The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-07-05
LADD DECLARES
CRAWFORD MADE
DEMAND that HE
RESIGN POSITION.
"A. G. President, in State
naent, Says Regents Had
Ordered it Written
WHITE SEEKING
NEW EXECUTIVE
Brewer Asked Appoint
ment to Food Job, An
other Feature Cited

DR.. e. F. Ladd, president of the
North Dakota Agricultural college,
in a signed statement given to The
Forum this morning, makes positive
statements to the effect:
That Lewis F. Crawford, president
Of the board of regents, demanded
his, DR.. Ladds, resignation, at the
May meeting of the board in Fargo.
That Frank White, Valley City,
admitted having made inquiries aim
ed at getting q new man for the
presidency of the agricultural col
lege.
That Charles Brewer, secretary of
the board of regents, made personal
application for the position Of food
commissioner.
That a third party" interceded
with DR.. Ladd in behalf of Mr.. Brew
er, asserting that his appointment
would smooth over" other matters.
Expressing sincere regret at the.
turn Of affairs, and declaring that
for seven years the college has been
made the football Of politics. exempt
ing no faction or party from guilty.
DIR. Ladd's statement admittedly
creates a new crisis in college af-
fairs that win have an all important
effect upon the institutions immedi-
ate future.
DR.. Ladd's statement today is the
latest development in the agricul-
tural college situation, made acute
this week through the publication Of
charges that three members of the
board of regents had demanded DIR.
Ladd's retirement, and which was
Immediately denied by President
Crawford of the board
DIR. Ladd's statement follows:
A Statement of Facts.
keenly regret that / am forced
70 make any public statement but
duty and loyalty to the college COM
pei me at this time to do so. For
seven years the Agricultural college
has been the football OF politics,
kicked about by petty politicians
and one group or party in the past
has not been one whit better than
another. They have not striven for
the upbuilding OF the college as an
educational institution to one-half
the extent they have to gain con-
troll of its policy or to further their
own schemes or ambitions and this
to the diss ace al our et cat ionaI
system and stats bettefanent. Any
man who dares to speak has hazard
ed his future if he has not been
disciplined. It is unfortunately dis
graceful that such should be the
case. trust that it may be purged
for all time but the curse is outside
more largely than inside.
The Controversy.
At an adjourned meeting of the
board OF regents in May, a member
of the faculty was being, as I
thought, unfairly criticised and de-
course, when Mr.. Crawford said that
il had been a real president,
would have demanded his resigna-
tion within "a hours Of the occur
renee and my action would have
been approved by the board. After !
further comment and discussion, MIR. |
Crawford asked me to resign as |
president OF the college. Nothing |
was said with regard to my work in
the regulatory department except to |
ask how much time put in for the |
college. To this, replied. two thirds |
of my time. / did not feel that there |
was any good reason for resigning |
and thought that should be given |
q chance as felt / had never yet |
failed in what had undertaken but |
added that the board of regents were /
the doctors and the highest power |
and / must abide by their action.
Mr.. Crawford said that he desired |
the resignation on file so that they |
could be looking for man to take
my place and that 1t might be some |
little time before the change could |
be made. He then instructed Mr..
Brewer to write a resignation for me |
to sign. Without further comment, /
Mr.. Brewer at once proceeded to do /
so. In the interim, Mr.. White stated |
concerning the publication that had /
been given In The New Rockford |
Center with regard to looking for a
man that neither Governor Frazier
nor Mr.. Crawford was to blame, but 1
that he had requested the man to /
look for a suitable person as presi-
dent for the Agricultural college.
Before Mr.. Brewer had apparently
completed writing the resignation,
at the suggestion Of Mr.. Powers, he
was again recalled
It was now late, nearly / o'clock
and the board adjourned. In the
afternoon, Mr.. Brewer came to my
Office and stated that he had dis
cussed the matter further going to
town and that he was confident that
1t was not the desire OF the board
to in any way handicap my work in
the regulatory department
On the following Monday morning,
an employe and representative of
the board came to my Office and said
he was going to make suggestion,
namely, that the BOARD members
were very fond Of Mr.. Brewer and
inasmuch as had asked for an as
sistant to aid me as food commits
sfoner, IL Mr.. Brewer was appointed
and the correspondence and general
work turned over TO him, he was
confident that the board would not
take further action and that this
would be a good solution for me. Mr..
Brewer had previously applied in
person TO me for the position. The
board had already furnished me q
man 10 act as depaty In the ad-
ninistrative work
No one regrets more keenly than
I, the dragging Of these matters in-
to the public press hui t1as are hev
yond my control and viii be as long
as petty politics dominate and COM
pel subservieney to their demands.
It Is said have 200 much work.
i grant / have plenty to do II is
not work that Injuries or kills. but
petty annoyances and worry because
of such annoyances Besides / have
devoted body Of loyal workers
among my associates in the faculty
who have aidea me Again the leg
selature in the oh bill provided for a
deputy who has charge Of all oil /
worE ana tllss relieves me Of any Ii
Aade6 duty The railroad commits
aiorae have provided ample aid, a
6eutx Inspector a clerk and sten-
to handle the routine work.