Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-07-27
TRUTH Is MIGHTY.
Prof. John Collier Exposes the FaIsliy
OF the Circular Issued by
Political Enemies.
he shows How the Minority OF the Direct
ora Have siandered Him and Asks
that Little balance Due Him.

FORT WORTH, TEX, July 26 TO the
Public; There appeared in the Austin
Statesman a letter signed by A. II. Shoe
maker, j. j. Long, II. ID. Donald, l.. A.
Crane, Sam Levy and Amos Finch, pur-
porting to be the rise and fall OF a certain
school enterprise, In which my name is
freely used as the scapegoat for the Of
lenses Of others. The anirnus Of the LETT
ter Is 30 apparent that 1t does not require
an argument to develop IL. The design
is equally clear. / cannot stoop to the
plane Of malicious misrepresentation,
false accusation and contemptible person
alites on which find this vicious foe.
| Yet decent regard for the opinions and
feelings OF my friends, who have honored
me with such unanimity, and for the sake
of the young ladies and gentlemen whom
| have educated, and In Difference to the
church, the Masonic fraternity, the Odd
| Fellows, the knights OF Pythias,
the Knights of Honor, the Knights and
Ladies Of Honor, the alliance and the
/ other moral organizations to which be.
| long, and finally the peace and happiness
of my wife and six little girls, demand
| from me a plain, truthful statement OF
facts In regard 10 my connection with
these ungenerous, unieeling, unmanful
and untruthful men, and the unfortunate
project they Intentionally sborted.
In that letter, they ssy that | visited
Decatur for the purpose OF establishing
university" or school Of high order.
This is false. ] was invited by my former
| pupils and friends to visit Decatur and
deliver an address en- the subject OF edu.
cation. | had delivered several ad-
dresses, at different places, where / elab-
GRATED the thought that 1t was an oppor-
tune time, thought, to build up great
school In Northwest Texas, controlled by
no denomination Of Christians, as be-
lieved the wealthy men OF the West could
be Induced TO endow such an institution
from their sudden and abundant
wealth. | discussed the same point
In Decatur. The people were
pleased with the suggestion and were
anxious to make an effort to establish
such school In their beautiful little
town OF course they knew very little
OF the time, expense and worry of build
ing suitable houses, furnishing all appli-
ances and endowing a university" |
advised them TO think over the matter,
and If they could induce their wealthy
citizens TO undertake 1t and would act in
harmony 1t were possible TO build up u
splendid school. They appointed COM
mittee TO obtain donations for their
project from every source within their
reach. Times were prosperous, money
easy, many OF their citizens were sup
posed to be wealthy, and the prospects
seemed bright. They appointed an
other meeting and urged me TO deliver a
second address. There was nothing said
about my connection with seven other
men. They did ask me to help them
that was known all over the state, that
| they knew me well from reputation and
they were satisfied that could succeed
In getting up great interest, and be.
lieved that | could secure $3.50, 900 en-
dowment in a short time, ard with my
prestige as an educator they would have
9 little trouble In putting up a ine building
, thanked them tor their GOO opinion OF
me, and that 1t would AFFORD ne pleasure
10 aid them in any way in my power, but
I | was pleasantly situated at Mansfield
s owned all the school property and q
q good far and had fine
revenue, and 1t would be impossible
. for me to think OF moving. ! would take
1 pleasure in returning and addressing the
a people at the time appointed. The only
, reference made TO Fort Worth, Dallas
Weatherford, Gainesville and other place,
was an allusion to those places in mi
t speech as suitable places for fine col
q lege, and believed theyIwould aid sucl
an enterprise. spoke from my knowl
edge Of the hberality of these places anC
q not from any canvass made in that inter
d est | said nothing about the price o
}. my property. All these declarations ar
falsely represented by these men.
In my second address before the citi
VI zeDs of Decatur was requested by LEADING
d men OF the town to make a special effor
g to arouse the people on the subject o
;, building up frst-class college or uni
!" versity, and urge them TO immediate &C
l. ton. large crowd greeted me. Tn
s speech was well received The commit
20 tee reported $4,000 subscribed. Tn
subscribers elected directory. Afte
electing officers they resolved to appl
for Incorporation. They proceeded /
elect chancellor. | was nominated.
ID requested the nomination TO be will
II drawn that IL was impossible for me I
accept, and repeated what said abou
ar my home and added that | could nc
!, leave my people at Mans
ie iield so suddenly and without notice
d They made an earnest plea for me TO pei
Or mt my name used temporarily; that the
$, would indemnify me against loss; that
Id could still supervise my faculty at Mans
field; that was the only man they Sne,
IN who could secure such n following.
b. took the matter under consideration an
IN advised with several of my friends, an
OF we concluded that | uld accept tn
as position temporarily aud work for tn
DO Interest OF the university for Will
without materially injurng my Mansfield
nc interest, provided the directory woul
Of secure me against too h IVY expenses /
b. my travelling and in hirog other help a
Mansfield. SO submit, ed the followin
Il. proposition 10 writing OBTAINING IA
u original copy;
no |. That | would accept the chancellor
p ship OF their projected university for
OF short time If the directory would pay m
We $4,000 cash as bonus to secure m
ne against loss.
g That they would furnish me goo
q temporary buildings suitable for the pul