The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-07-10
Hinted That Executive will
"Take Bull By Horns
and Dismiss Officers
GOVERNOR HOLDS
HE HAS THE POWER
A.C. Controversy Basis for
Step, According to
81 "Inside" Story

Confident assertions that Gov.
ernor Lynn j. Frazier will on
Wednesday take steps to sum.
marily dismiss or remove from
Office members of the state board
of regents, were made today in
Fargo by several persons ordin.
arily well informed on Nonpar-
tisan league and administration
affairs.
Governor Frazier was in
Hoople, his home, this morning.
and leaves for Bismarck by auto
during the day. He may not
reach the capital in time to take
the proposed step tomorrow, thus
delaying the issue.
The recent statement by DIR. E.
F. Ladd, president of the North
Dakota Agricultural college, that
he was asked by President L. F.
Crawford of the board of re-
gents, to resign, is the basis for
the step it is limited the admin
stration forces. have determined
upon, and which they expect
Governor Lynn j. Frazier to put
into operation tomorrow.
Messrs. L. F. Crawford, of Sentinel
Butte; Frank White, Valley City;
DR.. ]. D.. Taylor, Grand Forks; j.
A. Power, Leonard, and Emil Scow,
Bowman, are the board members
against whom the reported move
ment would be launched.
Step Long Contemplated.
Ever since the publication of the
first stories of the demand that Mr.
Crawford is cited as having made
upon DR.. Ladd for his resignation,
and which were denied by Mr..
Crawford, it has been understood
that the administration contemplat-
ed steps by which it is proposed to
sweep the present board of regents
out of control, and give the new adj
ministration control Of the educa-.
tional institutions.
Goyernor Frazier has al slang
held to the theSr III the power
OF removal lies solely with the state
executive, informing the board of
regents OF such belief during the
recent session Of the state legisla-
ture, when the regents issue was
first defined.
That he now proposes to attempt
to exercise that power, is the state
ment given credence by several Far
go men who are more or less, ION
the inside.
Waited Till Election.
The step would have been taken
several days ago, except for the fact
that 1t was deemed unwise to mix
the matter into the congressional
campaign any further than it had
been employed. The regents prob
lem was made a Nonpartisan cam
paign issue during the last ten days
OF the campaign.
Ever since March, 1915, when the
board Of regents removed John H.
Worst from the agricultural college
presidency, the regents have been
the center of an interesting and bit
ter partisan battle.
1t has Just recently assumed more
intensive proportions with the SEEM
ing certainty that definite steps
for the removal Of the board are
immediate possibilities.
Scow- Power Stand Stirs Rivals.
The recent renewal of the regents
fight, IL is declared by anti-regent
forces. was occasioned by the an
nouncenhent that ]. A Power and
Emil Scow, board members, would
not relinquish their positions July
/. Each was appointed for two
year term, that period expiring the
first of this month.
Both Mr.. Power and Mr.. Scow
hold that the governor has made no
legal appointments to succeed them,
and, in fact there are now nos
claimants to the positions.
All appointments made by Cover
nor Frazier in the recent legislature
were based on the theory that the
entire board membership should be
eliminated, and q new board estab-
1ished. The senate wouldn't accept
that proposition.
Ordinarily, in the removal of Off
GERS. cause Of action must be estab-
lished, and the administration is
understood to hold the view that the
proposed agricultural college presi- |
dency change establishes such cause.