New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-15
THE UNION COLLEGE QUARREL.
AN EFFORT TO COMPEL THE STATE OFFICERS TO
MEET WITH THE TRUSTEES.

AN EFFORT TO COMPEL THE STATE OFFICERS TO
MEET WITH THE TRUSTEES.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRBUNE.l
SCHENECTADY, July 14.-ThOse who fiattered
themselves that the Union College quarrel ended with
the displacement OF Professor Webster, far Is this
summer is concerned, find themselves sadly mistaken
II has Just broken out afresh aud In new place. Lamot
W. Rhodes District Attorney OF Rensselaer, County
OF the representatives OF the alumni and strong anti
Potter the Board OF Trustees. has served notice
upon such OF the State officers ex-oco members
Of the board Of application for mandamus to COM
pei them to attend trustee meeting which has been
called for August Schenectady. The application is
to be made at Saratoga on July "a Mr. Rhodes VIII
make it representative OF the Rev. DIR. j. Trumbu
Backus senior trustee, who the request OF eight
members Of the board has called the August meeting
The significance Of this application for mandamus
be explained In few words The board as II stands
to-day, with Governor Hoffman, OF its members
in Europe, ia tie-nine OF the trustees being Potter
and nine anttPotter. The Potter men are Presi-
dent Potter himself Joseph W. Fuller, of Troy, his
father-inaw; Howard Potter Silas w. Brownell, John
T. Hoffman, OF New-York; General Frederick Townsend
xAdjutant Generals the Rev. Dr. j. Livingston Reese
and David Murray secretary OF the Regents OF the
University OF Albany; ex-Judge Jndson g. Landon ana
Edward W. Paige OF Schenectady. The antlPotter men
are the Rev Dr. ]. Trumbull Bacns and exJudge Patt
Potter of Schenectady the Rev DIR. William Irwin and
L. w. Rhodes, Of Troy; william H. II. Moore, vice.
president Of the Atlantic Mutual Marine In
surance Company, and Dr. Thomas Featherstonhaugh,
OF Ecw-York; the Rev. Dr. Denis Workman
OF Fort Plain; David c. Robinson, OF Elmira, and
ThomaA H. Fcarey, OF Albany. From the last meeting
OF tho board held the day before commencement, Mr.
Moore who was ILL., was compelled 10 DO absent. This
gave the Potter a majority OF one, without Hon-
man. They promptly ayaod themselves OF tneir tom
porary power by removing Professor Webster from the
faculty No questions their right To do ne thoy did,
but even many the presidents most jealous friends
seriously question the eIpcdicncy OF the move Some
OF them 60 to the length OF pronouncing IL grave
bunder As far observation shows It certainly has
iutous tied aud increased tho antiPotter feeling.
Members OF the alumni talk In this way; 1.-The
removal OF Professor Webster Is justly 70 be
regarded insult to tho great body Of the
alumni After an exciting which had been In
progress for many weeks the majority reelected Mr..
Robinson distnctively anPotter candidate 70 the
Board OF Trustees What followed The trustees IN
stead OF respecting the decision OF the alumni as ap
pesred In the choice OF Mr. Robinson, Immediately pro-
coedod to nuy IL far possible By removing not the
President, bat the very who embodied tho policy
which had been approved Of In selecting Mr. Robinson
~ the election OF Mr.. Robinson TO be followed by
any removal then, certainly unless the trustees re-
gard the alumni OF no account in the premises. the
Official 10 be decapItsted not Webster but Potter
IL was An outrage We will show them
neIt year We viii then make action go emphatic
that thoy will not dare 10 disregard IT,
There IL y good deal OF this talk floating about On
the other hand the Presidents friends any: 1T In all
argue that the trustees nsulted the alumni
In removing Professor Webster The alumni have their
duty 90 perform aud have the trustees Each body
TO b. presumed 10 be guided In all u does by AN unsehsh
visa to promote the beat nterests Of the college The
alumni cannot claim the right 90 dictate TO the trustees
what they shall do any more than the trustees car
claim the right thus 20 dictate TO the alumni Each Is
entirely independent OF tho other The majority Of the
trustees removed Professor Webster because IN their
ured Judgment he than any other man. stood In the
way " an harmonious adjustment OF the existing DIM
entities" Wills no peroeptbie gain has come 10 tue
ster II has cost the support OF not Few lnnnenal
Alumni who voted AGAINST Mr. Robinson, but VINO now
declare that henoeforth they are to be counted anti
Pottertes. 80,
In view OF these facts Il IL understand what tho
mandamus n the Court grants II the following
ex.onicl meubcrs will DO compelled 10 attend tue Au
gust meeting OF the Board Of Trustces Governor CeVe
| land, Lieutenant Governor Hil, secretary o.
state Carr Controller Davenport, Treasurer Ma1wci
| md Attorney. General Knsse-throe Republicans ant
three Democrats How they will vote "a only matter
OF conjecture conjecture being that the actI fouc
element in board would have gone tn the Length
OF APPLYING for mandamus unless there was reason "a
believe mat majority OF the state officers wOul Vot'
10 sirtain tho anti Potter policy. IN other Worus, ~
| This August meeting Professor Webster may be rein
stated and President Potter ousted the PROFESSOR
stll I'm town. but purchased his ticket Tor Europe
and will sail next week with the intention ol Remaining
| abroad until Sc ptember. 49,
Union College incorporated by the Regents OF the
University in 1895 IL the rst college incorporate
by them the nrst founded In thls state north OF New
tered after the establishment OF tho United states
Wherever has friends earnest hopes are constantly
being expressed that u may soon have happy Issue ou
| OF its present anicuon.