Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-04-12
THE PRESIDENCY OF THE UNIVERSITY

the selection of the Honorable Horace
Davis for President of the University, Mr.
Davis assured his trends and the Regency
that il the honor was conferred upon him
he would make the Presidency of the
institution the career Of his life, that he
would forego all other business, and that
he would concentrate his best thought and
his best efforts on the conduct of the Uni
Versity. In his letter Of acceptance, he
reiterated these assurances, declaring that
he would remove to Berkeley to reside.
This was factor of his election-his resi-
dence at Berkeley. The objection to him
was that he was conducting large and
profitable milling and banking business in
San Francisco, that he was a resident of
that city, that the personal presence of
the President of the University was neces-
sary to proper sympathy between the in
stitutlon and its responsible head The
apprehension that his attention would be
divided between his private business and
his official duties was allayed by the assur-
anee that his business would be given up.
Such is the history of the understand
ing between the President of the Univer-
sity and the Regents who were asked to
elect him to the Office. Mr. Davis Will
not give up his business, and continues to
reside in San Francisco. In the mean
time, the disciplinary affairs of the Uni
versity are not in satisfactory condition.
1t should, however, have been stated in
its proper connection that residence cost
ing $4,000 was purchased for the use of
the President of the University, in antici-
patton of Mr.. Davis occupancy. That
residence is vacant Mr. Davis continues
to run his mill, and the question whether
he should be permitted TO do so is, there
fore, one of legitimate public criticism.
AT a recent meeting of the Board of Re-
gents, held in San Francisco, resolution
was passed requiring all professors and
assistant professors, holding positions in
the faculty, to live at Berkeley. In
executive session, the President of the
University was made an exception to this
rule, at least such is the report, as printed
in the San Francisco papers. The Regents
are entitled TO the confidence of the public
until they commit some act justifying
forfeiture Of that confidence; but we con-
fess to some misgivings as TO the wisdom
of requiring subordinates without adequate
authority to reside in or near an institu-
tion Of learning, when the paramount
authority is permitted TO disobey a reason
able and salutary rule. The Presidency
of the University was TO Mr.. Davis the
opportunity of lifetime. He possesses
the educational qualifications and the
necessary administrative experience and
ability to place the University of Califor-
MIA in the foremost rank among the great
institutions Of learning upon this conti-
nent, but he cannot do this and conduct a
large and intricate private business, de-
manding a portion Of his daily attention,
anu AZ 1uo sdue tlHlc Ieciut tutlTely
out of the atmosphere of the insti-
tuition. A President thus employed
and thus related to an institution of
learning, may act in tina capacity of
visiting committee of one, may sustain in
general supervisory relation, but he can
not be the President by that absolute
blending of mind and thought and pur-
pose with the institution, which is the one
guarantee Of success. The great Presi-
dents Of universities have been men so
thoroughly imbued with the educational
mission with which they stood charged
that they had neither the taste, the incli-
nation nor the capacity for the conduct of
grist-mill, saw-mill, dry-goods store
or bank, or any other mere money-mak-
ing device. 1t has been the curse of
Pacific Coast institutions that some ingre-
dient of provinciallsm must constantly be
interpolated in their management How
would it sound If the paramount heads of
the great universities of Oxford, Cam
bridge, Yale and Harvard were playing
the parts of bulls and bears in Thread
needle street, London, and Wall street
New York.
The Presidency of university may be
conferred by vote Of the Regents, but it
becomes a realty by those subtleties of
growth which incorporate the individual
and the institution until the university
and its President blend their individuali-
ties in an almost undistiuguishable person