The Portland daily press., 1893-08-24

The Question VIII Come Up Agaiu at Next
Commencement = Proceedings of Yes
terday's Meeting at Old Olchard-An
Animated Session Which Lasted Several
Hours and Adjourned Without Action.
Especial to the Press
Old Orchard, August 2S. Bates college
came very near having new president,
but not quite. 1t was just a miss and
that was all. This morning there was
a double meeting at Ocean Park, the
campmeeting home of the denomination.
The trustees are divided into twf bodies
somewhat esembling the senate and
house of the Maine legislature. The
fellows, compose the upper board, and
the overseers the lower. Over the deliber-
ations of the fellows, the president OF the
college presides, and O. B. Clason was
the presiding officer of the overseer.
When DR.. Cheney raped the joint
convention to order at ~ o'clock, joint
session having been requested, it was
supposed that something was to be said
regarding what one member called the
real business of the day" but the presi-
dent only wanted the appointment of a
committee or two, and to suggest that
some action must be taken to fill the
vacancy in the list of professors caused
by the death of Prof. Rich of the divinity
school, At the close of the brief bust
ness session, there was an adjournment
of the two bodies until 1.30 this after
noon.
In few moments after the two boards
-.@L Al L. l4<.o TlnxS IN
adjournment was made in the morning
it seemed to be as certain as things COM
monty are in this world of change, that
Prof. George G. Chase would be elected
president
Prof. Chase had good many points in
his favor. He is a Maine man, and
graduated from Bates, class of '68. He
was afterwards for two years "gradu-
ated student" at Harvard, and of the last
twenty years professor of Bates. He
has been the real executive officer of
Bates, the president having been forced
to give much of his time to the business
affairs of the college, now very well es-
tablished. Then Prof. Chase had the
strong support of DR.. Cheney, and that
was source of strength. His prospects
for the presidency seemed bright.
But while it was almost Immediately
announced that the fellows had made
choice of Prof. Chase, and that he re-
eeived every vote. there was opposition
in the overseers at once. The opposition
knew what it wanted to do. 1t proposed
to defeat Prof. Chase, and it did not
propose to allow any other man to get
the place unless he was a live man, one
who could pull the college up" They
aimed high, having selected for their
candidate one of the most distinguished
men of their church, Rev. DR.. James L.
Phillips, who is now fifty-six, and who
was in college with Hon. 7. B. Reed,
Judge Symonds of this city, and other
dist nguished men, who has been a very
famous preacher and missionary, and
who is now engaged in branch of mis-
sion Sunday school work that takes him
all over the world.
There seems some danger that the dis
tinguished D.D. may come under the
warning of the Scriptures Woe be to you
when all men speak well of you," or
ardent friends of Prof. Chase spoke in the
highest terms of his opponent. They did
more. To the last man they said that DR..
Phillips would be their choice, if they
believed he would accept.
That they did not believe. They did
believe that DR.. Phillips was picked up
in order to defeat Prof. Chase. The fact
was DR.. Phillips was not where he could
be com municated with. "He is now be-
tween Old Orchard and ST. Louis" was
the most definite information that could
be got of him. Mr.. Anthony of Rhode
Island, rather neatly stated the
position of the friends of Prof. Chase
when he said, 1 have no doubt that had
James G.. Blaine lived, he would have
don't think he would have accepted the
position, and it is just as absurd to sup
pose that DR.. Phillips will"
Hon. A. M. Spear, president of the
senate, opened the ball for DR.. Phillips.
He spoke very strongly. of his special
qualifications for the work, of his great
and admitted eloquence, and said that
such man would bring Bates up equal
with Colby or Bowdoin.
Then Mr. A. f. Chase of Portland got
the floor and said a good word for Prof.
Chase, and said it well. He was followed
by another strong Chase man, Rev. DIR.
Baldwin of Boston, Congregational
minister He spoke highly of DR.;
as aad Isl
special work of his life he would not
turn from it. He endorsed Prof. Chase.
His scholarship is admitted. He has
given the best years of his life to Bates.
He is progressive, Let us see what he
can do with his hands free, not tied.
Rev. Dr. Penney did not believe that DR..
Phillips would think of it over night"
endorsed DR.. Philips.
O.B Clason did not favor Prof. Chase,
and gave his reasons. He quoted the
strong endorsement of DIR. Phillips given
by Judge Symonds in conversation with
a friend. After further discussion Rev
DR.. Bowen of Rhode Island asked very
important question. If Bates is going
backward how is it that the graduating
classes are SO large? He was followed
by w. H. Judkins of Lewiston, who made
bright speech.
An informal vote was taken with this
result: ssass
Whole number of votes "a
Dr. Baldwin had
Prof. Chase II
DIR. Phillips 12
A motion to concur with the fellows
in electing Prof. Chase was lost 13 to IL:
A committee of conference consisting of
Mr.. Cobb, Mr. Bickford and Mr.. Bates,
of the fellows and Mr.. Perkins, Mr..