The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1916-02-24
Believes the Emeritus Position
Is Only Attempt to Shelve Him


emeritus Of the Agricultural college
BY unanimous vote of the board Of re.
gents of the state of North Dakota.
This action was taken at the recent
session OF the board and Messrs. Craw.
lord and White were in Fargo yester-
day to communicate this fact to DR..
Worst and to consult him concerning
The matter and It's adjustment.
President Worst has served 81 years
As president, beginning almost with
the formation Of the college. Thou
sands of students have graduated I'M
der his administration and he has
been very popular throughout the
state. At his recent visit to meet
with the regents Mr.. Worst presented
a plan which called for some readjust.
ments in the administration of the
school, and it was generally under.
stood that he was prepared to bring
pressure to bear for it's adoption.
The position of president emeritus is
The highest honor which the board
could confer upon DR.. Worst 1t may
carry salary with it if he remains
doing work in connection with the COL
Iege; if he should decline it or cease
to perform any duties whatever, it is
An undecided question whether the
salary could legally be continued or
not. The regents speak in the highest
terms Of President Worsts services.
Notwithstanding the rumors which
have been prevalent of wholesale re-
movals in the faculty, the regents state
plainly that but a few other changes
may be expected, although there prob
ably will be a few. A careful adjust.
Nent Of departments and some rear
engagements in connection with the
educational survey may naturally be
expected.
President Worst continues in his
present administrative position until
The end of the school year, which is
July I. The board has not considered
the choice of his successor, but it is
stated emphatically that it is not true
that Treadwell Twichell is to be offer
ed the presidency. 1t may be expected
that highly educated executive will
be selected and he will almost GER
aainly be found outside of North
Dakota.
II am going to stay at the head of
the college until the board puts me out
a1la then l want to know the reason
Way" declared President John H.
Worst when seen last night and asked
Ahether he would accept the election
" president emeritus as conferred by
the state board of regents last week,
notification of which was made by
delegation of two members yesterday
nOrning. The president asserted that
the board didn't tell him at the meet
ing in Bismarck that he was elected"
but simply that "he was going to be-"
President Worst declared that he
was going to take counsel with his
friends, that being the next step. He
intimated that he was willing to fight
with the provisions of the state and
federal law with him, stating that the
board was simply trying to dodge the
issue"
''E presented memorandum to the
Board at its session last week." said
Mr.. Worst, "and I will stand on that
ultimatum."
President Worst stated that the Ag-
ricultural college of the state being a
farmers institution and the farmers
having a greater interest in it than
the board, it was the duty of the board
to consult with the farmers.
why didn't the board consult with
the farmers and learn their wishes be-
fore taking such action" he added. 81
don't think the farmers have been TAX
9n into account"
When asked to give the main rea'
son for the disturbance Mr.. Worst
said that it began when the old board
saok over the Better Farming associa
ton and elected Thomas Cooper, di
rector, responsible only to the board
Of trustees. The federal law, accord
ing to Mr.. Worst's contentious, makes
the extension department a depart
ment Of the college and the director
of the station is subordinate officia
AZ the state law provides that the
president shall be the chief executive
and all others subordinate and under
his direction and supervision.
"AI1 l contended for was that the
board agree to the federal and state
provisions" said the president.
When President Worst left Fargo
kR week for Bismarck he told re
sorter that he was going to appear be