The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1922-11-30
WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT
1T WAS

WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT
1T WAS
Considerable has been said about
there is much pride in our univers-
ity and other higher institutions of
learning"
The school year begins with much
athletics, teachers Institutes, foot
ball games and many trips between
towns. We were surprised that in
these hard times, special train was
run from north Idaho to Boise just
for football game on Armistice
Day. We wondered who would have
the time and money to make the
trip. The ten coaches arrived at
Boise very well loaded.
We were surprised to learn that
they were not going right back to
school and to work, after the game,
but that they were going to take a
little run to Salt Lake and Los
Angeles and back, and that this
would keep them on the road until
November 90. When they got back
we had another surprise, to find that
they had date at Spokane two days
after they got home and another
date at Butte on Thanksgiving. That
uses up all of November excepting
the first few days, and it takes them
into December to get back to the
university.
Granting that they pay their own
expenses on this trip and that only
coach or two and perhaps no
others made these trips on state ex-
pense, yet the taxpayers have been
keeping the university open and OPP
Grating for them all the while they
were away. The overhead expense
was going on, and they were receiv-
ing no use of it. If the football
folks are like most mortals it will
take them couple of weeks to get
back to normal work again after
such an extended trip or bunch Of
trips. We doubt il their fall school
ing advances them much in any
thing but athletics. They probably
had thoroly good time, and we
should all rejoice at that.
The president of the university
made the trip to Boise with them.
He had to be there to cheer them we
suppose. He undoubtedly drew the
usual salary coming down and going
back, and it is to be expected, Of
course, that he travelled on state
money. And all the time he was 60
ing and coming, somebody else had
to do his work at home, If there is
work attaching to his position, and
we suppose there is. We think it
would be interesting If somebody at
the university would get out
financial statement showing what 1t
cost the taxpayers to back the foot
ball boys with such aids and direc-
tors and company as made the trip.
The writer could not look over the
crowd that got off the train and tell
who was drawing salary from the
public treasury and who was paying
1t out of his own pocket and the
football purse.
We urge this upon the attention
of President Upham of the univers-
ity, and ask that he go about it
frankly and furnish us a report for
national education week. Those who
pay the bills will want to know, and
we know there will be plenty of
people about the university who will
have all the time in the world to
compile the data, for we keep get !
ting in our mail all sorts Of other
information about the university. It
comes whether we want it or not
statements of things that are
awfully important to somebody, we
suppose, or they would not use up
stamps and stationery sending it
out. 1t is very important to the
spud growers of Bingham county
and to the folks on the mortgaged
ranches back in the sheep country
of our foothills, to know that on a
certain evening the university
faculty entertained, or that there
was a morning meeting on the
campus a week from Tuesday or
that there is going to be a debate on
the tenth inst. on the question of
it was peck of gold rings
or peck of diamond rings that
were gathered from the fingers of
The noblemen that fell before Rome
when certain aid de camp said to
his chief, Thou knowest how to
win a victory, but alas, thou know
,st not how to use it,"
Great words and great questions
IRE these! And they should be de-
ermined before the data is all gone.
The Germans might invade Italy
gain and destroy some records and
ouvenirs. OF course this is only
mentioned as an extreme example
{ the important stuff we receive
rom the overworked and underpaid I
yorkers at the university, but the
eople want to know who pays for