The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-03

vote his time entirely to the position to
| which he was elected by the members
| of the Kansas academy Until Prof.
| Grimsley resigns, Prof Smyth will re-
main in charge of the office.
The defeat of Prof, Smyth for re-
| election was due to a bitter fight made
| on him by the professors of the state
university. The university professors
attempted to secure the election of d.
F. Lantz, of Manhattan, former uni
versity man. Failing to do this, the op-
posing forces compromised on Prof
GrimsIey. after receiving assurances
from him that he would resign his posi-
ton at Washburn to take the new
place.
The opposition of the state university
to Prof. Smyth as curator is said to be
based on a disagreement which the uni
versity lobby had with Prof. Smyth at
the last legislature. The university
professors claim that Prof Smyth spoil
ed some of their schemes for getting an
appropriation for the Kansas Academy,
and succeeded in pushing through in
stead a bill providing for the appoint
ment of a curator for the Gross Ornitho-
logical collection at a salary of $720,
which position Mr.. Smyth now holds.
The further charge was made against
Prof. Smyth that he failed to recognize
the right of the committee of three
curators appointed by the academy, to
supervise his work as librarian and
curator. They claimed that he "snubbed"
the committee when it tried to perform
it's work.
The position of secretary of the Kan
SaS academy pays only a few hundred
dollars year, besides running expen-
SeS. It is said to be the plan of the
academy to secure the passage of a bill
by the next legislature giving the secre-
tary a salary of 81 200 year.
Prof. Grimsley's plan, it is said, is to
accept the position when this increase
in salary is arranged for, and to take
up general geological work in the state
instead of teaching in college. He has
cd xxTif
ant plaster and gypsum concerns, ana
is ranked as the leading expert of the
state in such subjects.
HOW THE FIGHT OCCURRED.
When the time for the election of Off
GERS came, some changes were made in
the list of offices as it has heretofore
existed. The office of secretary, Ii
brarian and curator were combined into
one office under the name of secretary.
A nominating committee consisting of
Prof J. T. Lovewell, Prof. Willis of EN-
poria and Prof Edward Barlow of
Lawrence, was appointed
Under the rules of the academy, the
nominating committee makes only one
nomination for each office, and if any
further nominations are made, it means
a split in the convention. Usually the
report of the nominating committee is
adopted in toto This is to preserve the
traditional dignity of the meeting.
The committee agreed upon J. T.
Willard of Manhattan, for president;
Edward Barlow, of Lawrence, for first
vice president; j. A. Yates Tor second
vice president; E. C. Franklin, of Law
renee, for treasurer, and then the war
broke out. Prof. Barlow stated that the
State university professors would make
an open fight in the convention if Prof
Smyth should be nominated for the new
position of secretary. He said that it
would result in a serious break in the
ranks, and in friction between the uni
versity and the Academy of Science
He proposed that D. Z. Lantz be NOM
mated. Prof Lovewell and Prof Willis
would not agree to this. They wanted
Prof. Smyth retained. After long
fight the committee agreed as a COM
promise to report the name of Prof. G.
P Grims1ey for the place The list of
nominees as reported was elected with
out division.
ATTEMPT TO SUPPRESS GOLD DIS
CUSSION.
The Kansas Academy of Science
probably never had a more exciting
meeting than the one at lola. Usually
the N eetings of this body move off with
a monotonous dignity which defies the
ruffiing breezes of a factional fight. This
year, however, quite number of the
members had their fighting clothes on.
and there Were several red hot tits.
The discussion Of the question of gold