CHARGE AGAINST DARTMOUTH DISPROVED
The Secretary of the Alumni Council has, on behalf of the Council, issued the following statement:
Considerable indignation was caused among Dartmouth alumni some weeks since by a statement widely circulated in the press, particularly of the middle west, to the effect that Quist, a player on the University of Minnesota's football team, had, through an alumnus or alumni of Dartmouth College, received a tempting offer to give up his Minnesota allegiance and to transfer himself and his athletic abilities to Dartmouth.
Authority for the report was no less a person than Dr.M.L. Williams, Coach of the Minnesota team.
The clear charge was such as to demand immediate investigation. Accordingly, the matter was taken up by the Dartmouth College Alumni Council through its president, Ernest M. Hopkins. He traced the history of the case back to its source, in Quist himself. The facts appear to be these:
Quist had, for some years past, been more or less interested in Dartmouth College. He had talked with various alumni of the institution and had learned from them that an impecunious boy who can satisfy scholarship conditions, may secure aid from the College to the extent of $60 towards the $140 tuition charge. Beyond this small opportunity, which is open to all alike, he had received no special encouragement.
Shortly after the opening of the football season this fall, however, Quist called upon Dr. Williams and inquired as to his prospects for a place on the Minnesota team. In course of the conversation, he suggested to Dr. Williams that he had an excellent opportunity to go to Dartmouth. Dr. Williams, assuming the complete accuracy of Quist's statements, and reading into them perhaps more than the actual words warranted, later made some unguarded remarks to newspaper reporters, who seized upon them and gave them wide publicity.
Inquiry on behalf of the Council was conducted in Minnesota by Mr. Henry D. Thrall of the Class of 1906. In a letter to Mr. Thrall, under date of October 20, 1915, Dr. Williams makes substantial withdrawal of whatever assertions may have been credited to him by the newspapers. He says in conclusion, "I am sorry that a reflection has been cast upon Dartmouth, and will do what I can to help straighten it out."
The Alumrfi Council conducted its investigation solely for the purpose of defending the good name of Dartmouth, and with no desire to embarrass any individuals involved in the case. The name of the College and its alumni having been completely cleared, and documents having been filed with the Secretary of the Council, the affair, in so far as Dartmouth is concerned, is considered satisfactorily closed.
