The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-16
JEFF DAVIS REPLIES.
Manhattan Editor Discusses Action
of Students.

N%@--N
of Students.
The war between the friends of Presi-
dent Nichols. of the State Agricultural
college. and ]. = Davis. editor of the
Manhattan Mercury. is becoming more
violent than ever Davis criticised in
unmeasured terms the action Of some
of the students of the college in hiss
ing two OF the regents recently. In
return mob oe the students burned
Davis in effigy on the streets of Man
NATHAN and also visited his house IN the
course of the demonstration The fol-
lowing is an editorial on the subject
from this weeks Mercury:
During our absence from home on
the night of October 10 a mob of college
students met and resolved: First, to de-
stroy the Mercury office and throw the
/ type in the river One of the mob sug
gested that some one might be killed.
They resolved: Second to mob j. J.
curry Again it was suggested that some
one might be killed They resolved
Third, to form. rrc~ct. to the business
portion of TIE city, with college yell and
cheers for Nichols. and occasional dis
charge of Gre arms. to burn the timid
editor of the Mercury in effigy. This
they did. Then a portion of the -s-ore
desperate members marched to our
/ house, many of them entered our ward.
went around the house. looked into the
windows, alarming our family and
neighbors by their yells and threats of
violence. This is the history of the mob
as we have it from eye-witnesses.
EVERY member o. that mob was a
viOlator of law. Their loud yelling and
cheering for Nichols disturbed the peace
The discharging of firearms was a GRIM
mai offense. Threats of murder and de-
StfuctlOn CT property made them an
archlsts. Entering my yard and search
! ing my house , v looking into the win
dows was an offense against law ana
common decencsr
Now as to the responsibility: Per
haps two-thirds Of tat mob had never
read the article. and did not know why
they were making criminals of them
selves. IL has been suggested that lead
I ing Republicans were the instigatOrs.
This we are not inclined to credit though
some of them are said to have been
happy spectators of that disgraceful
lscene, and some are said to have ap
proved of the mob ON the following
morning.
That tho mob had leaders is known.
and while guilty of overt acts drew their
inspiration from a chaotic condition
known to the college only since the ad-
minlstration of President Nichols
we understand that Mr.. Nichols is a
reformed Democrat. and as a Reoub-
lean is not in harmony with some OF
1.-THE members of the board Of regents, or
mere especially Mr.. Coburn and those
who refuse to change the word "agricul-
turaI on Mr.. Nichols motion.
w itSH TIE regents We're missed IN the
chapel President Nichols sat in silence
and by his silence endorsed an exhibi-
+ ton of mob spirit This has not been
/ denied and can be accepted as true till
refuted, of which we have heard of no
effort. Such an endorsement was a
legitimate incentive to the formation
and unlawful action of the mob on the
night of October TO.
Under the administration Of Fair
child and Will the Murcury told the
| truth as it saw and understood condi-
4 tons. but it remained for the admins
tratlon of Nichols to defy the law and
permit the making of criminals.
Had the board of regents been Kissed
by the students of the college during
the administration of Will the Repub-
ilcan papers would have gone insane in
their wrath against President VIII.
The Mercury has told the truth and
stands by it's utterances
"One man is no match for a mob of
800 physically. Mobs are always treach-
erous and cowardly, and like pack of
wolves are reckless and bloodthirsty be-
! cause conscious of superior strength
IF the leaders of the college mob are
/ the brave. courageous men they claim
to be, they viii rot seek to conceal the
part tne.F took in that demOnstra ton
on the night of October 10 Send us
your names and state what particular
part you took in the riot in which you
/ appeared to be so proud and enthusiasts
| tic and we will add to vOlr lima eei-
nary glory by placing you squarely be-
fore the public. IF you do not wish to
send it. then come in. one al a time,
that the deal may be fair and the play
may he equal.
IF the Mercury violates the law it
is amenable to the law but it is not
amenable TO the mob IF the law is
insufficient or if the officers of the law
Indifferent, we shall promptly defend
our property and our person.
We sincerely deDlore, as a citizen,
the mob spirit and tie mob's acts but
if statement of facts and logical crit
icisms Drovokes a mob after each is
sue of the Mercury. we win continue to
state facts and make criticisms: that
is our legitimate calling; it is the bust
ness we follow, and we expect to follow
it until death US DO part.
I'VE shall wait impatientlv for a new
governor, new regents, a new presi-
dent, a higher and better department
at the Kansas State Agricultural col
lege, and the enforcement of law
/ against riots in the city of Manhattan -