Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-12-08
Thomas Cooper Of
Agricultural College
Responsible 10 Trustees
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paid With public funds, it is quite
true that in view Of the admissions
contained in President Worst's letter
quoted above, it is now unnecessary
for me to consider the legal PROPOSE
ton involving the right of the college
trustees to assume such an obliga-
ton for The simple reason that 1t ap.
pears that 10 snch right has been
. or sucl uct atl.ul ted. Ncv-
%erlheiess because you are Chief EX'
ecurive of $he State, and in a large
measure responsible for the conduct
and administration of The public az
fairs OF the state, and because in the
public press of the state 1t has been
openly charged that such obligation
had, in fact, been assumed by the
trustees Of the college and such
deemed it proper to investigate The
facts concerning said charge. and
make report to you. TO more part.
c~ularly call your attention to :ha
aforesaid charge and the venal and
vicious method and language in
which - was circulated. quote from
the headlines and body Of one Ger.
tain article appearing in one of the
newspapers of the state under date
Of August %, 1914:
"An Astounding Revelation. At.
tempt to Turn Agricultural Col
lege TO Big Business Interests.
The Most Unblishing Surrender
of Public's Interestes to the Gang
Ever Attempted in North Dako-
ta."
lone of the most amazing
things that is disclosed is the fact
that the Board of Trustees Of the
Agricultural College composed
as it is of men who have hereto
fore had the reputation Of being
honorable men, deliberately en-
tered into an agre ment to pay
the debts contracted by the Bet
Ter Farming Association, amoun-
ing to over $4,000, with public
funds
Unless refuted, the serious consa-
qlences necessarily following an &C
cusation so bold and bitter is readily
apparent. 1t is calculated, not only
to injure the character and good
name OF the numerous men constitute
ing the directors of the eBtter Farm
ing Association and Board of College
Trustees, who for many years have
been and now are very closely con-
nected with the upbuilding and de-
velopment Of this state as we'll as Our
sister state Of Minnesota, and recog-
nized in both states as men Of honor
and citizens Of the highest. type, but
what may be more serious still, to
weaken and destroy in the minds of
our people that confidence in the
efficiency and integrity in the ad-
ministration of public affairs neces-
harry TO the welfare of the state and
he public at large.
1t is not therefore without some
sense Of personal qualification. in
view Of le vicious and serious
Ah?jet atya Ui, ..v0lk(..$ ?:efi ST..
charge preferred against the honor
and integrity Of the men constituting
The two boards, that L am able to re-
port to you that my investigation OF
the facts has lead me to the undoubt-
cd and irresistible conclusion that
the aforesaid charge is utterly false,
baseless and wholly without fOunda-
! ton in fact. That instead Of sad.
ding On to the stale aud the agricul.
+ iural coll eye an obligation Of $4,000,
the Better Farming Association, at
the time of the aforesaid merger,
lO.wit: on or about January lst, 1914,
had in its possession $~13,2l6.52 in
cash and cash assets and personal
properly valued at 1000. Also an
agreement with the Government OF
the United States by which the gov
ernment agreed to advance $1,000
per year towards carrying out its
work. In other words, they had in
possession, in cash, ash assets and
personal property, $2~2,2l6.52 and
were without, any Indebtedness what
ever. That the Better Farming AS
ISOLATION did, in fact, thereafter turn
over to the Agricultural College and
the Agricultural College received
from the Better Farming Association
the property, cash and cash assets
above named in the value and sum
Of $22 ,216,52. That in return there.
Fer, neither the college did not as.
&nme III any way, shape or manner
any financial obligation Of the Better
Farming Association Whatever