Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-06-30

Inc 0uZelte, nave Deen tne sourCe VI
much comment. The correspondence
relating to his removal and his reply
follow:
University of Texas.
Austin. Tex. June 81 1894.
Dr. Charles l.. Edwards, Austin Tex.
Dear Sir: AS acting secretary of the
board of regents in executive session,
was instructed by the board to notify
you that in their judgment the interest
OF the university requires your i'm
mediate removal irom-the position now
occupied by you as adjunct professor
OF biology In the university of Texas
and that resolution SO removing you
from said position as such professor
was this day adopted by the board.
Notification of all which Is hereby
given you. Very respectful yours,
(Signed), VIM. l.. PRATHER.
Acting Secretary Executive Session.
Austin. Tex, June q, 1884.
Judge VIM. L. prather, Acting Score
taIy Executive Session. Board ofite-
gents. University of Texas.
Dear Sir: The above notice under
post-mark of June %. at 1890 p. m,
reached me about p. m. some twenty
four hours after the adjournment of
the board OF regents For this courtesy
allow me to thank your.
The act seems to be then according
to your notice that without charge
being preferred against me. without a
hearing In defense unless the evidence
given to your committee In star cham
Der on number of university matters
be held as such, without a chance to
either know, or answer, evidence or
witnesses am dismissed and In the
most insulting manner possible.
trust sir, that there must have been
Il
Justice. in that star chamber, against
this procedure.
Let me remind you that in Decem-
her of 1891, in company with from
fifty to 100 biologists, | applied for the
position OF assistant professor Of biol
ogy In the University OF Texas. That
In january, 1892, the board OF regents
elected me TO the position giving me a
written and telegraphic contract for
three years. at the same time creating
the school of biology, That for tins
new school l planned the courses and
equipment. giving my time from May
| TO September of 1892 TO the necessary
supervision OF the equipment, at my
owsi expense. That during 1929 and
| lSyS-9i, | have taught biology to your
entire satisfaction and without critic
ism, so far as l know. In evidence OF
this stands my promotion TO adjunct
professor after one year of service.
through the persecution OF petty but
| detestable gossip, founded upon lies.
that certain well known conspiracy
was fighting me. IT was necessary to
get rid OF me, and so / suppose by
making life uncomfortable this clidue
hoped. to scare me. They failed. Tho
sad result of that persecution will
stand In the courts of eternal Justice
as most terrible indictment against
| human beings who have not evolved
above fighting women,
About month since silly article
! appeared In paper, which 1 am in
formed is mortgaged TO your former
secretary, Mr.. woodbridge, accusing me
of teaching inndelity. The writer with
peculiar ignorance for this part of the
nineteenth century, confused evolu-
tlon with lnfdelity and dispatches were
sent boardcast informing the world
that professor In your university was
doing this duty. By allowing the reps
resentation to stand that / was on trial
for such a crime. you were held up
for rtdicule by the university world.
So the inidelity BUSINESS failed 10 work
aught but benefit to me. 1t is matter
that the world will wish to know how
man can teach geology In your in
sutution without the courage to teach
the underlying philosophy OF evolu-
ton. IL is the, same lack OF character
which causes the professor to tell mo
| l.
though he had been born and raised a
Unitarian In the North, he found that
In the South the church highest So
clally was the Episcopallan and so he
Joined that church. Why do you place
a premium on hypocrisy rather than
truthfulness? And why should It need
courage TO be in line with the best
thought in the best universities of the
age In your university OF the first
ciassY Does evolution need martyr
In this age OF reason?
Now i gather from the newspapers
that some one IN the concealment OF
your star chamber has accused mo a.
arousing friction in the faculty. My
only comment on such an utterly silly
preteNt IL n supreme contempt for the
men holding chairs in university who
may have preferred such charges and
profound pity for others who allow
the raise and belittling lmputntion 70
rest upon themselves without a PROTEST
Why We're there men allowed the cow-
ordly privilege of saying to ms bdrlt
what they dare not to my face? Why
were You so unfair as 10 give me not
even an intimatlon OF the charges?
me article IN the Austin Eveninr,
News to the editor OF which, upon re-
guest, gave the facts. is cited against
me. These facts are well known in
Texas, and supported by cloud OF
witnesses besides my own experience
ulAe Nv pHc seems 10 nave denied them
II they were not true why did Score
tary Woodbridge resign so suddenly the
next day, and why did you accent his
resignation.
These charges against me for which
| have not been accorded the right OF
the lowest criminal. indictment and
trial. | must say surprise me as an
proved by, and coming FROM men Of
such honor and integrity as the heard
OF regents OF the University OF Texas
Can II be that you are blinded by mis-
representation?
The several reforms- which intro
duced this year, and Which were car
ried by the faculty. and approved by
tho regents. may have been In the ma
ture OF friction TO their moss grown
opponents unfamiliar with modern uni
versity organization. and ashamed 10
publish the source Of his higher (?) de-
Htees, while sim using the degrees.
but the real producers OF friction, vain
obstructors OF progresa. are still with
you or cofmtort and soiace in your
coming nffiiction.
Professors pabney, Everhsrt. Mac
forlane and myself are the Victims FOR
this year. l must confess Fam proud
OF my position outside OF an institution
IN Which such rank Injustice against
these four men can haze been sane
toned by the board of regents.
congratulate you on the SUCCESS