, 1908-04-03

ASohNiHaSo " Pe5N ~
resolutions, goes SO far as to say in
editorial that the president was
elected through a political pull
This is news to me, but either Mr..
Mokler a more han proved the pres
self affirmed what is untrue. He could
not have voted for the resolution both
and conscientiously.
2. The alleged inconsistency be-
tween my testimony and the circular
proves upon examination to be
insignificant and is easily explained
by the events which have transpired
within the last eight months. In my
testimony | said, 81 have not had the
same authority in the matter of build
inss and grounds, repairs or the bust
ness side of the institution that ! have
in the purely educational department."
This is the exact contention of the
circular letter, a division of executive
authority. There is a tendency to nave
three heads to the institution. an edu-
cational head, a business head and a
political head.
My testimony that the board had
given me as much freedom as any
president should desire is said of the
educational side of the institution, es-
pecially of the appointment of the
faculty. This is not specifically denied
in the circular letter; yet after the
lapse of eight months it could not be
affirmed with truth, for during that
time Mr.. Gramm and his executive
committee have ignored the power of
the president to recommend appoint
ments and have assumed for them
selves this privilege, ever when the
opposition of the president was known.
testified that there seemed to be
a tendency to increase my authority
and l gave the testimony in good
faith. 1t seemed at the time as ii Jul
problem might be solved by a gradual
process. | know the situation which
had previously prevailed but l fancied
that l was to be an exception among
our many presidents. The events OF
the last eight months have proved
that this was a vain hope. Opposition
was only being shifted from small to
larger things. Just before the Deem
Der meeting of the board l was given
to understand that my report, sent
out a few days before the meeting,
was to be ignored. That the opposi-
ton to my recommendations was lot
on educational grounds is clear from
the manifest ignorance of certain
members of the board as to the nature
of my report. The president of the
board said very frankly hat he had
not taken it under consideration. II
my memory serves me correctly, he
admitted that he had not ever read it.
Furthermore, there has been within
the last few months a most active and
persistent effort to undermine the To-
fluence of the president within the
university and create friction through
out the institution. This is attested
by a large majority of the faculty and
they are in a position to know. The
events of the last eight months, cul-
minating in the action of the board on
March %, show beyond any question
that the situation is just as bad as ii
ever has been. The president of the
university may enjoy a fancied author
ity for a season but the president and
secretary of the board have complete
control of the situation and can per-
emptorily dismiss him without a hear.
ing if he seriously interferes with their
plans.
My testimony in regard to political
influences was in answer to the fol-
lowing specific question: Has there
been my attempt, to your knowledge.
to influence yourself or any of the
professors as to the exercise of the
political franchise?" My answer was
in the negative, and my letter does not
charge any dictation as to how the
faculty shall vote. The fine art of
politics is far more subtle than this.
The circular letter only supplements
the testimony. Perhaps l should have
voluntarily added at the time my be-
lief that the university in other and in
more subtle ways is made to en-
nance the political prestige of the
president of the board, and that his
control of the board Is secured and
maintained through his political in
huence. Everybody that knows any
thing at all about the matter, knows
that Mr.. Gramm absolutely controls
and dominates a majority of the board
and is able to do it not because of
his knowledge of educational prob
lens but because Of his political pow
er. This makes it impossible for pure
ly educational policies to prevail, and
SO long as IN political boss is able
to control a majority Of the board the