Evening star., 1936-04-05


M threatened custer by Gov
IV La Toilette Of Glenn Frank,
L 4 president Of the University
Of Wisconsin, is temporarily stalled,
the best information here is that this
Is only brief reprieve.
The men closest to Gov. La Toilette
insist he has no other alternative but
to FIRE Frank, and that this will occur
in plenty of time to make the clash
of personalities and issues involved
a feature of the approaching cam
paign in Wisconsin and probably also
in the Nation. More specifically, their
prediction is that Frank will draw
his blue ticket not later than the end
of the university year in June.
The crucial fact Is that Gov. La
Toilette, by making five appointments
simultaneously last January, gained
control of all but three of the IA
members of the Board of Regents,
and this for the purpose of removing
President Frank. 1t had not been
the Governors intention, however, to
precipitate the issue so soon. The
plan was that Frank would be told
privately by members Of the board
that his services no longer were de-
sired. with the expectation that he
would resign voluntarily at the end
Of the university year. In the mean
time. the board was going to look
about at leisure for a successor.
But Frank did not wait to be thus
quietly eased out. In the list of new
appointees to the Board of Regents,
all of them members Of the Progress
sive party and close henchmen of the
Governor, he read the fateful hand
writing on the wall. When the new
board assembled for its first meeting
in March, he made a speech, declar-
ing in effect that he had been in
formed outside influences" had de-
creed that he be removed. He fol-
lowed this with a detailed and very
convincing defense of his admins
tration.
Cites Attitude of Board.
The regents were caught flat-footed,
but one of the La Toilette supporters
finally rose to his feet, acknowledged
that Franks performances had not
been satisfactory and advanced a few
rather lame reasons for this attitude
Of the board.
The next day, the Capital Times
chief journalistic supporter of the La
Follettes, broke the story, but with the
emphasis entirely on the criticisms
which had been made Of Frank In the
meeting and with only scant refer
ence to his defense.
The announcement created mighty
storm of protest. Most of the news
papers in the State ieaped to Franks
defense and excoriated Gov. La Fol-
lette. So did great many prominent
citizens, including Mrs. zona Gale
Breeze, famed novelist, former regent
of the university by appointment oi
the elder Gov. La Toilette and a life.
long supporter of the progressive
movement.
President Frank has been roundly
cheered whenever he has appeared ir
public since this occurrence, but so fal
no word whatever, either of denial OF
extenuation, has come from Gov. Ii
Toilette.
The contention of Gov. La Follette'l
friends Is that the action Of Frank ir
dragging the situation into the oper
has left the Governor no other re.
course than to go through with the
custer. II he should back down now
they say, he would be faced with the
issue in his campaign for reelection
this year. II he announced that HI
had no intention Of firing the uni
versity president, this would be con.
strued as an ignominious retreat, such
they say. as no La Toilette ever has
been guilty of. If Frank is to be fired
on the other hand, the quicker it Il
done the better, from the standpoint
of the Governors political fortunes.
Held Poor Administration.
As for the reasons why Gov. La Fol-
lette is cunning for Franks scalp, the
Governors friends say, it is primarily
because Frank Is poor administrator
They declare he has lacked decisive
ness, with result that he permitted
such conditions as were disclosed pre-