The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1900-07-14

he ought to be allowed to do this, inas-
much as he WAS serving as Regent
without pay. Does Gilbert deny this ?
If not, there cannot be question of
veracity on that point. lie are not
| deny it for it Is matter of record that
he held up Zei9ler'S contract for
months, because he (Zeigler) would not
agree to bny his lumber from him.
Does Gilbert deny that there was
warrant for S642 paid to him for fur
| nishing wood 10 the University at 50
| cord, that the wood was furnished
without calling for bids, while the light
| plant was buying it at $2.75 cord
There can be no question of vLracity
on that point, because there is the
voucher to prove il. President Blanton
charged that this transaction and many
others of q similar nature were con-
trary to the statutes of the state. Does
Gilbert deny this? If SO, let him read
the Jaw or ask any lawyer if public
officer is not forbidden to engage in
any business Of that kind. Where is
the question then Of veracty between
President Blanton and Gilbert and
Cornwall? No, President Blanton has
discharged his duty Loyalty and fear
lessly'to the state by denouucing this
rotten business management and he
should receive the gratitude of the
people, as he will when the facts are
known. But Gilbert and Cornwall got
the Latah county delegation for Gov.
Steunenberg, the former Boosting that
it only cost him $75 to get it, and they
had to be protected from investigation,
and the man who dared to charge them
with corruption had to be punished
by his removal. No charges were pre-.
ferred against him, no fault was found
with his management, no opportunity
given him to make even statement,
but he is notified that his office is va
Gated. This monstrous wrong will not
down. 1t will "rise up to plague its
inventors"
1t Is true we charged partisan action
on the part of the board. because only
the partisans of Gov. Steunenberg
voted for the resolution, while those
members of the Board who are not In
sympathy with the Governors political
aspirations voted against it. No one
charged that it was PARTISAN in the
sense that 1t involved any question or
interest as between Democrats and Re-
publlcans, but PARTISAN 10 showing the
brutal methods pursued by Governor
Steunenberg and his friends in the
prosecution of his cause; PARTISAN in
the same sense that Hugh Fulton, the
penttentiary guard, lost his position on
the order of Steunenberg because Full
ton voted against the governors inter-
ests at Lewiston.
Here is the whole matter In nut.
shell: Nothing must stand in the way
OF Steunenberg's ambition. The inter
ests of the University count for naught,
the splendid progress it was making
may be indefinitely retarded, its Pres;-
dent may be Inundated and degraded
and everything thrown into confusion,
provided he gets the Latah county
delegation, and the men who get It for
him, tho up to their eyes in corrur-
ton, must be httewashed and still
further indicated by the removal of
the officer that had the courage to ex-
pose them These are the cold facts
in the case. There was no question of
veracity between President Blanton
and the executive committee, and In
the very nature of the things developed
there could have been none.
The Eramiaer also intimates that
newspapers and people here had better
keep still over the regents mismanase-
ment of the University or tile appro-
priatiOn for maintenance will be with
held by the legislature. If the legisla-
ture takes the trouble to investigate
this matter, as the StGr hopes it viii,
it viii find that all the newspapers and
people of Moscow are insisting upon is
that the affairs of the University be
wisely and honestly conducted, This