The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-19
DEFENDS the Action Of the Col.
lege Authorities in Refusing
To Give Walter the College
Degree.
HAVE NO CONFIDENCE
IN HIS WORD OR BOND
States That Wayne County
Representative Was About
To Be Oisowned by Churub
When He Resigned.

In a communication addressed 10 N
other newspaper. President Kelly a
Earlham college, seeks 10 explain mat.
tiers relating to the Walter Ratliff in.
cident. The communication was
called forth by the editorial In tho In
dianapolis Star. quoted in this paper
yesterday. When asked II he cared
to make q reply Walter Ratliff this
morning said he was unaware Of the
circumstances and would make q state,
ment at later date.
President Kelly writes in part:
The young man they refer to I as
sumo is Walter 8. Ratliff. born April
"a. 1S6N. REPRESENTATIVE from Wayne
county. More than one year and .
half ago he was admitted to candidacy
for the Masters Degree in the Depart
ment Of Biology. Since that time we
have had some opportunity to Judge
not only Of his ability as a biological
student. but of his character ~ = man.
Whenever Earlham college confers .
degree upon \ student she sets her seal
not only upon his mental proficiency.
hut upon his moral probity N well,
and this fact Is stated In the diplOma.
We still believe in old-fashioned Qua
ker honesty. II has been said Of the
Friend that His word 10 ~ good N
his bond Now the authorities OF
Earlham have no confidence either In
the word or bond Of Mr. Ratliff and it
Is because OF this fact that ON Febru-
ary Is. 1904. addressed to him tho
1AA seup hat int &. h.
pers.
Facts Unnecessary.
Since Mr.. Ratliff is responsible for
the wide publicity OF the impression
that Earlham College is refusing him Q
degree because he voted contrary to
the wish Of the majority OF the men,
bers OF the Faculty II becomes neces-
sary for me to publish facts from
which the public may Judge of his NOR
al worth. A few OF the facts In Mr..
Ratlifrs case are as follows-othefs o(
q similar nature arc held In reserve.
but will be published " necessary. In
order to secure the support of the a.
loon men he pledged them before hiS
nomination that In case Of his election
he would oppose all Temperance legis-
lation whatsoever coming before tho
session of the Indiana Legislature. He
was nominated by the help of the liQ-
uor interests. but in spite Of his pledge
he voted at the special session OF tho
legislature for county local option law.
After the special session the liquor
men secured a pledge from him . Sec
ond time.
Referring to q pledge made BY Rat
Tiff TO the republican county central
committee in which he said he would
not vote to repeal the Temperance laws
Pres Kelly says:
Gave Him Support
Upon the strength Of this pledge 10
was endorsed by the local Civic league
and was supported at the polls BY
many temperance men. After his
election, however, and before the local
option election in Wayne county he
said he would vote for the repeal Of
the local option Law and this he did.
AS Indicative OF his standing in
this community may add that some
months ago. because Of his lack OF NOR
al probity. the overseers Of the Friends
Meeting to which he belonged I'm Rich
| mond-the Hicksite branch, not the Or
thodox branch. which controls Earl
ham College-were in tint act 0f dis
owning him when he sent In his res
ignation. which was promptly accept
ed.
In conclusion wish to declare that
this is not a case of intolerance We
simply do not feel that we can place
the stamp of approval upon a man who
has proven faithless to his promises
both to the liquor men and to the ten
perance men,"