Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1905-04-20
Communicated.
UNIVERSITY. Mss,
Anril 10 1Nl5

the columns OF your paper IN re-
gard to the feelings entertained
by students Of the University tor
some Of the oxford city officials. !
am writing To cri.iciso, aaI To-
oriticise severely, for to my n ind
there is at this time ample ground
for such criticism.
As one of this community by
birth and rearing, | cannot but
feel the deepest interest in what
ever is conducive to its peace and
harmony, wishing il to stand
highest as a law-abiding and
law-enforcing people, and on the
other hand to give my stern dis
approval of whatever may be of
n harmful or disorderly nature.
As a student ofthe University for
a number of years | feel, also, an
interest in its welfare and the
welfare Of its stIdens :. No one
would like more than my sell to
see the boys and our city officials
entertain due cons ideration and
respect for each other, but vhile
present conditions obtain, such
cannot be the case.
As well as | have learned our
boys have n kindly feeling for all
the city and county adrhinistra-
ton with the exception of night
Waterman Rogers. For him they
entertain the utmost contempt, a
thing ~deplorabls and conducive
only to misbehavior on their part.
Ii may be that some of our best
citizens think the boys ever in
clined TO disorderly conduct. and
If such DE the case | would like to
cisabuse their minds Of this mis-
take. II could do this I would
in part accomplish my purpose in
this article. As to Mr.. Rogers'
disposition toward the students |
think 1t most unjust. Ii seems
that he would like to constitute
himself 4 whole police force to
thrust every student who makes
a noise on the street above that
OF ordinary conversation behind
the jail bars, or better, to wrest a
fee from him. How nav any
town have the best feeling of a
crowd of students whose police
omcer seems ever on the alert to
arrest one for the most trivial Of
Tense, yea, for no offence at all,
for a thing which if carried to a
county court would not be con-
sidered by any judge or jury in
the land. Why do the boys sub
NIT these cases and pay their
lines. step down and out, instead
OF hghting the unjust charge to
the end? Because the irving of
a student by a court is always
followed by an investigation by
the faculty of the University thus
giving publicity and embarass.
ment to those involved, and in
case the faculty does not take
action 1t is sur to be criticised
as thus permitting students to do
Things that take them into the
courts.
How can boys be expected to
respect an officer who seems to
them to have in mind not so much
the just and discreet enfor cement
OF the law, as the repletion of
some ones money bag?
How may they be expected to
respect any officer who thinks it
as well were the square unlipht-
ed, so that boys disorderly inclin-
ed could not hide their meaness.
and be thus restrained, rendering
ofhcers and arrests as nearly un-
necessary as possible? The
Scripture saith, "sIen loved
darkness rather than light be-
cause their deeds were evil
Truly this might be applied to
criminals, but surely not to off,
GERS of the law.
what harm II a crowd OF bows.
the guests of the University and
of the town, giving their college
yell on the streets? Our bows
victorious in New Orleans nav
stop on the street corner and veil
until their eyes stand out like Or
gan stops, and they are not mo-
Tested or made afraid, yet If Tu-
lane boys, glad for one victory in
a series OF games, attempt to give
their yell on our streets, thew are
threatened with arrest. ..iaiI"
etc. If, after our victory over
our most ambitious rival. the a
q NJ. our boys march to town
with yells and rejoicing, beating
me bottom out of every tia PAN
II the pans are paid for, or bring,
ing fire from every pair Of
shingles picked up during the
progress OF the march, what mat
ters it so long as the peace of
people in their homes is not dis
turoed or people i~nterfered with
in their business?
Why not show the spirit of
some OF the leading citizens.
business men and officers. as
as 70 say: "We are proud
your victory, boys; make all
me innocent noise you like as
long as no criminal language ia
used ordamage done to property.''
Why not approach the bows in
The manner of an officer who
asked them not to disturb .sRos-
co., ne being private property.
such disturbance being wrong
and thus gain his end without
ro9ole or ill feeling, without
bullying and threatened arrests
II boys become criminalIy dis
orderly and will not heed an ap-
peal to order, arrest them. Then