Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/415

 POPULISM IN A STATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION 401

The others, though almost universally opposed to the action, agreed to attend to duties as usual, and in this I encouraged them.

The result is that twelve of the twenty-four teachers and ten of the sixteen subordinates are retained. Most of the older members of the faculty are dismissed, the average term of the twelve leaving being eleven and one-half years and of the twelve remaining eight and one-half years. This may be accounted for by the part taken by most of the older teachers in sustaining the stability of the course of study.

The great body of alumni, incensed at the violence to their alma mater passed resolutions of disapproval. But the board by resolution on their minutes called the annual meeting of alumni, three hundred strong, "a body of republicans met for purely political purposes." Yet numerous populists voted for the resolutions of disapproval, very few against them, and some of the resolutions were written by populists. These resolutions are as follows :

Resolved, That we, the alumni of the Kansas State Agricultural College, today assembled at our old home, express our pride at the growth and great- ness of our alma mater. Whatever may be our fears, our hopes, our indi- vidual opinions, we are proud of its past history and its present high place in the company of like institutions. We honor and revere the names of the men who have been inseparably connected with its growth and development. The honor brought to the institution by reason of its competent president and faculty, we feel to be an honor to us individually, for which we are profoundly grateful to our friends, the faculty.

Resolved, That we view the recent action of the board of regents, in dis- missing the president and members of the faculty with regret, with sorrow, with indignation, and express for the act our unqualified condemnation. We regret that any attempt should be made from any source to belittle or besmirch the character of the president or any member of the faculty, and we pledge ourselves to defend their honor and good names as loyally as we would defend the honor of our own homes and families.

Resolved, The policy of the institution, heretofore maintained, has been one that adhered strictly to the legitimate function of training its students for the shop, the farm, and the home, as well as for the advancement of science and agriculture, and carefully avoided giving any attention to political prob-