once elected a president pro tenn. They were
proceeding to elect a secretary pro tenn when
quietly informed them that was secretary
of the board until nv successor should be duly
elected and installed. Although disputing this
plain legal principle. they agreed to
accept my acts as those of a de facto secretary,
and proceeded with the organization. The re-
publican members were given no place in the
committee on employees. and only secondary
places on other committees The five new
members spent much Of the regular time Of
meetings in caucus. Every proposition con-
corning employees was adopted in caucus before
presentation to the board. The theory of the
majority was that the legislature had destroyed
the continuity of board and faculty.
On April :. Regent Hoffman offered the fol-
lowing: Resolved, That the term school
year employed in the act entitled, etc.
be interpreted to mean the period OF 80 conse-
cutive weeks beginning on the second Thurs
day OF September in each year and resolved.
that the term OF employment Of all present
employees is hereby declared to expire on June
TO- 1897" Consideration of this was post
poned till the next day when it was modified to
the following, and adopted Resolved. That
the term school year as employed in the act
entitled an act, ETC., shall begin July
of each year, and end June 80 of the following
year. and that the term Of employment Of all
present employees shall expire June 80, 1897"
urged strongly that such action was in di-
rect opposition to every precedent OF the past,
to the established rules of the board, printed
and acted upon since 1895. and to the success Of
any college assuring them that every member
of the faculty, though entitled to a statement
of reasons for removal. would doubtless resign
upon request Of the board. The minority re-
gents also pleaded for less violent action, and
offered a protest which was denied record.
1t was argued that any further measures for
reorganization should be deferred till the sum-
mer vacation. The next morning, after sleep
less night, asked permission to address the
board upon the necessity for maintaining the
continuity of the college, and the substance Of
that address was afterwards admitted for rec
ord as follows: In view of the resolutions
of yesterday terminating the employment
next, 1 fear most seriously the con-
tinuity of the college unless imme-
diate action is taken with reference to
unemployment of such members of the present
faculty as may be acceptable. 1 therefore urge
such action now; and in order to free the board
from embarrassment on my personal account,
hereby decline to be a candidate for the pres
idency, and cannot conscientiously accept re-
election if rendered
I was afterwards told by Mr. Kelley that the
majority had already decided to proceed with
the reorganization at once. and to ask me to
resign any claim TO reelection, but ! had an
ticipated them Regent Hoffman stated before
the board that my conduct of the
college as a school of industries for pro-
duction had been admirable; but differed from
the majority upon fundamental principles of
distribution; that the party had been twitted
intne last campaign with being the party of the
ignorant. and it was time to show the people
that IlOugnJIul men, leaders III education,
could be found who would sustain the party
movement from state institution The rest
of the story. in brief, is the selection within an
hour of President Will; later in the day, of
eight members of the faculty for re-appoint-
ment passing over the names of five more who
were on the next day appointed and of eight
who were afterward informed that they were
not wanted. The next morning Regent Hoffman
addressed the students in chapel upon the
change, clearly asserting that it was not be-
cause present members Of the faculty
were not good teachers, or for any
thing against them men and women
but because of fundamental differences as to
distribution of wealth, the college having in
the past developed the principles of production
well, but now being required to give the chief
place to consideration of questions affecting
the fair distribution of the product of labor
Final decision as 70 some chairs was left till
the June meeting, and a few subordinate posi-
tions were not filled till the 1st of July. Those
appointed were asked to state before the COM
mittee, not the board. their acceptance OF
places to be hereafter designated by the
board and their willingness to work under
the new plan. Mrs KedZie, after an hours
conference with the committee, declined Miss
Clark, stenographer, declined with thanks
Mrs Winship accepted, but after her as
sistant was appointed without her knowledge
and apparently without personal knowledge by
any member of the board. offered her reSigna-
tion. Capt Cayenaugh had asked relief from
detail at the college The result is that IL of
the faculty of "a remain. and 10 Of Is subordi-
nate officers are retained. The new catalogue
gives prominent places to four we'll known con-
tributors to the Arena and the New Time and
shows the new course to make room for addl-
tional terms Of required study in economic or
social science and history by condensing
zoology and physiology into one term, psy-
chology and logic into one term and discardtng
mineralogy entirely. Industrial training in
agriculture and horticulture are optional and
all the agriculture Of the fourth year is cleo
tive, thus carrying out the idea that social
questions should stand first in the curriculum
The IndustrialiSt is announced to be an advo- |
cate Of so-called reforms. instead of an expo
nent OF scientific facts and principles as in the
past
The outgoing officers presented before the
board in June their claim for salary according
to contract, TO September /, and the matter was
referred TO a special committee. The chairman
of that committee stated to myself and others |
at meeting of the board July |, that the sal
aries would be paid; but the board took no ac-
ton until September l, and the paw rolls of July
were delayed for that reason, although the ON