The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-01-22
ATTEMPTS COERCION.
Miss Smell Makes a Futile
Effort to Organize a Boy
colt Against This Paper.

In Miss Margaret Smell, professor of
household economy at the o. 4. C., Pres
ident Miller has devoted friend and
ally. In fact, her pleadings in his behalf
are almost pathetic, and her praises of
his scholarly attainments and manage
ment of college affairs border on the
extravagant. 1t is limited even. that with
her gracious manners and extravagant
praises she has virtually hipnotized the
president, and there are potent reasons
for believing that the institution, to an
extent at least, is under petticoat mau-
agement. 1t is also claimed that petit
coat management of state institutions is
the latest political fad-having been in
troduced into Kansas by the notorious
Mrs Mary Ellen Lease-and that Presi
politically, had turned over to Miss Smell
portion of his arduous duties. Be that
as it may, she seems active and energetic
i'll the discharge of her labors, and will
doubtless be of great advantage to the
institution as her experience natures.
One of the first duties assigned to her
was the muzzling of this paper She
hadn't had much experience i'll the inuz-
cling business, but she undertook the task
with avidity, an d with zeal that was very
refreshing. She knew that editors were
poor and quickly conceived the idea OF
starving the GAZETTE into silence. Sat
urday morning she sailed forth and spent
the day organizing boycott. She repre-
sented herself as an ambassador from the
faculty, with full power to conclude nego-
tiations. She visited the business men
and demanded that they withdraw their
advertising patronage from the GAZETTE
and stop their subscription to the paper,
under the penalty of losing the trade of
the students and faculty.
The conversation reported to have TAX
en- place in one business house is about
as follows:
do you take the Corvallis GAzErrE?"
81 do.''
| "Well, want you to stop it"
"Why so, Miss Smell. have no fault to
find with the paper?"
Because it criticises President Miller,
and he is such dear fellow and is max
| ing such grand success of the college.
We college people are going to get as
many as possible to stop their paper, and
that will make it cease its unfayorable
comments" she said, with an emphatic
nod of her head.
"Well, Miss Snell," the business man
replied, "haue you stopped your paper?'
mo. sir" she said, somewhat disconcert-
ed. 81 never subscribed for the paper. 1
have to live within my salary. House
hold economy teaches us that
The business man thought it rather
queer that she was so familiar with the
GAzErrE's columns, but didn't think it
worth while to speak of the matter. He
declined her request, however, III a man
ner that evidenced his utter contempt for
her Course in the premises.
81 am too much of an American" he
said, ''to comply with your demand The
constitution of the United States pro-
vides specifically for civil and religious
liberty and the freedom of the press.
The college is public institution and as
such is proper subject for newspaper
comment. Many of President Miller's
acts have not met with public approval
and the comments of the GAZETTE have
doubtless reflected the sentiment of the
community. My observation has been
that nothing unfavorable appeared in the
paper except on two occasions: one item
followed the hanging of the president
in efigy and the other related to matter
brought out by tha presidents report at
the recent board meeting"
This statement did not in the least dis
courage the lady nor swerve her from her
purpose. She had undertaken the jot
of organizing boycott and she pro-
posed to earn her salary. Later in the
day she called upon F. L. Miller and
threatened him with serious pecuniary
loss unless he agreed to Withdraw his
patronage from the GAZErrE Immediate
1y. "Why," she said, "unless you dc
this, none of we college people will
trade with you."
Mr.. Miller did not seem at all perturb-
ed by her meddlesome talk and plainly
informed her that when he wanted ad-
vice from President Miller or other mem
bers Of the faculty, he would make hi:
wishes known. He had so far found
himself capable of managing his affair:
and that members of the faculty who de
sired to trade elsewhere because he re
fused to be coerced, were probably no
numbered among his customers. He
had never allowed outsiders to dictate ii
the management of his business ane
didn't propose to allow it now. He wa
opposed to the principles of boycottins
as being un-American and he was sur
prised that President Miller should en-
courage such contemplate procedure
Hiss Smell visited other business houses
during the day and wherever she called
, so far as can be learned, met with
, frosty reception. The general feeling
seemed to prevail that her course, in
stead of aiding the cause of Presidea
Miller, was doing much toward aggra
: waiting the trouble.
;, Miss Smell has surprised and grieve'
! her friends by her ungenteel action, AM
: such distasteful publicity as her cours
must necessarily arouse is highly regret
: table. The most unfortunate inciden
connected with the affair is the fact tha
: Miss Smell felt called upon to asperse tn
: memory of President Arnold. Not onl
were her reflections impolitic, but are UT