The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-18
SOUTH. DAKOTA !
SOUTH DAKOTA 7.5
.DR0PPERS CLEARED
President Of the University Exoror-
ated Unanimously by the Board
Of Regents.
Charge Of. Attempted Bribery Had
Been Made Resignation. Of
Prof. Todd Accepted. [.
Special to The Journal.

Special to- The Journal. ~;
s!Vermllion, s. D., Sept. 1S-The state board
Of regents by uns n vote this morning
pers of the state university from the charges
Of attempted bribery preferred by D! H, Boot,
Of Ute Iowa, and also cleared Professor g N.
evidence plainly showed that President Drop
pers was tentirely innocent Of attempted bribery,
Notwithstanding the sworn affidavit Of Boot to
Professor Todd rendered his resignation from
the chair of geologyta nd mineralogy to-day. It
was. accepted together with the resignation OF
Professor Merchant of the Latin department,
sent to the board a week ago. lad ttg. .
The board refused to make any further public
statement OF its position. :f;ta
Sioux Falls, S. D., Sept. 1s.-Resents Good
ner, Spa Ford, Burtt and slocum were IN sioux
Fails over night, departing for Vermillion, where
they commenced a public Investigation on the
latest charges. against Garrett Droppers, presi-
dent of the state university
board the affidavit Of David H. Boot of the
class Of 1901, alleging that an attempt had
been MADE by President Droppers, ce 2n'iy
him to give testimony against Professor 0. D.
Hagen shortly before the latter was removed
from the faculty of the university, and that as
an irducement to influence his testimony against
Professor Hagen he was to receive the, degree
| Of NJ. A. at the close of the spring. semester
without the formality Of an examination.
The affidavit is fortified with af1davtts from
Professors Todd and >Mernhart, and there is also
ON file with the president of the board Of re-
| gents an affidavit from Professor Logan, who
was dismissed from the faculty of the univer-
sity something over "a year ago. This afhdav1t
also supports the accusations Of Student Boot.
There are also on file afidavits from President
] Droppers and Professor Young In rebuttal OF the
j accusations set forth In the affidavit of Mr..
, Boot as we'll as aHidavits from professors and
students tending to discredit the credbility, and
/ reliability Of MIR. Boot.
The mass Of afddavits is rather rvoluminous
and is accolnpa MED by volume of personal cor
| respondence which aims to be explanatory Of the
matter contained in the formal documents.
/ After going over the matter somewhat thoroly,
the board has decided that in justice to all con
i cerned, and for the ultimate good of the In.
i stitution it will be far better to conduct the
i Investigation t. the place where the difficulty If
4 located, considering, as they d., that all the
| evidence submitted is eXparte and not such az
| would be considered in court of law where
the persons so testifying could appear in court
and testify personally.
{. For this reason the board expresses the in
tention Of employing court stenographer t.
take the testimony, and the persons who have
before the board, which will be sitting in the
tcapacity of a court, With the privilege Of ex
famining and cross examining the witnesses.
The deliberations of the board will be pub
Lie, so that the accusation cannot come from
either side Of the controversy that 1t was q Sc
cret or star chamber proceeding.
The president of the board has been ofhciall!
apprised that Professor Merchant has resigned
his position, and it is generally understood tina
his resignation is due5sto some developments Il
this matter, tt&L ~, Y