, 1901-10-05
Terms Of Subscription.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER ., 1901.
NO DEARTH OF CRITICISM.

discussion there has been no lack OF
criticism pro and con from all sections
of the state. and Tho Republican is
free to confess that the con side has
not been neglected. 1t is well that
the people and the press Of the state
should look into all matters pertain.
ing to the management Of our institu-
tons. If they will not bear the search
light of Investigation they are un
worthy of the support Of tn" people
and should be revolutiunizcd. The pa
pers of the state. with few exceptions,
have stood by President Smiley in the
controversy. and those which have op-
posed him have done SO because he
is a preacher. There is too much re
ligion and too much discipline. they
say. Specific cases are not cited, but
the general charge is made that Pres
ident Smiley does lot command the
honor and friendship of the students.
The Republican has had no person
al AK to grind. Its one desire in this
matter is the welfare of the institu-
ton. After careful investigation. it is
the opinion of the editor that Prcsi-
dent Smiley is and has beer doing his
duty and that the best interests of the
students and the people of the state
are being subserved.
In the Douglas Budget this week
<Mr. c. D.. Oviatt of the class of SO
crticises the management n makes
some Sharges that are important if
true. HNNsays that one student was
reported as rSving a bottle of whisky
on the campus a:..a football g2M2 aahd
was fired without any Examination III
to the merits of the case whatever,
and that another student wIs taken
home drunk from a university dance
and no action whatever was taken and
the offense was hushed up because the
latter vas the son of a prominent citi-
zen connected with university affairs.
The Republican has not at hand the
facts in the cases cited, but Will at
some future date give to the public a
statement of the matter.
Mr.. Oviatt's criticism appears TO be
directed against the entire faculty, for
it is the faculty that makes he rules,
and it is the understanding of The Re
publican that it has acted as a unit
in all matters pertaining to the dis
cipline of the students. after the most
searching investigation. Mr.. Oviatt
closes his arraignment of his alma
mater with the following language:
Another fact which has been
a serious drawback to the univer-
sity is that the chase after stu
dents and the desire for a good
showing has led to more prepare
tory courses being established, end
all the higher grades of the city
schools nave been robbed to get
students for these courses at the
university. Thus we have stu
dents in ace pants and from that
on up to men and women. asso-
ciating together as fellow stu
dents. This plan is manifestly un-
just to the older students from
outside of Laramie. and lowers
the grade of work done. If the
university is to be converted into
a kindergarten for the purpose of
swelling its enrolment. it would
be better to change its name and
nhianfc What W., ,a,,l l., ,,,s
versity in spirit and name, of
which all citizens could be proud
and where young men and women
of at least partially developed
characters and ambitions could
go and feel 4 Just pride in its man
agement-in short an institution
whcrc q tew wholesome rules will
take tn place of a thousand baby
rules of action. Let it be the best
university, presided owe by the
best man that money can hire,
and let its class rooms be filled
from every county in the state,
with men and women, who nave
a well-defined purpose in life. and
who need no supervision, other
than general rules that appeal to
their manhood. Let them be
treated like men and women, and
we may her feel a just pride in
the institution"
The chase after students and the
desire for a good showing has led to
more preparatory courses being estab
lished," says Mr.. Oviatt. When were
these more preparatory courses" es-
tablished? Have the higher grades in
our city schools been robbed to get
students for these courses at the state
university? Who are the boys in knee
pants? Is it not a act that the en-
rollment in our public schools is much
greater than that of Cheyenne, popu-
lation considered? Is it not a fact
that students must pass through the
eighth grade and subsequently show
themselves to be qualified before they
can enter the university?
Let it be the best university" saws
Mr.. Oviatt. Laudable ambition in
deed. But while we are making it
the best institution. would 1t not be
the part Of wisdom to make it as good