The Elk Mountain pilot., 1908-07-30
REPORT OF INVESTIGATING COM
MITTEE ON COLORADO AGRI-
CULTURAL COLLEGE.
CHARGES UNFouNDED
TROUBLE LARGELY DUE TO
MIsINFoRMED FRIENDS WHO
RUSH INTO PRINT.

the Republican Wednesday night
says: All charges, reports and insinu-
ations OF immoral or improper conduct
on the part OF B. .. Aylesworth, pres
ident OF the Colorado Agricultural Col
lege, and efforts from certain quarters
to make it appear that the college
was falling off in its effectiveness by
reason OF differences among the rae
ulty, fell fiat today when the special
committee appointed to make an in
vestigation made report to the State
Board of Agriculture.
The committee submitted two sep
arate reports, the first of which dealt
with the moral conduct of President
Aylesworth. 1t cleared him Of every
suspicion, declaring that there was
not a scintilla OF evidence to sustain
the charges.
The second report took up the mat
ter OF alleged differences among the
faculty. and In this the committee, in
effect, declared that If the president
was to be criticized. 1t was because
he was too lenient with both the facul-
ty and students in the administration
OF the college work.
Even under these circumstances"
says the report. the work of the col
lege Is on better organized and more
efficient basis than at any time In its
history. For this result the president
is deserving of the commentator OF
the board and the people OF the state.
Both reports were adopted by the
board. but not unanimously. Acting
Governor Harper. Eugene II. Grubb
and A. A. Edwards voted against the
adoption OF the general report. The
remaining members who voted for the
adoption OF both were CAPT. B. r.
Rockafellow, president OF the board.
b. u. Dye. j. l.. Chatfield. Franklin
+. Brooks, J. l.. Brush and DIR. X. w.
Corwin
The preliminary report says. In
part:
THE rumored charges against the
president contained In the public
press and alleged to be in current
circulation might be summarized un-
der the following heads:
"First-Failure to pay debts.
"Second-Intoxication
"Third-Improper and lewd conduct
with women.
"Fourth-Lying.
AS to the first charge, while there
was some testimony tending to show
that the president was slow pay.
there WAS absolutely no evidence OF
Respecting the second charge. the
committee finds from the evidence
that the president is not guilty and
there was not a scintilla OF evidence to
sustain the charge.
AS to the third charge. the commit
tee finds from the evidence that. not
only was there an utter failure to pro
duce any evidence OF immoral conduct
whatever to sustain the charge. but
on the contrary the record shows in
this matter that all stories OF immoral
conduct had their origin and were cir
culated without the slightest founda.
ton upon which to rest.
In the matter OF the fourth charge.
the committee finds from the evidence
that 1t was not sustained In the slight
est particular"
This report is signed by Messrs.
Rockafellow. Brush and Corbin. spe'
cial committee.
In its second report. the committee.
in addition to the foregoing statement
relative to the conditions and alleged
friction among the faculty. declares:
I'VE believe that the highest inter
ests OF the college demand drastic
action OF the board to bring about
more harmonious relations on the part
OF the faculty. and absolute loyalty by
the faculty to its work.
I'VE have found many things which
ought to be corrected, but We have
also found abundant evidence to show
its essential soundness and to warrant
our confidence In its future growth and
development.
1.-The over-anxious criticism from
misinformed friends over the state
has often exaggerated internal comp1'
cations and differences which II left
to themselves would have been soon
forgotten, but have thus been stimu-
lated and fomented into difficulties
of real seriousness Instead OF Civ
ing aid, hindrances are placed in the
way Of the colleges progress by cir
culating false reports. making mislead-
ing statements and the printing OF ma
iicious articles in the newspapers. The
destructive rather than the construc-
tive the rule or ruin method, is man
fest
There is a belief on the part of
your committee that beyond this the
right course is not always taken to
bring about the best results. Real
loyalty sometimes seems to be lack
ing. Instead of frankness there is
secretiveness. Instead of going to the
head OF the institution for advice and
assistance, there is disposition to
criticise. sulk and become over SEN
sitive."
Lieutenant Governor Harper, ]. L.
Brush and other members of the state
agricultural board, came to Denver
Wednesday night after the meeting.
They said the reports published were
sufficient in themselves. No mem
ber questioned the moral integrity of
President Aylesworth; there had been
some question over his ability to
handle such an institution.
AS a result Of the investigation now
completed, says the Republican, there