The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1914-09-26

keen partisan politics md scctari,p
religion out of the uniycrsily and
thus tar they have succeeded in co.
ing so. AS 10 what political lrty
an applicant for a position belonged.
or as to what religious iai.h he had,
1t has never been questioned Nv II q
regents of the university. The reg.
ents have been exceedingly Earticu.
lar to avoid political and relirIous
questions with reference to the uni.
versity. Equally careful have they
been not to interfere with the relig.
ious and political rights of men as
American citizens in the employ of
the university. They have been
strictly careful in these matters. This
same careful consideration of affairs
concerning the university has been
given in the case of university en-
ployes accepting nominations for 20.
litical positions The regents whole
concern has been and is to guard the
best interests of the institution and
to be fair and just to its employees.
They with all other good citizens
have been, and are, anxious to keep
politics out of the university and the
university out of politics and thus
further guard the welfare of the in
sttution.
How Question Arose
During the fall of 1912 a certain
professor came to me ana said he
understood another professor had
decided to become candidate for
a political position and if that man
were allowed that privilege. he want
cd my consent to become a political
candidate.
In answer to him said that had
not told any one that he could become
a political candidate, nor had told
anyone that he could not, and I
should take the same position witt.
respect to that request. Not long
after that, another professor came to
ME to get my permission to campaign
for certain political party because
a certain professor was campaigning
for another political party. On for
mer occasions professors had come
to me for permission to enter the
political field. On account of these
requests and certain other political
occurrences, ! began more seriously
to take the matter Of teachers of the
university entering the political field
under consideration. had before
this time presented this matter OF
politics before the board, but the re.
gents were 10th to have much to say
about it, because they did not wish
in any way to infringe the right OF
any teacher with respect to citizen
ship. | finally came to the conclu-
sion that it would probably be detri.
mental TO the university and, there
fore, inexpedient for teachers EN-
ployed on full time to take a conspic-
uously active and prominent part IN
politics. | therefore again presented
the question to the regents to obtain
il possible a definite ruling on il, So
that | might know what to do in the
future when professors would come
to me regarding these political mat
ters The regents were again 10Th
to make any definite rule. A motion
however, was finally passed con
corning this matter.
On December a., 1912, motion
was passed that thereafter employees
Of the university on full pay should
not accept nomination to any Office,
the duties of which would interfere
with their duties to the university.
Merrill Asks Permission
On account of this resolution DR..
Merrill, to comply with this untyers'
ity regulation, when solicited to ac.
cept no,uiaation, sent n communi-
cation to the regents through me ask
ing permission to accept a nomination.
for state senator. Some time after
this DR.. Merrill was at the Deseret
National Bank on business when Mr..
Ritter, chairman Of the board saw DR..
Merrill and told him that it was the
opinion of all the regents with whom
he had consulted that it would be in
eEpedieut for him to run for state
senator. To be sure that the con-
cusion thus reached by all the reg,