Show fOUR REGENTS PROTEST AGAINST SELECTION OF DR JOHN A. A WIDTSOE Choice Of The Majority Members Of The Board Railroaded Through Without Consideration Of Any Other Candidates Dr Kingsbury Made President-Emeritus President For 1916 17 Over t the e protest of four members of the board of regents John A. A Widtsoe Widtsoe Vidt soe president of the Utah Agricultural Agricultural Agricultural tural college was chosen hosen last Thursday Thursday Thursday Thurs Thurs- day night as head of the University of Utah to succeed suc Joseph T. T Kingsbury whose resignation had been requested request request- ed b by the board Formal charges were made by the minority members of the board that the appointment had previously been determined upon without consultation with them or without allowing sufficient time to consider available candidates for the presidency Dr Kingsbury was made president emeritus for the c collegiate year 1916 17 at full pay and professor of chemistry for the year 1917 18 at atthe atthe atthe the regular salary of a professor The vote for the selection sele of Dr Widtsoe as president stood Affirmative Affirmative Affirmative tive W. W W. W Riter Waldemar Van Cott Anthon H. H Lund David Mattson Mattson Mattson Matt- Matt son Dr George GeorgeV W W. Middleton and Richard W. W Young negative W. W W. W Armstrong Ernest Bamberger George C. C Whitmore and Nathan T. T Porter Four Regents Absent Mrs Gemmell H. H H. H W. W N. N Williams and G. G C. C Whitmore were not present at the meeting Mr III Armstrong Armstrong Armstrong Arm Arm- strong was permit permitted d to vote for Mr 11 Whitmore whose on the matter matter matter mat mat- ter had previously been learned by telephone By vote the majority of the regents refused to allow Mr Ill Armstrong Armstrong Armstrong Arm Arm- strong to cast a negative vote for Mrs Gemmell who had ad telegraphed from San Diego that day saying she disapproved disapproved disapproved proved of the appointment of a man within the state Action Long Planned The action which culminated in the selection of Dr V Widtsoe on Thursday night has been in process for several months In October of last year minority minority minority mi mi- members of the board of regents regents re reo re- re gents suggested to W. W W. W Riter and to Waldemar Valdemar Van Cott that the board should meet and consider the selection of a new president No action was taken at that time but hut early in December December December De De- De- De cember the minority members learned that several informal meetings of the board had been held beld without their knowledge and that the selection of a anew anew anew new president was under tion It was not until last Tuesday night however that the minority members learned definitely of the contemplated contemplated con con- action of the majority when it was communicated to them that Dr Widtsoe would be made president of the university Movement in 1913 It was learned on Friday that for three years the regents have been discussing discussing discussing dis dis- dis- dis cussing the selection of a new presIdent presIdent president dent and that among those whom they have been considering was Dr Vidt soe In the spring of 1913 a delegate of the board called on several prominent prominent prominent nent members of the faculty for their advice concerning con prospective candidates candidates candidates candi candi- dates for the position Among the candidates were Major Richard W. W Young Dr John A. A Widtsoe and Prof Fred J. J Pack Nothing was dene done at atthe atthe atthe the time regarding the selection of a anew anew anew new president At the meeting Thursday night President Kingsbury sent a letter dated dated dated dat dat- ed January 20 stating that he would not be a candidate for reappointment Following the reading of the letter a resolution was proposed by Richard W. W Young whereby Dr Kingsbury be made president emeritus This resolution resolution resolution reso reso- lution received the suppo support t of all the regents accept N. N T. T Porter Kingsbury's Letter When the meeting was called to order or or- order der del W. W W. W Riter chairman announced announced announced an an- that the meeting had been called for the special purpose of acting acting acting act act- ing upon a letter from Dr Kingsbury The letter which was then read is as follows Hon W. W W. W Riter Chairman Board of Regents University of Utah Dear Sir I I believe that a condition condition con con- if possible should be brought about by which all the people of Utah could unite in building up a strong university commensurate at least with the wealth and dignity of the state To be sure that I shall not stand in the way in effecting this desirable end I have decided de not notto notto notto to be a candidate for reappoIntment reappointment reappointment reappoint reappoInt- ment as president In this connection I wish to thank the board of regents for the uniform courtesy extended to me and for its support and continuous ous good will for the many ye years s I have been a member of the teaching teach teach- teaching I ing force and president of the In in- Furthermore I trust that I shall