The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1909-10-02
ASKS
FOR inquiry
UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE URGED
TO VISIT MOSCOW.
Regents Want Matter Looked. Into
Without Fear or FaVOr-Investiga
ton Should Be Held at the Univers-
lty BY Disinterested Parties.

At a meeting of Pomona Grange
held in Caldwell September 3rd, reso-
lutions were adopted deploring the re-
moval of Professors French, Shinn
and Hyslop from the University of
Idaho faculty. A committee was ap-
pointed to investigate conditions at
the University and inquire into the
cause for the removal of the gentle
men. This committee consists of the
following gentlemen: o. D. Carper,
]. G. Petrie and D. R. Hubbard of
Boise; ]. X. Kennedy and w. w.
Goble of Eagle; Fred Baxter and J.
Trout of Roswell; D. L. Bailey of
Meridian and c. J. Sebring of Cald-
well.
Mr.. o. D. Carper was made chair
man Of the committee. He immed-
lately wrote President M. E. Lewis
at Moscow, advising him of the &C
ton of the Grange; asking for the
regents side Of the story; and rec
ommending that the regents meet with
the Grange committee at an early
date in Boise. To Mr.. Carper's letter
President Lewis replied. AS published
in the Moscow Star-Mirror. President
Lewis reply was in part as follows:
Replying to the same I wish, on
behalf of the regents, to thank your
grange for the interest taken in our
matters, and to thank you for the fair
way in which you approach the SUBJ
! ject, and for the expression of loyalty
to the institution under our care and
guidance. We appreciate these ex-
pressions very much and appreciate
the interest taken in our affairs by the
grange, and will gladly welcome any
fair-minded committee they may send
up to investigate us.
l know but two of the committee
appointed by the grange and have had
some correspondence with a third
of the number, Mr.. Petrie. The other
members, presume, are fair-minded
men, as they should be to carry on an
impartial investigation. l know of no
objection to any member of this COM
mittee with the exception of Mr..
Petrie. Mr.. Petrie has heard but one
side of this question, but has formed
an opinion favorable to that side, ex-
pressed himself in the public print to
that effect, and has attacked the pri-
vate character of one of the men the
committee is directed to investigate,
also in public print. In my opinion
this should disqualify him. There can
be no objection of course, to his be-
ing present at any investigation as a
private citizen, but l would feel that
the regents were not treated fairly if
any person were to investigate them
who had formed and expressed in
print an opinion adverse to their
cause, and to the person to be in
vestigated.
In your letter you ask the regents
to meet you in Boise. In my opinion
this is impractical for several rea-
sons, of which l need name but a few.
The regents are persons of large at
fairs, very busy, and l find it almost
impossible to get them to devote the
required time to the four annual
meetings and such committee work as
is necessary for the University. The
last legislature allowed only $500
for the regent expenses for the pres
ent biennial period, and it will all be
needed for travelling expenses in at
tending meetings and committee work.
Aside from these reasons, it seems to
me that Moscow is the proper place
to hold these Investigations. The Uni
versity is here. The people to be in
vestigated live here. The records to
be examined are all here. The farm
run by Professor French and his
staff is here, and the regents will be
here in session about the middle of
October. Thus it seems that every
thing needed is here with the excep-
ton of your committe, and we would
be glad to have them come up, and
bring as many of their friends as
possible. We always like everyone
to see the University.
So far as the legality of the action
of the regents is concerned l do not
think l have seen that questioned. 1t
is clearly defined in Sec. 400, Vol 1,
of the Revised Codes of Idaho, which
says, among other things, that "The
Board of Regents shall have power to
remove the President or any other
professor, instructor or officer, of the
University when in their judgment
the interests of the University re-
require it." The fact that the regents
thought that the interests of the Uni
versity required the removal of Pro-
fessors French, Shinn and Highslop
validates their action.
The government funds for which
the regents account direct to the edu-
cational officials of the interior de-
partment, have been examined an
nually by these officials. The last