, 1908-03-26
THE UNIVERSITY DISCUSSION.


and much that is hysterical in their
discussion of the circular letter issued
by President Tisdel. The Republican
deplores the necessity of again being
compelled to discuss this matter, as
any discussion necessarily results in
the suspicion that where there Is so
much smoke there must be some fire.
People living in central and northern
Wyoming, and eve those in adjoining
counties can only judge by what they
hear; they cannot come to the insti-
tuition to see what is going on.
The closing paragraph of the report
made to Governor Brooks by the com,
mission appointed by him to make a
full investigation and report reads:
I'VE recommend that the citizens
of Wyoming acquaint themselves with
the fact that there Is a splendid and
adequate equipment n an excellent
and capable corps of professors and in
structors at our state university, and
that those parents or guardians who do
not avail themselves of these oppor-
tunities held open to their sons and
daughters are neglecting a duty toward
the men and women of the future. And
in this same connection we RECOMMENDS
that the people of Laramie be more
cautious in their criticism of the uni
veisity located in their midst and re-
fleet a greater loyalty to the only in.
stitution for higher education within
our borders"
The report as a whole, made by d
non-partisan, able commission found
little to criticise and much to commend,
he severest censuIe being yelled in
the foregoing paragraph. During the
investigation President Tisdel was call.
ed to the stand and cheerfully testified,
the brief report of his testimony at the
time relating to interference being as
follows:
THE president denied that he had
at any time suffered interference either
from the secretary, the executive COM
mittee or the trustees, saying bluntly
that statements to this effect are not
true. He detailed the plan of procedure
in regard to business matters at somc
length, stating that it is now the Gus.
tom to send the annual budget and re-
port to the trustees some days before
the annual meeting. He feels that his
authority is unquestioned and unlim-
tied in regard to appointments n otn-
er business matters in other depart.
ments of the institution"
In his circular letter published
March 81, President Tisdel discredits
his testimony before the commission
The same conditions exist now that
existed then. He has not been inter.
fered with or questioned in the exec
else Of his power, so far as The Re
publican has been able to learn, at
any time. If there were instances, IL
seems strange that the pre- sident DID
not make specific reference thereto, IN
Justification Of his attack upon the
president of the board and its secre~
tary.
After full investigation of the mat,
ter of political interference, which hal
been charged, the commission found:
That while a republican newspaper
has received all of the printing bust
ness of the university, ON the other
hand a democratic merchant of the city
of Laramie has for the last two years
received more than one-half of the
business distributed among the mer-
chants of the city. We have been uu
able to find any tangible evidence vi
where the board of trustees has been
governed by considerations Of politics
in the expenditure of funds of the III
stitution. Neither can we find any
tangible evidence or even hearsay opin.
ion, that any political test has ever
been applied by the board of trustees
in the selection or dismissal of profess
sors or servants of the institution, We
examined all the professors that were
available TO the commission, and in ev-
cry instance they testified that no po-
litical influence was ever sought to be
used over them either by suggestion
or demand; that they were absolutely
free and untrammeled in their politi.
cal convictions and actions, and that
the only restraint to which they felt
themselves subjected was to enieavor
to keep politics and political influences
out of the work of the university"
Is it possible that the only time q
man can testify to the truth is when
he knows that his services are to re
dispensed with? Is it possible thet
these professors less than a year ago.
and President Tisdel, too, gave false
testimony? 1t is not within the realm
of the probable. The Republican be-
lieved then and it believes now that
DR.. Tisiel and the professors who gave
their evidence before the investigating
commission told the truth. 1t believes
today that II there were instances, no
matted how remote and far-fetched,