The San Francisco call., 1910-04-24
Bitter fractional Campaign at
Stanford University Takes
Sensational Turn
ERIE MERVIN LEAF
ATTACKED BY BUGS"
SequOia's Editor Taken From
Friends and Tossed Into
Lake Lagunita
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
CAUSE OF ASSAULT
Especial Dispatch to The Call

~ TANFORD UNIVERSITY,
April pa bitter campaign
- among factions in the university.
extending over a period of five
months, and revealing the existence
of secret political cabal, took a most
sensational and somewhat spectacular
turn at l o'clock this morning on the
college campus, when Erie Mervin
Leaf, editor of the Sequoia. was cap
tured by a hundred of his fellows and
thrown into the waters of Lake La
gunita. While he fouudered neck
deep his captors jeered from the
shore, threatening further and more
humiliating vengeance. Escaping, he
made his way to Encina club. where
he was taken in charge by his friends
He had been seized while returning
from dance and was plunged into
the water, dress suit aad all.
Secret CabaI Bugs"
The immediate cause 81 the upris-
ing was the suspension b. the faculty
of David P. Crawford, captain of last
years football team, and Harry L.
Horton, captain OF last years track
team. two of the most formidable and
popular athletes that ever attended
Stanford. 1t was felt by their friends
| that their suspension had been
prompted by exposures printed in the
! Sequoia. Horton and Crawford hg-
ured prominently in these exposures.
1t was charged against them that they
had participated in petty student
graft and that they had been leading
figures at forbidden drinking esca-
pades
Throughout the whole story runs
the amazing account of a secret cabal,
| known as the Scaraboca society. but
popularity designated the Bugs" II
is a sort of Tammany hall that has
grown up at Stanford Its member
ship is confined to small coterie and
the names of those belonging are
guarded with the greatest care. This
round table has apparently attempted
to take to itself the control of univer-
sity affairs, naming the team captains
and directing those activities that fall
under student authority
Inquiry to Be Made
! Ever since last December the contro-
versy between the two factions has
been carried on with an enmity equal
to that displayed in the bitterest mu-
| nicipaI elections. There has been no
evidence of faculty overtures of peace.
Now, however it is stated that an in
quiry will be made President Jordan
asserts that he is not concerned. Itsis
not his affair, he asserts. but one for
the students committee.
The rumor flies over the campus that
another great upheavaL such as those
with which the history OF the college
is strewn, is imminent once more. Prof.
A B. Clark. head of the students af-
fairs committee. has asserted that he
will call a meeting next Wednesday.
He announced that he knew the Of
tenders involved in the hazing OF Leaf.
He was able TO gather much Of his in
| formation first hand. as he was aroused
and summoned to the campus at the
time that Leaf was prepicitated from
the lake float.
Photograph Tells Story
| Many Of those who were active IN the
early morning adventure are much
concerned over a fiashlight photograph
taken at the psychological moment.
1t was intended that the humiliation
OF Leaf should be perpetuated through
the art of photography and preserved
as record for the quad. the student
annual When the picture was devel-
/ oped, however. IT showed white
streak, somewhere between the earth,
the water and the sky, which repre-
sented the victim. Showing clearly
and Enthusiastically. however. weTe the
faces of some 20 of the ringleaders
| gathered around the spot.
The resolution TO dip Leaf In the
lake was formed as soon as the an
nouncement was made that Crawford
and Horton had been suspended They
were dropped for the remainder OF
the semester with the explanation that
| they had been guilty of breaking the
Encina anti-liquor rules. The Ofrense
was considered the greater on
craw ford's part. as he 10 president of
the students advisory committee. an
| organiza tIoR Intended to preserve ths