Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-02-25
HARMoNY RE1GNs.

Mr.. Townley seems to be 4 fairly
versatile man, and it may be that he
adds familiarity with Shakespeare to
his other accomplishments. If so. on
summing up the result of the unive--
sity fiasco he may have been impel-
led to quote the exclamation Of Prince
Henry: /,
20 monstrous! but one halfpenny.
worth of bread
To this intolerable deal of sack!"
1t is a fact, as Mr.. Townley told the
emissary who visited him, that the
board bunzled the whole university
affair, and bungled it horribly. The
longer action was delayed, the WORSE
the situation became, and a point had
been reached where it was necessary
for the board to reverse its former de-
cision 80 publicly announced and so
often reiterated, and patch the affair
up in the best way possfble.
The result of all the pother is that
President Kane 10 left just where he
vas. at the head of the university;
that whatever complaints have been
made against him are cast, into the
discard; and that notice IL served ON
all who have ehdeavored to secure his
removal to cease their activities.
DR.. Kane is to be congratulated on
the result, and on the course which
he has pursued through the entire
controversy. That course has been
chiefly responsible for the result The
Herald has never at any time under
taken to pass Judgment on President
Kane's suitability for the position
which he holds. Such a question
must be determined by persons much
more closely in touch with the actual
work of the institution than this pa
per can possibly be. But We have in
sisted that when his qualifications
were under consideration DR.. Kane
va entitled to q fair hearing before
an impartial board. He has had no
such hearing, and the state has not .
board Of that character. Under those
circumstances DR.. Kane, stood his
ground manfully, refusing to take any
step which would imply admission Of
any charges OF reputation Of the at
titude which he had maintained iii all
his concentrations with the board
and with the members Of hhD faculty.
He has the support Of most of the
members of his faculty, Of the great
body of the students, of the university
alumni, Of the business men Of the
city, and of the great body Of citizens
throughout the state az they became
familiar with the situation.
The attempt made, with great de-
termination, to make the state uni
versity a mere annex to the Socialist
political machine has failed disrna1fy
for this time. It need not be ex-
pected that it will not be renewed a.
the first opportunity that appears to
be at all favorable. It is to be, ex-
pected that in the light of this exper-
fence more skill and greater caution
will be shown in any future attempt.
But the spirit that prompted this
vicious attack still exists. It is still in
operation in relation to the manage
ment of the other institutions, and
some Of these are already, apparently.
hopelessly under its influence. But
every citizen in the state has reason
for qualification in the fact that the
university has escaped the fate which
had been planned for it. And it will
be our own fault il we fail to take
warning from this experience and
take steps which will prevent Rs rep
etition.