Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-11-12
His Candidacy for President of
Graduating Class, Columbian Uni
versity, Clearly Stated.
DID NOT SEEK THE POSITION.
Was Nominated by the Best Men in
The Class as the Most Suitable
Person to Represent Them.

The following from Washington. D.
c., under date OF Nov. g. 1908 is self
explanatory:
Among the candidates for president
Of the graduating class OF the law de.
partment OF the Columbian university
Of this city, at its first meeting for the
purpose Of electing class officers, was
MIR. Israel Emerson Wiley, OF your
city. In view of the attention which
has been given this affair by the press
and the apparent misapprehension
which seems 10 prevail upon the sub
iect, we deem it our duty as friends
and supporters of Mr. Wiley, to state
the facts as they are, and this for two
reasons; First to correct any false re-
ports which may have reached the
ears of Mr., Willey's friends, second, to
state the true position and feeling Of
the class In the matter.
The political history OF the class IN
the previous two years Of its existence
may be stated briefly to be this: All
the officers for both years were nomi.
mated and elected practically without
opposition by faction composed chief
~ of members of a certain fraternity.
AS to the personnel of this faction
nothing need be said save the fact that
certain element. through no Interior
motives nor hope of personal aggran-
di2ement, came TO the conclusion that
this frat" element was not exactly
representative of the whole class and In
asmuch as they had held full sway for
two years II was time for a change I'm
administration, In casting about for
suitable candidate the available mater
al was gone over thoroughly and Mr..
Wiley was settled upon as being the
man who would make the strongest
candidate against the "frats." Accord
ingy his name was proposed at the
meeting held for that purpose, where
upon the excitement became intense.
lnuendo and epithet verging close on
to personalities were INDUCED in by the
opposition the whole burden Of which
was, though not openly stated that Mr..
Wiley was Mormon" and had spent
a portion OF his life expounding that
doctrine In a foreign CLINE. and for that
reason was ineligible for class presl-
dent.
At that meeting nine ballots were
taken, at the close Of which Me-.
Willey's forces We're fully as strong as
At first. An adjournment was taken,
no president having been elected.
The next melting was held today, with
tho result that after the third ballot
Mr.. Wiley closed with an increased
vote over any previous ballot. with not
sufficient however, TO elect him. As Il
was apparent that no election could be
had, the three candidates withdrew,
new men were put I'm nomination, ana
Mr.. Scott OF Missouri was elected pres
ident Of the class Of 1901.
These are the facts In the case Now
we wish to say this In regard to Ofr.
Wiley. He did not seek the position,
nor did he personally solicit votes.
When approached upon the subject he
frankly stated that he did not desire
the Office and further stated that he
did not consider himself a suitable can
dldate for the position for the reason
that he was n Mormon" and as he
had no inclination or desire 90 conceal
that fact, II would be capital for the
opposition and thereby the cause would
be lost This matter was thoroughly
considered beforehand anA Mr. Wiley
was told that so far as his religious
principles were concerned, tect was
matter for him and his God. but for
the sake Of the cause he must run,
How faithfully he was supported IL
now a matte, Of class history. and had
there been no compromise II may he
said with all truthfulness that every
man would have stayed with him dur
ing the rest OF the year, had II been
necessary. It can furthermore be truth
fully said, with no idea Of including
ourselves In the equation, that his col-
lowers were the best, most substantial
men. and were without doubt the now-
or Of the class. Again. In view Of the
fact that Mr.. Wiley retired with great
or strength than when he began, We
deem Il most substantial testimony OF
hls character and personal worth, ana
also OF the thorough cosmopolitan spirit
OF Colombian university,
Yours respectfully
AMASA JAMES WARD iowa
JAMES RAYMOND MOORE
Alabama, Glass of 1904.