The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-10
NO MORE FUSSING
Governor HOch Fixes April %
for Harmony Conference.
Hopes to Put an End to Educa-
tional Feud.
WHAT OF NICHOLS :?
Will Deposed Head of Agri.
cultural College Participate.
Mr., COburn's Hint About Future
Head of Institution.

Governor Hoch announced today that
the harmony conference of the heads
of the three big educational institutions
of the state will be held at Topeka on
April g. Tomorrow Governor Hoch
will issue a formal call for this meet
ing.
The trustees and regents of the three
institutions will be invited, also the
chancellor of the university and the
presidents of the State Agricultural
and State Normal. Heads of some of
the departments at these schools will
attend
The object Of the meeting is to pro-
mote harmony between the three in
stitutions, and agree upon some basis
of future work which will prevent the
| jealousy and rivalry which has con-
stantly cropped out in recent years be-
cause eacn institution was trying to
extend its field Of operation. The state
university has been especially jealous
| of the usurpation of what 1t considered
| its special functions by the State Agri-
| cultural college. When the State Agrl-
cultural college secured an appropria-
| ton from the legislature for building
machine shops for It's engineering de-
partment, the university people were
| Inclined to the belief that it was step
| ping on their own particular territory.
| They said that the Agricultural college
would be putting in law and medicine
| next The state normal don't like to
see the other schools making q special
| ty of training teachers and the state
Agricultural college is Jealous OF Prof.
Hunter and his green bug work at the
| State university, because they ueneve
| that il is an agricultural proposition.
| The Agricultural college therefore
| knocked" on the alleged green bug
cure. as it knocked on Prof. Shows
chinch bug exterminator.
| To get all these matters Strengthened
out is the object of the conference.
Everybody admits that the conference
| is a good thing in theory, but there is
| not any great amount of commence
| that the practical results will be large.
What About Nichols?
| OF course President E. r. Nichols,
the deposed president of the. state
Agricultural college, will be invited
to attend, and he Will IN all prooa-
| bility be there.
| There is, however. a strong pc
lief that President Nichols will not
| continue as president OF the Agrlcui-
| tural college after the close or the
present school year, though ms re-
| sfgnation does not take erect ohlii
June, 1909.
| THAT there is some secret under
standing by which Mr.. Nichols Is to
| drop out is to some extent confirmed
| by one paragraph in the letter Whlcn
F. d. Coburn wrote to Governor Hoch
| recommending that the conference De
| called Mr. Coburn said:
1.-THE man who is to be the future
| head of the Agricultural college
should of course have a part In such
| conference. as a representative of the
| school,"
| The statement would indicate that
Mr.. Coburn has inside information
which assures him that President
| Nichols is no longer to be reckoned
with as head of the State Agricultural
| college. Mr.. Nichols position Will
certainly be anything but comfort
| able one, in case he actually does stay
| through the school year of 19OS-9, FOR
| there are to be changes in the board
of trustees which will place that body
absolutely in the control of the anti
Nichols faction, and nichols Will De
without influence with Students
| faculty or trustees.
| Who Mr.. Coburn means by tine Iu-
ture head of the Agricultural college
| is of course in doubt. That rests with
| the board of regents of the agricul-
tura1 college.
| 1t is an interesting fact in this
| connection that the trustees of the
agricultural college, at meeting held
| a few days ago, endorsed the pro-
| posed Harmony conference" and
| were strongly in favor of holding It,
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