Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-10-08
BIC BUSINESS
CONTROLS A. {,
HELLSTROM'S CHARGE PROVEN
TRUE THAT BIG BUSINESS
SEEKS CONTROL.
Investigation Unsatisfactory

A. G.. boards investigation in Fargo
this week.
Startling testimony, given by Peter
Myrvold, editor of the Fargo Fran,
showed conclusi lvely that all charges
were we'll founded and a carefully laid
scheme was planned by heads of Min.
neapolis corporations when the Bet.
ter Farming association was organized
In North Dakota to have it taken over
later on by the Agricultural college.
Strangely enough, Mr.. Myrvold's
fearless testimony was suppressed by
the Fargo daily papers, none of them
daring to print what he told the board
when its members investigated him.
"a certain professor had been prac-
tically told to resign because he took
orders from President Worst rather
than Mr.. Cooper" said Editor Myr.
void, land several of the professors
were anxious, understand, as to what
would happen to tn n-so anxious
that the students got hold of it. !
heard it rumored about in the state
that there was trouble. I called on
President Worst last June and he
begged that l should say nothing Of it
In my paper. didn't at that time. The
reason hat I took it up at the time I
did was because l saw 1t referred to
in the Courier-News for July 8 at the
end of a lengthy article on the state
university scandal when several of the
professors had been removed. AS to
the merger of the Better Farming as.
ISOLATION with the Agricultural college,
! read in the Courier-News that one
Mr.. Rogers, a Minneapolis capitalist
had stated that 1t was the intentions
when the Better Farming association
was started that it should be merged
with the Agricultural college. That
statement appears in the Courier
News with the story of the merger
last October. Further details l got
from the Worlds Work for Novem.
Der, 1912, which gives the entire his.
tory of the association. My story in
the Fran was based on that.
las to the obligations assumed"
continued Mr.. Myrvold, Thomas Coo
per, director of the experiment sta.
ton at a salary of $1,000, who, l I'm.
derstand, before coming here from
Minnesota vas only a $1,000 man, in
formed me that the government had
nit him to 1--WE some Of his Il t1sne t to
the work started here. But the Bet,
ter Farming directors refused to place
themselves under obligations to the
federal government. Mr.. Cooper said
he was in favor of the plan with the
state college than to have the work
conducted from Washington
'NThnrA did np+ +1,o iIoo %, W.
preston that this transaction was not
legitimate or was illegal?" asked one
OF the trustees.
Il never stated it," replied Mr.. Myr-
void. 81 simply asked in this connec-
ton it may be proper to pause to in
duire as to where the board obtained
its authority for assuming on behalf
OF the state the obligations of the Bet
ter Farming association amounting to
$40, 200"
Regarding the rumors of removal OF
DR.. Ladd and Professor Bolley, George
H. Hollister of the board asked Mr..
Myrvold, Did you make inquiries as
to whether there was anything back
of it,"
II would suggest" answered Mr..
Myrvold, ito the board that they call
on the Fargo Forum who stated in an
article published on September 5, that
they had conclusive proof that an eff
fort was being made to remove Profes.
Sor Ladd."
Nov, I have criticised the board
went on Mr.. Myrvold, "for appointing
an advisory board, preferably perma
Aent, composed of North Dakota bank
ers and heads of Minnesota corpora
tions. The North Dakota Bankers as.
ISOLATION had agreed to pay certain
moneys to the Better Fargin assocta
ton"
That was for overhead expenses
for rent, secretaries, stenographers
etc." said Clark Kelly. "In other
words, we, as a board, simply assumed
In a general way, the overhead ex
penses of the Better Farming a~ssocia
ton"
In other words" replied Editor
Myrvold, sharply, "you relieved the
North Dakota Bankers association O.
all their Obligations" There was NJ
answer made to this by any of thu
board.
There is another thing I have asked
In my paper" continued Mr.. Myrvold
(Which would like to put before thu
board. In a letter signed by Mr.. Wei
ser Of the First National bank, anC
Mr.. Cooper, the board of directors O
the Farming association say that the.
will heartily support the board of trus
tees in their future efforts at reorgan
tzation."
THAT means financially" said Clarl
Kelly.
'Is it the policy of the q. c. trustees
to refuse all contributions made b,
private corporations?" asked Mr.. N.Y.
void. Il have noticed Il from a lin
seed oil concern"
mo, I suppose not admitted Claud'
Nugent, president of the board.
Did Mr.. Cooper tell you who opened
the negotiations which resulted in tn
absorption Of the Better Farming assC
citation by the experiment station?
asked George HOLSTER Of the Fran
editor.
"Yes sir, but | think Mr.. Cooper a,
so told me the Better Farming assc
citation was formed with the purpos