The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-05-29
BOARDS ACTION
BRINGS ANSWER
FROM RUSSELL
Statement Indicates Effort
Before Yearly Meeting to
Relieve Kelly of Earlham
Presidency.
r EFORM PROMISED
Professor Charges Executive
Dictated Trustees Decis-
ion Through Determined
Stand of Minority.

Stand of Minority.
Although the term is not employed
by Prof. Ebert Russell in a statement
issued by him today there Is no mis-
taking the fact that he regards the
verdict returned yesterday by the
trustees OF Earlham college, as a re-
suit Of an Investigation of college af-
fairs. as nothing more nor less than
a "whitewashing" Of President Robert
L. Kelly. 1t was Prof Russell who
filed charges reflecting upon DR..
kelly's administration at the college
That the effort to oust DIR. Kelly
from the presidency OF Earlham will
not end with the action taken by the
trustees is indicated In the concluding
paragraph OF Prof. Russelrs state
ment. 1T remains now," Prof. Rus
sell writes. for the members Of the
Indiana and Western Yearly meet
ings, who control the college, and for
the alumni and patrons of the college,
to whom the college must look for sup
ninistration Of the college is what
they want"
Kelly Controls Action.
HS~SSSoA ASAScS1l SudI SCS ludI Iue
investigation of Dr. Kelly's administra.
ton was virtually controlled by Dr.
Kelly himself and he says that the in.
Sestisation can hardly be accented as
impartial" He interprets the boards
finding to mean; mot proven. but has
promised to reform" He also calls
attention to the fact that trustees in
their statement made no reference to
the fact that testimony was offered
that at least three former members OF
the faculty had been driven away
from the college as the result of the
treatment they had received. His
statement, in full. follows:
The statement by a committee OF
the Earlham trustees which was given
to the press yesterday cannot be ac-
cepted as an adequate statement Of
the case. l have 10 intention OF be-
ing drawn into personal controversy.
but the members of Indiana and West.
ern Yearly Meetings and other patrons
of the college are entitled to more
light upon the character of the in
vestigation and the resulting state
ment. My interest in the college and
devotion to its interests would prompt
me to let the matter rest, if we're not
sure that strong Quaker college de-
voted to truth and righteousness can
not be built up and maintained by
evasions and Misrepresentation. l
understand the motives Of those who
decry further agitation and would like
to let the matter drop for the sup
posed good Of the college; but it is
useless to "cry peace when there is
no peace" and the responsibility for
continued trouble in the Earlham
world must rest with those who main
tain and condone the causes of the
trouble.
Require Two-Third Vote.
The articles of Incorporation OF the
college require two-thirds vote Of
the trustees to carry measure in the
board. Five members were thus able
to block any action. BY this means
the investigation was virtually con-
trolled by President Kelly. There was
determined group of five that did
as he wished. One of these five is a
former roommate of the president
Two of them have long opposed me-
on doctrinal grounds. All but one Of
them have been members of the board
for a good while and feel in a large
measure responsible, through neglect
or consent, for the policies and acts
Of the administration. The feeling
was expressed in the board during
the investigation that they themselves
were on trial. In addition to these
five, the president and secretary OF
the board had allowed themselves to
be committed in a measure in ad-
vance by issuing over their signatures
and that of President Kelly before
the investigation was held statement
defending the policies of the admins
tration. An investigation conducted
and controlled under such circum-
stances could hardly be accepted as
impartial
The method Of procedure was like
wise controlled by the president
through the minority. The commit
tee which arranged for the investiga-
ton reported rules excluding President
Kelly and myself from the hearing the
testimony and securing employees and
members Of the faculty from having
their testimony used against them.
President Kelly objected to these
rules and the five sustained him and
kept the board in a deadlock a whole
day over it. Finally the majority
yielded and undertook to hold the in.
quiry as if it were a trial with the
president and myself both present. At
the close of the afternoon of the
second day, after most of the faculty
had refused to testify and it had be-
come evident that the instigation
could not succeed under those con-
ditions, President Kelly requested the
board to adopt the original rules, and
the minority then gave way. BY that
time members of the board were near
ly worn out and others were getting
anxious to get back to their business
Much veidence that was offered was
refused as hearsay though it bore di-
rectly upon the standing Of the presi-
dent in the community and his ability
to command patronage and support
for the college. Some members grew
more anxious to patch things up and
get back to their business. than to
weigh the testimony carefully. Effort
:, [continued On Page Ten.l