Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-06-24
REMOVING COLLEGE PRESIDENTS.


of South Dakota. is undergoing 'inves-
tigation'' by the board OF regents OF
that institution under series OF
charges brought by state senator. The
charges are incompetency, that he
smokes cigars. takes an occasional
drink of wine or beer ana holds radical
economic and sociological views. me
evidence of Incompetence as reported
q newspaper as dear sir, one man had
seen him smoke and another had
smelled his breath and had seen him
drink once. A Methodist preacher de-
clared that Dropper failed to come up
to his ideal and clinched matters by
stating that he had known several col
garded Mr.. Dropper's vl"ws on socio-
logical questions as very bad because
he had expressed a belief that under
present business conditions it is inn
possible 10 make a fortune and follow
the golden rule. The Congregational
preacher had with horror heard Drop
per assert the belief thet government
ownership of railroads would destroy
stock gambling on Wall street.
All this sounds more like the gossip
of quilting party than the delibera-
tons of men of affairs. 1t is unfortu-
rate that the charges are brought by
state senator whose action may thus
be attributed to q partisan desire to
mix politics with his safe university.
None of the charges have been sus-
tained except that Dropper smokes and
has taken a drink. Whether these are
sufficient to disqualify him for the
presidency Of the South Dakota school
IS a question for its regents. In
general discussion of this question he
would find defenders as well as ac-
cusers. Dropper's understanding of the
difficulty of fitting the golden rule to
business conditions Is one not unusual
and the doctrine of governmental SUI
pervision Of railroads should appeal TO
state whieh produced a Kyle. His
trial appears To be gathering of old
granilics.
There is, however. a limit to which
free thought and free speech should be
carried between the college professor
and his class. There has of late years
arisen a school of college teachers who
strive after notoriety more than truth
and whose lectures are built upon dam
gerous premises and teach dangerous
theories. Most of the natoriety seekers
merely succeed in drawing the laughter
or contempt Of the public Occasional
ly one of greater capacity and power
becomes from his position a menace to
the better interests of society and
,evokes q general demand for his re-
unoval as in a case as yet unforgotten
in Iowa.
Free discussion of all questions is es-
-Sential to perfect understanding and is
necessary between teacher and student.
Theories are not necessarily evil be-
cause new. The lecturer whose theo
1ies are opposed TO and whose argu
ments are directed against the great
principles of morals AID government
that experience has fixed as the found
alton Of society is a dangerous adjurct
ITO education and his removal is moi a
question for argument. Still it Is vel.
TO move slowly. No political partisan
ship should enter into the considera- |
ton of fitness of a college president or
instructor. His removal, if effected, |
should be on the broad ground of moral
and social defense or betterment.