Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-05-28
Attack on MacLean Not Well
Received by Larger Body
of Alumni
REGENTS WILL SETTLE TROUBLE
Prominent Members Of the Alumni at
pes Moines Deprecate the Method
Taken to Bring on Crisis = Accu-
sations More An Accumulation of
Trivial Things Than Real Charges.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to imes-Republican.
Des Moines, May 2s.-There will DE
very little more agitation OF the state
University question by the former
students of the university and the
members of the faculty. The agitation
was not very well received here in Des
Noines where there is larger num-
her Of the alumni than any place in
the state except at Iowa City. Some
the members Of the alumni associa-
ton were in touch with those at Dav-
export who started the public move
ment against the president. and issued
Z cali for a public meeting. A good
many Of the strong members of the
association declined to attend. Among
the thirty-five who did attend there
was much diversity of opinion. Some
desired to follow the Davenport lead
and at once passed Judgment on the
president of the university and de-
manded his discharge without further
ado. Others thought it wise to try him
prevailed of referring it to a committee
Of five conservative men. This COM
mittee viii present to the board of
regents request that the matter be
investigated. It will not undertake to
say that the president alone is respon-
sible or that the members of the fac
ulty are responsible, nor to hint that
the board Of regents has been derelict
In not disposing OF the matter before.
The regents will meet early next
month and take up the subject OF the
controversy. Members of the alumni
here are reluctant to discuss the mat
ter publicly. They deprecate the meth
cd which has been taken to bring on a
crisis and say that II would have been
much better to have had the regents
make the investigation without any
outside pressure for or against the
president or the faculty. They fear
thatAit will be regarded in the light
of an attack not only on the president
but on the whole institution and a re-
Election on the board of regents and
their methods of conducting the at
fairs OF the university. The aceusa-
tons against President MacLean have
never yet taken any very definite form,
but are said to be in the nature of an
accumulation of trivial things which
caused annoyance to sensitive members
OF the faculty, resulting in a strained
relation that Is not for the interests of
the university. 1t is expected. how
ever, that before the regents meet the
alumni will present in more formal
manner the complaint of the faculty
members against the president, as the
basis of an investigation and trial.
Methods That Prevailed.
An interesting incident in connec-
tion with methods which have at some
time prevailed at the state university
was detailed by prominent druggist.
Some years ago the pharmacy de-
partment at the state university was
! fiourishing and had about seventy-five
students. II was found that the de-
partment was using large quantities
Of proof spirits, and member Of
the state pharmacy board discovered
that the university was paying the
government tax on all of it. This Is
not required where the product is not
a commercial one. and inquiry failed
to develop Just why the head of the
department insisted on having tax
paid spirits. 1t was afterwards dis
closed that the students were kept
busy making fluid extracts of various
kinds and In the manufacture of per-
fumes. Immense quantities were made
by the students as a part Of their
practice work. Then 1t was found that
this was being sold on the market thru
Chicago drug house. The pharmacy
board called the attention of Governor
Cummins to the peculiar condition of
affairs and change was made in the
head Of the pharmacy department. 1t
illustrates what has been tolerated at
the state university at times.
Confidence in Varsity.
In letter to a friend In this city
student of the university at the
present time expresses his confidence
in the future of the university and
states that the spirit among the stu
dents at the present time is first class.
They have just held number of
meetings and organized voluntary as
sociations or committees to work for
more students and to encourage young
men to look to the university as
place for completing their education
These voluntary associations are pre-
pared to defend the university in every
part OF the state and to do a good 4
work in keeping up the high stand
ard maintained.
Professors interferred.
A member Of the board of one of
the other educational institutions re-
lated to the writer what happened a
year or two ago. when a group of the
professors called on some of the trus-
tees to take a hand in the government
of the institution and to offer some adj
vice as to what should be done for the
good of the institution. They were told
plainly that the wise thing for them
to do was to GO about their own work
and leave the management to the board
and those who We're entrusted with
authority, and the hint was thrown
out that if there was to be factional
fight in the faculty all who were con-
cerned in the agitation would be hunt
ing other positions. The conference
had a good result and there was no
more talk of interference by the fac
ulty.
LAND BOOMERS TO BoNEsTEEL.
The "Sooner" Arriving at the Reserva-
ton in Palace Cars.
Sioux City, May 2s.-The sooner in