The Seattle Republican., 1913-01-10
A COLLEGE WITH A CONSCIENCE
WISCONSIN State JournaD

Some weeks ago we reported in the news columns
of this paper a story which is agitating the whole
state Of Washington Alden J. Bethen, the editor
and proprietor of the Seattle Times gave to the state
university of that fast growing commonwealth set of
chimes AS former editor and proprietor Of paper
in the city of Minneapolis Bethen has record of sell
ling for cash to a street railway the editorial
policy and power of his paper Since going to Seattle
he has worked with and for the most comuptng
influences in his city and his state Like many other
Americans of his kind he has assumed that he could
play this double game of processing virtue and work
ing with corruption by distributing his contributions
to philanthropy that needless public while praisng
the one course, would forget the other Pluocrats
who have made their gain through practices that would
not bear the light of day. have too long assumed that
they could whteWash their sordd characters by cast
ing before the people few charitable institutions or
benevolent tokens But the people are having their
eyes opened and the young people of the University
of Washington are wide awake. They have resolved
that these chimes shall not be permitted to carol the
praise of such Blethen they have placed their
demands before the president of their university. But
President Kane is a who is to be pitied rather
than condemned; he means well but he has back
bone that is about strong wet sponge. So the
boys of the University of Washington have taken their
righteous indignation the governor and to the egs
lature of the state asking for appropriation OF
$1200O the cost of the Chimes that this money may be
paid back to Mr.. Blethen that the chimes need
longer bear his name and that they may ring out the
spirit of democracy rather than peel forth their daily
reminder of him who is and has been vicious enemy
of democracy.
To the support Of these students the citizens Of the
state have come and they are circulating for
signatures a petition to remove the Bethen chimes
Each petition slip admits of two dozen signatures, and
each being numbered, being systematically dis
tributed through every precinct of every city and
through every township in every county This petition
reads
We the undersigned citizens of the state of Wash
ington, believe that the University of Washington
should strive to inspire and maintain the highest
standard Of life character, and citizenship in state
and to this end must be guarded from the intrusion
of all sinister or undemOcratic Influences It is
conviction that the acceptance from Alden j. Blethen
of the gift of chimes to the university is dangerous
precedent.
We believe that Alden j. Blethen is one of the most
malgn influences in the state of Washington and that
his record and influence through his conduct Of the
Seattle Times with its persistent and shameless rid
cule of morality and civic virtue, and its support and
encouragement of persons and policies that tend to
debase and deprave our public life are such to
make any association of his with the university
an atfront to the people of the state
Furthermore we believe that the 'Blethen
Chimes" as inscribed, do not comply with the terms
of the original offer that accepted by the Board
of Regents.
We heartily endorse and commend the action of
those university students who protested against the
acceptance of the chimes and believe that they have
set fine example of courageous citizenship.
THEREFORE, hereby petition the Board of
Regents of the University Of Washington, the Hon.
Ernest Lister GOvernor-eect of the state, and the
members-eect of the legislature in the order named
they have may acquire power to act take such
steps as will result in either removing from the unver
sy campus the chimes in question: or forever disas-
sociating the name of Alden j. Bethen therefrom.
Respectfully submitted,
Great is the state that is so wide awake Great is
the college that promptly rubs off any tarnish from
it's campus Greetings and good will to the boys of the
University of Washington.