Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-07-18
. CASE OF MISU UNDERSTANDING

A number of Barnes county farmers have addressed
a Communication to the governor, denouncing what they
term the effort made by the board Of regents to remeve
Dr.. Ladd from the position Of president of the agrtcultu-
raj college. and petitioning the governor to use his influ-
ence and authority to prevent the success Of this effort.
Several Of the college professors are also named as be-
ing the targets Of similar efforts on the part of the board
of regents, and the governor is also asked to bring these
efforts to naught.
At any rate, they are laboring under a misunderstanding
The board Of regents is in control of the agricultural col
lege, as it is in control Of every other state educational
institution. It was for that purpose that the legislature
created the board. The board is in charge, and it is re-
sponsible for the manner in which each Of the schools
is conducted. 1t has full and undivided authority. The
governor is not a member Of the board and he has no
voice in its proceedings. The boards acts are not sub
ject to review by any other official or body, except that,
like every other body, 1t is answerable to the courts for
the legality Of its acts.
It is manifestly a mistake to talk Of the board max
ing an effort to remove one of it's employees. When the
board is convinced that the interests of the state will best
be served by the separation Of an institution official,
whether president Or professor, from that institution,
and the individual does not resign voluntarily, all that is
necessary is for the board to remove him forthwith. The
only effort required is the passage of the necessary
resolution, and when that resolution is passed and the
individual is notified, the job is done. The board has alb
solute authority to remove the president of the Agricul-
tural college, or any other official of any other of the in
situations under its charge, to effect such removal at any
time, at its pleasure. And from it's decision there is no
appeal. Neither governor nor court has authority to
question any Of the boards acts so long as they do not go
beyond the powers conferred on the board blythe leglsla-
ture. And the power to appoint and to remove is very
clearly possessed by the board.
DR.. Ladd is president of the Agricultural college by
virtue of his appointment by the present board, the very
board which is now declared to be plotting to remove
him. He has been in office something more than a year.
Before that he was a professor in the institution, and had
charge Of a large line of work as food commissioner and
in charge of other and more or less related work to
which the legislature had assigned him. He was APP
pointed to fill a vacancy created by the removal of the
former president, who had chosen to adopt an attitude
of defiance toward the board under whose supervision he
was. DR.. Ladd's appointment was understood to be a
temporary one. He was a worker in another field, and he
had made his reputation in that other field. Obviously
the authority which placed him in office has the power
to relieve him.
There Is no intent in this article to discuss DR.. Ladd's
availability for the position of president of the college.
The purpose is simply to point out the absurdity of the
charges and insinuations to the effect that the regents
are plotting darkly and mystertously to accomplish DR..
Ladds removal when, If that is desired, they can remove
him in ten minutes.