The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-12-29
The Farmers Clubs and the University


Under the caption "Culpable Ignor-
ance or Petty Spite Work" in your issue
of Dec. 29d you placed before your read
ers an editorial which | can but feel,
does the farmer delegates who gathered
at the State Association. of Farmers
CLUBS of Dec. 1918, an Injustice.
The facts as l saw them are these: l..
d. Watkins, of Manchester, president
CT the State Association in his formal
address gave the business methods EN-.
ployed in the care of the funds annually
appropriated to the University of Mich
igan, a very unfavorable mention.
This address was type written and the
charges were specific.
l have been personally acquainted
with Mr.. l.. D.. Watkins for over twelve
years and can say for him that believe
HIM to be an honest man, which opinion
l know is shared by his army of friends
among the farmers and business men of
the state.
As a business man he has been thor
ough success. He is president of one
bank and owns and successfully oper-
ates one of the largest farms in the state.
He is, in my opinion, an honest, fear
less, hard.headed man. AS you say, he
lives almost under the shadow of the
University buildings. and ! will add that
he has had children in attendance and
now has a daughter at that institution.
Now, Mr.. Editor, do men whose finan-
cial rating is in six figures make charges
of the nature made by Mr.. Watkins
against an individual Oh an institution
unless they are ready to prove their po-
sition.
Again, Mr.. Editor, can the delegates
be taken to task for giving earnest ear
to words from the mouth OF one who
seemed so well qualified to judge of the
subject In hand.
The committee who were appointed to
consider the presidents address, report
ed the following resolution which was
adopted:
Resolved, that we commend the adj
dress of President Watkins as a whole
to the careful consideration of every
club worker and call especial attention
to the lack of business methods in the
management of the University of Mich
igan."
The wording is faulty ! think but il
was the intention to simply call atten
ton to the charges of lack of business
methods and not to state it as fact al
one might be lead to suppose on hur
ried reading.
am firm friend of the U of M. and
am a farmer and member of Farm
ers' Club, which club Is member of the
State Association. / was at the meeting
where the reputed injustice was done
and was q member of q delegation q
over twenty from this county. l have
taken up my pen in behalf of the clubs
as am familiar with their workings
and have attempted to show that the
circumstances were such that the reso
luton was warranted.
If the charges of ex-President Wat
kins' are untrue, as you say they are, Il
it not the duty of people, who are famil
lar with the working of the institution
to push the matter and secure at least {
public retraction from u. ID. Watkins
Honesty, frugality' and prudence il
what the farmers, farmers clubs aud l.
ID. Watkins want in the administration
of our public affairs. If we have it IL
the management of the u. Of M. we are
satisfied. Mr.. Editor, isit not practica
to put the matter before the people il
no uncertain light as 1t will be in an un
certain lightif allowed to drop at thi
stage of Development
Yours for equity,
II