The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-07-11

Control OF the state Doaro oi
regents, should it swing from
the present board to a body ap-
pointed by Governor Lynn Fra
zier, as contemplated by the ad-
ministration drive that will be
placed under way this week or
the fore part of next week, IN
which the right of the present
board Of regents will be sub
iected to a court test, would
mean the removal of at least
seven prominent institution of
ficials, according to well inform
ed observers of things political.
The contemplated step by the
administration to gain control
of the board of regents, origin
ally scheduled for today, may
not be taken till the fore part of
next week. The nature Of the
drive hasn't been definitely de-
termined upon, except that 1T
probably will be aimed at the
entire board, with L. F. Craw-
ford, president of the board, the
principal target of attack.
Institution changes likely II the
board changes, have been rlmored
for some time, and indications point
strongly to the retirement of the men
heading this article in the event the
board control shifts.
Cooper Long Time Target.
Mr.. Cooper, of the experiment stat
ion, has been the target Of attack at
the hands OF certain faction of the
farmers movement for some time.
President Mcfarland Of the Valley
City normal, is known to be very
much on the outs with certain lead
ers in the .NonpaFtisan movement,
including N. C. Macdonald, state
superintendent of public instruction,
who is more or less a. power in the
administrators educational policy.
The retirement OF Charles, Brewer,
Fargo, from the secretaryship of the
board of regents, and Addison Leech,
secretary of the Agricultural college,
are taken as matters OF course.
A Valley City woman has for some
time been slated for the berth of
state librarian in the event the
change comes about.
Power Welcomes Test.
]. A. Power, Leonard. member of
the board Of regents. visiting in Far
go today. declared his willingness to
subject his own title to the office Ito
a court test, as are the other board
members. Mr.. Power was not will
ing to make any further contribu-
tion to the discussion that has ragged
within the past ten days over affairs
at the North Dakota Agricultural
Would Clear Atmosphere.
'eThe question of the right Of the
present board members to hold Of !
fee has once been subjected to a
court test, and was found sound"
said Mr.. Power today. II, person
ally, would welcome q test in the
courts of the proposal that the board
be removed for cause. For a long
time, the board has been subject to
attacks, charging that its actions
were governed by outside influences
that aimed at the crippling Of the
institutions, more particularly the
agricultural college.
an 8 court test of our right to re-
tain ONCE, there would be an OPP
portunity for clearing the atmosphere
Of such charges, and we certainly
would be pleased to have the matter
thrown into the courts as inttmated
will be done.
ConfidenE Of Outconna.
II am confident of the outcome, so
far as the question relating to re-
moval for cause is concerned.
CAS- to the right of myself and Mr.. |
Scow to retain Offices, we are ad- |
vised that it is sound; that no legal |
has been or can be |
made at this time"
MIR. Scow and Mr.. Power are hold |
ing over their terms of appointment. |
Governor Frazier has made no ap- |
oointment of members to succeed |
them, and they are holding office at /
the present time on the theory that /
they are the rightful custodians of |
The work, and have no right to turn /
HE affairs OF the state institutions /
over to other men until they have
proved their legal right to the Of
ice.
Whites Retirement An Element.
Should the courts hold that Mr..
seow and Mr.. Power have no right i
q hold the offices. their retirement, /
.ogether with the retirement of i
Frank White, Valley City, comrnfs-
stoned colonel in the Smashing Sec
1nd," would give the Frazier admin
stration a majority on the board.
DR. J ID Taylor, Grand Forks
.ourth board member, likely would
.esien his post under those circum-
gtances, leaving only President Craw-
ord and four Frazier appointees on
ihe board n