Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1920-12-14
DR.. Woods Removed.

umns of the Democrat 10 more familiar
than that Of DR.. Charles D. Woods, d.
rector OF the Maine Experiment Station
for the past twenty-four years, and whose
bulletins have been appearing nearly ev-
cry week In the press during that time.
he was summsrily removed by the trus-
tees OF the University of Maine last week
on the charge of exceeding his authority.
The doctor has issued the statement
which appears below in regard to the
matter:
"The Maine Agricultural Experiment
Station is by Act Of Legislature created
az q Department of the University Of
Maine. Its governing board is the Trus-
tees Of the University. The Director re-
ports to the President of the University.
The heads Of the Station Departments
report to the Director. At the reorgsni.
zation of the Station In 1883 the Trustees
created representative body to be called
the Station Council for the development
and management Of the Station.
"By act of Legislature the Experiment
Station was directed TO conduct investi.
cations into animal husbandry. The
prime object was to try to learn how
milk production and milk fat production
are inherited. As one part of this work
herd made up of reciprocal crosses of
high and low producing COWS was essen
tial. Such herd was developed at the
University In cooperation with the Col.
lege of Agriculture. In November, 1919,
without consultation with the Station
Staff or the Station Council the Trus-
tees ordered this investigation stopped
and the animals making up the herd
sold. In January, 1920, after Station
Council action committee from that
body waited upon the Trustees and pre-.
sented plan for continuing this investi-
CATION at Highmoor Farm. This plan
was unanimously approved by the Trus-
tees. Among the items approved and
as taken from the Trustee records of that
meeting is The plan includes the use of
certain barn space at the farm and the
construction of an additional barn for
housing, and water supply and equip.
ment for caring for the animals and their
products. Acting under this authority
the Council Committee and the Station
Director Immediately took steps to put
this action into effect. A barn was
erected, the old barn was remodeled, a
we'll drilled and equipment purchased.
The building of the barn was inspected
In June when 1t was about half COM
pleted by committee of the Trustees
who were appointed by the Board with
full authority relative to the new con-
struction at Highmoor Farm. The com.
mittee from the Station Council met
with the committee from the Trustees.
Neither at that time nor at any time
while the construction was in progress
did the Trustees make any suggestion as
to change or modification of the Trustee
action of January, 1920.
November 20, without previous no.
tice, the Director OF the Station was re-
quested by telephone to 60 to Bangor to
meet the Board of Trustees. When he
appeared he was told by the President of
the Board that the Trustees unanimously
demanded his Immediate resignation.
On asking why, the Director was In
formed that by building the barn at
Highmoor Farm he exceeded his author.
ity. The Director denied that be had ex.
ceeded authority and cited the para
graph from the Trustee records above
quoted. He refused to resign. At about
10 O'Clock the morning of November 80
he received notice signed by the Clerk
of the Board of Trustees notifying him
that the Trustees had removed him from
being Director, the removal to be effect
i've December /. The Director spent the
remainder Of the 30th putting Station
matters in the best shape possible for
leaving In the limited time. As the Trus-
tees had delegated no one to take his
place, and as they had ignored the Presi-
dent of the University In the matter by
sending the communication of removal
direct to the Director, the Director sug-
gested to the heads Of the Station that
they should continue to act automati.
cally in Station management az they
would were the Director temporarily ab-
sent. And there the matter now rests"