Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1900-07-05

witnesses were called, no evidence of any
kind taken, and was not allowed to APP
pear before the board except to read my
report.
This report showed clearly that the
statutes of the state had been violated
by Gilbert and Cornwall and the rule of
the University ignored, and so far know
no denial of these charges were made.
1t further showed that the funds of the
institution had been eXtravagantly and
dishonesty expended, that these two
members of the board had shared in the
profits of contracts for building material
and supplies for the institution, which as
officers of the state, the law forbids them
to do. These charges were openly made
i'll the board meeting in the presence of
the accused, and were not denied. They
were made with the knowledge that
Regent Gilbert had confessed at former
meeting of the board that he did say,
relative to a certain contract, That he
was serving as regent without pay and
that he thought he ought to be allowed
to make little something out of the con-
tract for furnishing the lumber for finish
ing the building.
| "This incident furnishes the keynote to
the spirit of the committee, whose con-
| fidence,' it has been alleged, i did not
enjoy and for that reason their support
was denied me. Under the circum-
stances, l hardly expected the confidence
and support of the committee, and had
received them | should have felt COM
plimeuted. One of the jantors of the
building, may remark, however, was in
close touch with the committee, enjoyed
their full confidence, and was more fire.
quently consulted by them than the
president.
':Relative to dissentions in the faculty,
| will say that there were none except
such as existed before came to the uni
versity, and which were deliberately in
tensified by the action of the executive
committee, as my report will show.
ut is little less than acriine to appoint
men on these boards of regents to control
institutions of higher learning whose
only qualification is their political in
Auence. No one will deny who knows
them that the men referred to are igno-
rant and illiterate. One Of them habiui-
ally speaks of corpse of teachers and
the other, while perhaps a good business
man In the ordinary acceptation of that
term, in that he allows no opportunity to
make money to escape him, has no sym.
pathy with learning, no knowledge of the
customs of college or university and no
conception of their relation to society
These men, however, are able to run and
control the primaries. They secured 6
majority of the delegations for the Lew
iston and Pocatello conventions in thu
interest of the governors political asper
ations. They did this after | had ad
f dressed the communication above re
ferred to.
"The board of regents then, at its Jun,
meeting, was confronted with the alter
native of sustaining these men or tn
president of the university, who had i'm
peached their integrity. Under all tn
circumstances, the issue could not hav
been doubtful, as three of the five mem
bers of the board, who voted against me
) are instructed delegates to the Pocatell'
convention. The fourth is the editor Q
their chief political organ in the state
and the fifth is woman, who, though
5 stranger to the family, was guest of MI
: and Mrs. Gilbert during,the entire sessio
| Of the board.
: at is no more than justice to say tina
: the action of the board, so cruelty, S
$ brutally unjust, SO destructive of the bes