The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1915-05-20
THAT CHARGE
OF PLAGIARISM
WESLEYAN COUNCIL SAYS THAT
CALLING NAMES DOES NOT
DISPROVE THE CHARGE
AGAINST U. S. d.
STUDENT.

Apropos OF the unsigned remarks
IN the Sioux Falls Argus-Leader and
The. article in the Mt. Vernon News.
signed by j. A. johnson, concerning
the charges of plagiarism preferred
against the latter, the Debate coun-
Gil OF Dakota Wesleyan university
has made the following statement:
'lhe article in the Argus-Leader
says, The University of South Da-
kota n Mr.. Johnosn wish to give
the public the following facts: (1)
Both OF these parties emphatically
deny the charge of plagiarism and
consider the charge unjust and un-
founded
1T is not indicated who is speak
ing for the University of South Da-
kota. Professor Kellogg who is
president of the board of control of
oratory and Debating at the Univer-
slty, has just recently written to
PRESIDENT Morris Brumbatgh, of
the state association, asking for
copies of the orations in question.
eignifying his intention OF investigat-
ing the matter officially from the
standpoint of the institution, and dis
claiming all responsibility for news
paper articles sent out by Mr.. Sim
ons, Who has been conducting Mr..
Johnson's case.
concerning the charge of %plagiar-
Ism, We may say that there has bean
no precipitate action. The orations
were examined by three professors
IN Dakota Wesleyan who expressed
II as their judgment that the in
debtedness of Mr.. Johnson's Grafton
TO that of Mr.. Sorenson in structure.
style and ~phraseology, and the use
or quotations for which he certainly
received credit for writing, as tlie
orations were judged wholly by ear
Woul warrant q protest against il
as not representing original work.
me orat1onS were then sem to one
OF the ab'est and best known coaches
or DEBATE and oratory in the west.
VINO said the Grafton in question re-
veals what he. was accustomed to
call plagiarism. Then the charges
Wore made. A meeting was held. In
Mitchell at which. it was determined
TO leave the decision as to whether or
not Mr.. Johnson's Grafton should be
ruled out to a group OF judges select
ed by representatives of the colleges
concerned. The plan is now being
carried out by order of President
Brumbaugh through O. M. Phelps, of
Sioux Falls. secretary of the state as
ISOLATION. There is no intention on
the part of the debate council to hur-
ry or drop the proceedings, being
perfectly willing to abide by the find
ings of expert judges.
I'm regard to other statements
made in the Argus-Leader, which
consist wholly OF calling Dakota
Wesleyan names, the debate council
fails to see any point. The charges
against Mr.. Johnson were made af-
ter careful consideration and on ac-
count of a serious belief that an in
justice had been done. There il
absolutely no animus against Mr..
johnson or the state university. The
matter is being cared for in a per-
fectly regular way. Newspaper dis
cussion will not determine whether
or not there were Irregularities in
the GRAFTON, which is, after all, the
point. After the opinion Of the eX-
perts is announced, whatever the de-
cision may be, full publicity should
be given it.
In the event of further i%ll-natured
publicity or an attempt to accuse the
debate and oratory council of being
animated by any motive other than
that of wishing to secure a just YER
dict on the points involved, the coun-
Gil will recommend that the orations
be printed side by side so that the
Indebtedness of the one to the other.
and the use of uncredited quotations
may be apparent to the public. The
original documents would probably
be of more value to the public thar
statements impugning the integrity
and motives of the colleges concern
ed.