, 1908-03-30
THE REMOVAL OF DIR. TIsDEL

49, - ~ So 1911 ~ -
of the University of Wyoming late
Saturday afternoon in removing Pres
ident Tisdel was not unexpected. 1t
was the logical outcome of the fight
between himself and the board, pre-
cipitated by his letter to the alumni
and the people of Wyoming. The
minute he threw down the gauntlet
to the board and placed himself upon
an alleged holier plane, his useful
ness to the university ceased, for the
reason that the board of trustees is
the controlling rover and no employe
can rise above that authority.
1t had been known to The Repub-
lican for more than n year past that
the board was not satisfied vita DR..
Tisdel as an organizer or as an eXecu.
tive, He is a man of high educational
attainments and is an exceedingly
competent instructor, but the presi-
dent of a young and growing univer-
sity must be of broader gauge-no
must be able to get out among the
people and bring the university di-
recuy to their attention, he must be
able as an executive TO eliminate dis
cord from the faculty and command
the profound respect of the student
body.
1t is all tommyrot to say that be-
aus members of the board belong
to one political party or another the
people refuse to p%atronize he institu-
ton. 1t is in evidence before the peo-
pie of the state in the most positive
way that because the great majorit.|
of the board is of IL political party
has not affected in the slightest degree
its action in the control of the insti'
tuition. This fact is set forth in the
report of the special commission,
which every friend of the university
desires to see carried ut in its
broadcast sense. But in carrying it
out, it was not the Wish of the com
mission that every member of the
board should be summarily removed.
1t found that the board was capable
in the performance of its duties, nom
orable in all its actions, economical
III liic SApViuiNuiS Va Slt aNoiiS pbhu
non1partisan in the fullest sense. Yet
it believed that in making appoint
ments the governor would do we'll 20
divide the responsibility and place
more members of the democratic par
ty on the board until only a bare ma
jority belonged to the party in pow
er. This vas the announced purpose
of Governor Brooks after the report
of the commission was submitted TO
him and there is no doubt but that
he will carry out hat purpose. This
does not mean that he will select
nambypamby, inert people who lack
the interest in party affairs to V
an option or to exercise the right ot
franchise. Men who lack the back.
bone to declare their allegiance to II
political party and frankly express
their political opinions are generally
mollycoddles who are of little value
in any capacity in life. A non-par-
tisan board does not mean a board
without political views or men who
do not take part in party politics. If
it did the university board would not
amount to much, for we have no men
of power of that description. Men
strong in their beliefs, political or re-
ligious, are the men who do things. in
the selection of trustees, The Repub-
lican sincerely trusts that the COVER
nor will select from the latter class
of men, whether from the republican
or democratic party.
The assault Upon the board at this
time by the democratic press is MOI
because democratic leaders in this
city favored the retention of DR.. It's
del and were his friends, 1t will be
recalled that when the Boomerang
made a vicious assault upon the board
some months ago, it was quickly call
ed off and plainly intimated that l.
was desirable for the best interests
of the university hat there should be
a change in the presidents office. It's
work now is far from being non-par-
tisan. 1t is purely and simply of d
political nature. In fact it looks up
on every public movement through
narrow, partisan eyes, n It's nnu
ence, weak though 1t is, is sufficient
to form a nucleus about which GATH,
er the vultures of hatred n revenge.
There is just n kind of a non-par-
tisan board that would suit the demo
crats-fve democrats and four repub-
licans. Such a board cannot be grant
ed them. The dominant party must
have the majority and the dominant
party will appoint men of strength
and character from the minority.
1t is desirable that all the people of
this city should get together in the
matter of unfolding the hands of the
constituted authorities at the univer
sity. 1t is the chief asset of our town
and must be protected regardless of
individuals.