always lend my influence for the advancement of the university in inthe inthe inthe the future as I have done through the many years past Respect- Respect full submitted Signed J. J T. T KINGSBURY Young Presents Resolution When this letter had been read Major Richard W. W Young presented the following resolution I Resolved That we receive and record the letter of Dr Kingsbury Kingsbury Kingsbury Kings- Kings bury That the chairman appoint a committee of three to prepare and present to this board resolutions expressive of the high esteem in which we hold his services and character That he be tendered the position position position tion of president emeritus for the year 1917 1916 and in view of the fact that he has served for more than thirty years without a vacation vacation vacation vaca vaca- tion that he be Ibe granted a leave of absence at full present salary during 1916 17 and That for the year 1917 18 he be employed as a professor of chemistry chemistry chemistry chem chem- at the full pay of a pro pro- fessor With the exception ex of the last las clause this resolution received the votes of all regents present except that of N. N T. T Porter Mr 11 Porter expressed expressed expressed ex ex- pressed himself as favoring the retention retention retention reten reten- tion of Dr Kingsbury for one more year during which time a thorough canvass of the field for a new man be made The last clause was also opposed opposed opposed op op- op- op posed by Mr Ir Armstrong Mr Ill Bamberger Bamber Bamber- ger and Mr III Whitmore Stormy Debate Occasioned It was the introduction of a motion by Mr 11 Bamberger then that precipitated precipitated precipitated the long and bitter debate Mr 11 Bamberger offered this motion as soon as the resolution had been disposed of I move that a committee of f five be appointed by the chairman for forthe forthe forthe the purpose of securing by correspondence correspondence correspondence cor cor- and by personal interviews interviews interviews in in- wherever possible information information information mation regarding a man or men available for the presidency of the University of Utah and that they report to the board of regents regents regents re re- re- re gents the result of their investigation investigation investigation gation and any recommendations that may seem proper to them and that a sum sufficient for conducting conducting conducting con con- ducting such an investigation be authorized to be expended by this committee for the purpose set forth and that members of the board other than those appointed on this committee be requested to give to this board any information information information tion that they may have or that they may gain regarding any available man or men Offers Substitute Motions Waldemar Valdemar Van Cott for the majority majority majority major major- ity members immediately offered a substitute to this motion proposing the appointment of Dr John A. A Widtsoe Widtsoe Vidt soe president of the Utah Agricultural Agricultural Agricultural tural college as president of the University University University Uni Uni- of Utah for the year 1916 Mr 11 Van Cott said that at first he had been in favor of going outside the state for a successor to Dr Kingsbury But he lie said after he had given the matter careful thought he had come cometo to the conclusion that Dr Widtsoe Continued on Page 4 Four Regents Protest Action Adilon Continued from page 1 through his wide knowledge of the state was best fitted for the tho position Dr Middleton l expressed opposition to such haste and said that he believed be be- nothing would be lost in longer long long- er consideration of the matter of a successor but that he lie realized action must be taken soon because of the short time remaining in which the new man could prepared to take up his duties He said he really was in favor of holding Dr Kingsbury over another year but that if the matter came to a vote he lie would be for Dr Widtsoe I Denies Church Influence Anthon H. H Lund a member of the first presidency of the Mormon l church then stated that on account of the fact that both O. O J. J P. P Widtsoe head of the English department of the University and Dr John A. A Widtsoe e his brother were active members of the Mormon l church it had been asserted asserted asserted as as- in some quarters that the church had been using its influence to secure their appointments This Mr l Lund said he wanted to emphatically deny Nothing of the kind had occurred occurred oc occurred oc- oc he lie said The matter of the appointment of both men in fact had originated forn outside the church he lie declared I Minority Statement At this juncture Mr 1 Armstrong acting for the minority presented the following statement which was read into the minutes after some objections objections objections by the majority We Ve are opposed to and protest against the election of Dr Widtsoe Widtsoe Vidt soe to the presidency of the University University University Uni Uni- of Utah First First Because Because we are not advised advised advised ad ad- nor have we had the opportunity opportunity opportunity of advising ourselves as to his