New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-04
THE DILEMMA AT PRINCETON
pUzzLIyG OVER DR. McCosHs sUcCEs sok
GREAT DIFFICULTY ~ CHOOSING THr NEXT PRysE
nKNr-YIEMS GRADUATES.

GREAT DIFFICULTY ~ CHOOSING THr NEXT PRZsf
DE~r-vIEws OF GRADUATES.
The selection OF president Of Princeton Col
lege to succeed DR.. McCcsh still hangs fire. and
the great body Of alumni in this city and elsar
where are much troubled the situation.
Probably, however, the keenest anxiety is felt
by the select committee OF the trustees, upon
whom was placed the burden Of choosing caDdi-
date to he rejected or confirmed By their fellow
trustees. This subcommittee has aborcd long
and hard, and the task, which nj first seemed
easy OF solution, has become a wearlsOmc night
mare.
The committee is highly representative body.
and the friends OF the college generally have been
satisfied that the selection OF the next president
of Princeton should he suggested by body of men
who represent all phases Of belief within tho
limits of Presbytcriansm, and all shades Of con.
viction as to the needs OF their college. and the
qualifications demanded of its chief executive.
The committee is composed as follows: Dr. s. IT,
Pennington, of Newark, by virtue Of his long
service and experience, chosen as its chairman
the Rev. DIR. John Hall, Henry NJ Alexander
John "A. Stewart, the Rev. Dr. w. H. cr"en pro-
fessor in the Princeton Theological seminary:
| Charles +. Green, OF Trenton: aud the Rev
Francis Is. Hodge, Of WilSesbarre.
SOME GOSSIP FROM ONE WHO KNOWS
lcge, who has had occasion to learn something Of
the workings of the subcommittee, said yesterday
" The committee has met several times and has
been unable to adopt any definite line OF action
III vote had been taken directly after the resig-
nation Of DR.. McCosh, the unanimous choice OF the
committee would have rested upon Professor Fran
els l.. Patton. But change OF opinion came
with further debate, and the merits of Professor
william NJ Sloane were so urgently presented
that 1t seemed at one time if he would secure
tn, the, coveted .n appointment The result was
question, and, in consequence, have been unable
to agree. Up to this time can state, almost 10
the degree Of positiveness that the siIb-commi,-
tee have not yet agreed upon candidate whom
they can recommend to the suffrages and adop
ton of the entire Board"
" Is IL not probable that "A compromise candi-
" Yes, it is extremely, probable; The chief
objection urged against Professor Sloane Is that
he does not realize the traditional ideal Of the
college. inasmuch as he is neither clergyman nor
philosopher. His executive ability and his
talents as scholar and an editor are widely rec
Ognzcd, but he falls short in these two impor-
tant points Against Professor Patton Il is urged
that he has led the life of rccluse. and that he
ness abilities and attention TO matters OF man.
agcment and finances which nowadays are re-
quired in the head Of great college
DIR. PATToN's STOUT ORTHODOXY.
I" Is there not an objection to Dr. Patton On
account of his participation in the trial of Pro
fessor David Swing. OF Chicago some years ago|
zone of the papers has emphasized that fact
through an unsigned communication. which is
bitter and preiudiced in it's tone. think. how
ever, that DR. Patton. the champion of the
Presbyterian faith, was fully vindcated for bis
vigorous stand at that time and the fact that
the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church
saw fit TO choose him as its moderator few
wears later-athough at that time he was bnt
thirty-fve years old-woud seem TO indicate that
his course won the approval OF GtpSoyterlahs
throughout the country
The suggestion having been ventured that q
compromise might be effected by the choice 81
Patton for president and Sloane for vice-prcsi:
dent. the trustee hurriedy remarked: No,
don't think that will ever be. II would be q
gross injustice to Dean Murray; who three or
by assuming charge of the matters OF discipline
and general management of the college IL World
be manifestly unfair TO him to pass him over
and, by creating the office of viceplesdent, TO
reduce him to the position of chief proctor:
Besides, don't think that Professor Sloane would
gard the proposition with any degree of feryor
well-known clergyman OF this city, who 10
| prominent in all affairs pertaining to the wei
fare Of Princeton, said in reference to the choice
OF DR.. Patton as the successor of President Me-
| Gosh: 1t will kill the standing oil irlnce'on
among the people of the West. One Of the Lead
ing alumni of Chicago told me last week thlt u
Patton was elected, it would lead away from
| Princeton the patronage OF the West. which Tor
| the last few years has been extensive and hss
| been steadily increasing Again, the fact that
Or Patton has lived under the protection Of the
| United States Government ENJOYING many of tho
highest honors which can be given 10 IL, cItzen,
without ever having become n na'ul3liIed CHI
zen. is enough ! should think. 10 demonstrate
that he is not sufficiently American to succeed tn
| the chair occupied by such patriots ~ John
WitherspOon, Jonathan Edwards. john Mclear
and il YOU will, DR.. McCosh-for he is thoroughly
| American.
CLERGYMEN NEEDED FOR TIE PLACE
princeton must have clergyman. not only
because Of its traditions, but because of the posi-
| ton which other colleges have taken in this matter
Yale has emphasized 1t in her choice Of Timothy
Dwight. Consider what strange state OF az
fairs it would be if Princeton, the very centre OF
Presbyterianism, 10 have layman at IT'S
head, while Yale is governed by Dwight and in
the event of President Eliot's retirement. the sue
cesson at Harvard should fall upon Phillips
Broolzs-a mere suppostion, Of course. Why,
Princeton would be deserted by the church, ~
its friends and its graduates. l shall be ready TO
vote and to work heartily for any man who IS
neither q reactiOnist nor a revolutionst, but q
good solid intelligent, active American man, upon
whom the majority of the trustees shall unite and
Of whom the majority OF the alumni WIN approve.
And the great mass of the alumni feel the same
way. We may have our preferences, but IN the
affairs of great educational institution, thers
should be no parties ana no politics. Cni'y
necessary to progress"
meeting of the Princeton alumni of Harris
burg Penn, was held in that place this week, 10
discuss the succession TO DrMcCosil. Inc sehit-
ment was said to be almost unanimous in favor
of Professor Sloane and against the creation OF the
office of vice president.
CHANCES FOR ANOTHER SHOOTING MATCH
The ono great subject OF discussion among local
wing shots ami lovers OF the sport is the prospective
match between crack shots OF New-YOrk and Phils
delpha. prominent Philadelphia sportsman, whilo
visiting here, gave It as bis opinion, during con-
vesatlOn in the corridor of uptown hotel, that
some OF the New-York champions were overesmatod,
and offered 20 back tn, two best shots of the River
ton Gun Club OF Philadelphia against team 10 consist
Of Chauncey FOydJones and Edgar @. Murphy, tho
Oh.