Show INDEFENSIBLE SECRECY The Agricultural College trustees again yesterday sought darkness rather than light Their meeting was i secret = reporters were barred The Tribune reporter applied for admission I j to the meeting but was denied Presl I j dent McCornlck said he had no objcc I I lJ I ton to the presence of reporters but I that the board l by vote decided to keep them out But we have no doubt that I thc IShl of the press to be represented in these meetings could bo enforced by II proper legal procedure For tho business busi-ness the trustees were transacting was public business and the public had an undisputed right to know what Its servants ser-vants were doing with regard to this Institution and the persons they proposed pro-posed to employ in It There is never any danger in publicity when the public pub-lic business Is properly transacted but It is in secret conclaves and darklnn tern combines that all mischief and crookedness is set alloat Besides what Is done Is absolutely certain to como to the surface why then this relic of malodorous practices which can do no possible good and serves only to cause Irritation suspicion and to cloak some proposition that men would shrink from r supporting were they forced to openly face their acts In this Instance n thing I was done for which there can it seems Ito I-to us be no proper defense That is I the retention of President Tmncr HIs H-Is perfectly understood that the disposition dispo-sition 0 Congress was to refuse any appropriation to the Agricultural College i Col-lege while any polygamist remained In It In official position President Tanner manful and promptly handed In hit resignation Yet the trustees continue him In office as if to say to Congress You cant help yourself we have the appropriation for this fiscal year anyway any-way and we will defy your wish as long as we can and dare I Is a most Indefensible atlllude to display and Is not calculated to help the inslllullon among lawabiding people |