The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-26
CITY NEWS ! II:
LET IN The LIGHT.
Demand Of Farm, Stock and Home
Regarding the Agricultural
School Situation.
Sentiments Of Alumni Voiced Cues
II. ton as to Responsibility
Is Discussed.

ton as to Responsibility
Is Discussed.
investigated! Investigate the situation
at the state agricultural school out of
which grew the action of the regents at
fecting Professors Tucker and, Mahood,
and investigate the board of regents. That |
is the sentiment of S. M. Owen, editor Of
Farm, Stock and Home, as expressed In an
editorial in his paper of July l..
Mr.. Owen believes he voices the senti-
ments of the alumni of the agricultural
school and Of the university in demanding
an investigation. He bases such belief
on the sentiment of the alumni as voiced
in the Alumni Weekly and reprinted in
Farm, Stock and Home, and upon numer-
Gus letters received by. him from persons
greatly interested in the future Of the
school.
Views of Alumni.
The Alumni Weekly statement, as re-
printed by Mr.. Owen, says
The regents have requested the resignation Of
Principal Tucker of the school Of agriculture.
Mrs. Meredith preceptress of the school, and
Mr.. Mahood an instructor 1t seems to be the
feeling Of those who know the facts and are in
position to give an unprecedented opinion that the
blame for all friction between principal and pre-
ceptress is because the last repeatedly exceeded
her authority and rights and made things very
uncomfortable for Mr.. Tucker, who has faith
| fully tried to do his duty. Mr. Tucker has the
unbounded confidence of the graduates OF the
| school who have known him, and 1t Is not at all
| unlikely that more may be heard from them
before the matter is finally disposed of.
| No reasons are known as to the cause OF the
| action In the case of Mr.. Mahood as the re-
| gents have refused to give out any information.
| Whatever the reasons that actuated the re-
gents in deciding to do as they did we cannot
but regret that the university is to be deprived of
l = ,Cf -oo1 a1N0 Ia QToQn Mr.
Tucker.
What Letters Say.
Among the sentiments expressed In let
| tiers are these two
Twas with pleasure that read of your re-
| agriculture. l regret that Professor Tucker has
| to leave the school Of agriculture. have al
| ways admired him, and have felt that he was
doing his duty best he could under the existing
conditions and even at the risk of his position.
| II read your article in the Farm, Stock and
| Home on the situation at the school Of agrcul.
| ture last night, and you may be sure was
| pleased to sec 1t. The time has come when a
thoro investigation should be made Of the whole
working of that institution. 1t is too bad that
the state should furnish so much money, directly
or indirectly to such clique as has grown up
down end of th- university. You
are certainly on the right track. #
Why Names Are Withheld.
The names Of the writer's Of these let
tiers are withhold because, says Mr.. Owen,
the writer's "have good cause to. fear that
their position, If known, might have serl-
Gus consequences. For 1t Is construed
that the regents have practically served
notice upon tho entire university force
that to become in any degree or for any
reason offensive to one of their number
whom they have placed in authority will
be considered sufficient cause for peremp-
tory dismissal, and without assigning
cause or listening to explanation.
d Demand for Publicity.
Mr.. Owen puts the demand for@an in
vestigation in this way. What Is de-
manded is thoro investigation by UNI
prejudiced, competent men who will tell
the truth that they must be fully en-
, powered to learn. The entire university
will be benefited by such an investigation,
while it's AGRICULTURAL department needs
Investigation and the brightest light of
publicity for its salvation. p
1.-THE investigation Is not to be by re-
gents, for they, too, must be investigated;
they are mortal and liable to err. 1t will
be worth a good deal to learn, for In
stance, why they reversed their decision
Of a year ago regarding the Tucker
Meredith controversy without securing
new evidence, or attempting to give q
reason for their strange action In short,
the whole outfit needs to have light
turned upon it, the people of the state
realize this, and possibly before this Is
read, or soon thereafter, a, demand for
al investigation will have been made, and
it will come from people whom it will
not be well to ignore" Pc
Further Reasons.
He follows this up with further rea-
sons:
.It needs to be distinctly understood
that means cannot be too promptly taken
to assure the large corps Of professors
and instructors in all departments Of the
Minnesota state university that the tenure
of position there depends upon ability,
fidelity and effectiveness Of effort In be-
half Of the educational interests for which
the university stands, and that the tenure
does not depend upon the matter OF
spiritual affinity between subordinate
and his immediate superior. The investi-
cation suggested in an accompanying ar
ticle, If sufficiently thoro, will probably
show in the agricultural department., at
least that some most worthy instructors
and most valuable eXperimenters have
either been dismissed Or feel that they
may be at any meeting of the regents
by reason of the absence Of that all
important requisite, complete and per-
feet agreeableness to a superior officer In
all respects. That is, the dislike or preju-
I dice Of single Individual in authority
may at any time deprive the state anG
its people of services Of incalculable
value. This is condition that must be
changed quickly and radically or the
effect upon the institution will be calami-
tous But 1t must be found first, and that
is why an investigation must be had"
Whose the Responsibility
AS to the responsibility for, the school.
difficulties, Mr.. Owen says this:
1.-THE saddest feature of the present
unfortunate situation in the state schoo
Of agriculture is that 1t could so easil.
have been prevented. 1T started in al
unwarranted assumption Of power on tn
part Of Mrs Meredith; an assumption tina
it was Mr.. fuckers duty to protes
against, which he did, to Dean Ligget
But right there the fatal mistake wa
made the dean ruled in Mrs. Meredith
. favor, then trouble began, and It is cas-,
J to locate the responsibility for it. MI
Tucker appealed the case to Presiden
Northrop, as was his right and duty
i This Dean Ligset called an act Of in
subordination'' on Mr.. fuckers part, al
objectionable sin, when viewed thru mill
tary goggles and SO more trouble sfol
lowed, as was inevitable. and it takes n