ability to fill this position Second Second Because Because no opportunity ity has been given to consider other available men This matter has not been taken up with an open mind nor has due and prop prop- er deliberation been given to it As far as we are informed no one other than Dr Widtsoe has been given any consideration Third Third Assuming Assuming the ability of Dr Widtsoe we believe his election election election elec elec- tion is ill-advised ill and not for the best interests of the university We believe that a man can be found who is as well or better fitted than Dr Widtsoe of greater experience and against whom the objections that will no doubt be raised with respect to Dr Widtsoe Widtsoe soe would not exist We Ve are opposed to and object to the manner of Dr Widtsoe's elec elec- tion Not only was the decision to ask for the resignation of Dr Kingsbury coupled with the election election election elec elec- tion of Dr Widtsoe as his successor successor sor but Dr Widtsoe was decided upon the matter settled the position position po po- offered to him and accepted accept accept- ed by him without any consulta- consulta tation with us We take it that we were appointed to this board for the purpose of giving to it our views in all matters relating to the University We Ve believe that the action of or the majority of the board in selecting a man for this position and offering it to him without investigation as to other available men and without the knowledge of a number of the members of the board is not only in poor taste and with scant courtesy but in direct violation of the spirit of the law creating the University of Utah and providing providing providing pro pro- viding for its government by a aboard aboard aboard board of regents each with equal authority We Ve now ask that final action on this matter be deferred so that we ma may after discussion ascertain ascertain ascertain as as- certain the views of those members members members mem mem- bers of the board who are now ab ab- ab- ab sent We Ve urged that action be betaken betaken betaken taken in with the of the university early in inthe inthe inthe the year so that that- in case the resignation resignation re reo re- re of Dr Kingsbury were accepted sufficient time would be given for securing a successor Being desirous that considerable thought and deliberation be given to this matter and that we may maybe maybe maybe be given time for investigation with a view to presenting names to this board we ask dela delay and we now offer at our our own expense to visit and consult with educators educators educators tors throughout the country in order order order or or- der to secure information that will aid the board of regen regents ts in determining the best available man for the place Heated Debate The debate became warmer Mr l Van Cott said that Dr Widtsoe's duties duties duties du du- du- du ties as president of the Logan school had brought him in close touch with every community in fact almost every every every ev ev- ery home in the st state te A new man with abilities equal to those of Dr Widtsoe he lie said would require several several several sev sev- eral years' years time to become as thoroughly thoroughly thoroughly thor thor- acquainted with local conditions conditions condi condi- as was Dr Widtsoe During the roll call when the name of Mrs Gemmell was called Mr Armstrong Armstrong Armstrong Arm Arm- strong read two telegrams one addressed addressed addressed ad ad- dressed to Mrs l Gemmell by Mr l Bamberger Bamberger Bamberger Bam Bam- berger and Mr 1 Armstrong advising her of the plan to elect Dr Widtsoe and the other the reply of or Mrs Gem Gem- mell Mrs Gemmell's Telegram To the telegram the following came from San Diego addressed to Mr Bamberger We Ve must have the very bestman bestman best bestman man available for Dr Kingsbury's successor The selection of such sucha a man may take time Especially I am in favor of choosing someone someone someone some some- one from outside the state Signed BELLE A. A GEMMELL GEl Requests Are D Denied Danied nied Mr 1 Armstrong requested that these telegrams be read into the minutes of the meeting and that in view of the expressed desires of Mrs Gemmell the minority be permitted to cast Mrs l Gemmell's vote in opposition to Dr Widtsoe's appointment Both requests requests requests re re- re- re quests were denied by the majority The majority ruled that Mrs Gemmell Gemmell Gemmell Gem Gem- mell had not been here to keep l in close touch with the situation and that she therefore did not understand the latest developments fully enough to permit the telegram to stand as an expression of her views in the matter In the case of Mr l Whitmore the majority majority majority ma ma- held that since he lie had been communicated with by long-distance long telephone his negative vote could be accepted because he lie better understood understood understood under under- stood the situation When the resolution electing Dr Widtsoe had finally been passed Major Major Ma Ma- jor Young made a motion that his salary salary salary sal sal- ary for next year be fixed at This resolution passed unanimously |