The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-01
THE TRoURLE IN NAN4ATvFAN

THE TROUBLE AT MANHATTAN. i
Recent occurrences at the State Agri-
cultural college indicate that there is
something wrong at that institution.
A large body of the students have been
holding daily mass meetings protesting
against the action of the faculty-or
some members Of tin suspending
three students for refusing to give in
formation in connection with the in
iquitous crime of unfurling certain
class colors above the heads Of the fac
ulty in the college chapel.
While characterization and revolt on
the part of students in any school or
institution is of course not to be en-
couraged, certain facts have been en-
phasized in connection with this matter
which do not reflect a great amount of
credit upon the government of the col
lege. The faculty does not seem to be
at all unanimous in the punishment of
the students who refused to tell on
their fellows. To suspend them for the
balance Of the year for so slight an
Offense does not seem just. and the stu
dents can scarcely be censured for re-
monstrating against such action.
It has developed that President
Nichols is not at all popular with the
students. A man who is big enough
and broad enough to occupy the head Of
such an institution, generally commands
not only the respect and admiration of
his students, but they are usually en-
thusiastic for him. The old charge is
made in this connection, too, that the
Kansas State Agricultural college de-
votes comparatively little attention to
agriculture. the great thing in Kan
sas and for the study of which the
Manhattan institution was founded and
is maintained. This was repeatedly
charged a few years ago by r. D. Co
burn, and it caused friction between Mr..
Coburn and some OF the other regents,
particularly President Nichols, resulting
finally in the resignation of Mr.. Coburn
from the board Of regents.
Kansas, one of the greatest agricul-
tural states in the Union, ought to
have a real agricultural college, which
should accomplish for this state what
similar institutions accomplish in Iowa
and Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
It is true that there is a large enroll
ment at Manhattan. but only com
parativeIy small number of the stu
dents are taking agricultural studies.
It is asserted that the agricultural de-
authority over the school, and if a
teacher of agriculture becomes too
popular or attracts too much attention
his work is repressed. That is why
Kansas has no great agricultural
/ leaders such as Hays of Minnesota,
Davenport and Hopkins of Illinois,
Holden of Iowa, and others.
In this connection may be noted the
dismissal of J. @. Haney as superin-
tendent of the Hays experiment sta
ton. Mr.. Haney was a Kansas man
who gave promise of emfnence in the
agricultural world. He had begun
work at Hays which promised great
/ things for western Kansas agriculture,
and if he had been allowed to remain
to carry his experiments through a
series of years he would doubtless
have accomplished much that would
have benefited the farmers of the
short grass country" But certain
influences at Manhattan demanded his
retirement, and the board of regents
officially decapitated him. Iowa was
on the lookout for competent men,
and Mr.. Haney was Immediately taken
there.
1t looks as though the good of the
| institution-if it is to accomplish the
object for which it is maintained,
viz, the advancement Of Kansas agri-
culture-demands that there shall be
some changes at Manhattan. Presi-
dent Nichols may be all right in his
place, but to an outsider it does not
appear as though his place is at the
head of a big college of agriculture.