Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-16
HARRIS TO GO.
not Bang Granted 4 Full Hearing he
Tenders His Resignation.
10 CHARGES AGAINST BoATWRlcHY.
Professor willing to Discuss. His r,tnes.
Bot Not His Personal Characteristic
Studcnts' Demonstration.

$50 wv ait Na'lC was tsp Ul-
secmly display OF temper or bad feel
Ing; bG; the discussion was at times
quite animated. and the minutes did not
drag YEARLY.
Resolutions were adopted reamrmlng
the boards action Ia elec;lns Professor
+. w. Boatwright to the presidency of
the college. Professor Ii. II. Har-
rs rendered his resignation as
a member OF the faculty, In
which he has served with marked ability
fer nearly thirty years, and pr. II
Wythe Davis announced his determine
ton to sever his connection with the
Board OF Trustees.
The meeting Of yesterday was held, as
explained in the Dispatch. and as stated
In the ~secre;ary's official announcemen,
for the purpose OF allowing such per
sons "a might desire to appear before
the board and formulate their charges
agsins; the private life and character OF
Mr.. L. W. Boatwright." There were
present of the faculty President-e'eci
Boatwright. Chairman Iuryear. and Pro-
fessors Harris and Gaines. Mr.. Boat
wright, at who's request the meeting
was called. was on hand 10 meet any
who might bring charges against him,
the other professors. or at lcas; TWO OF
them, were presen; TO tell why. In ;heir
judgment. the boards choice was no.
properly qualified for the responsible
Office.
PROFESSOR HARRIS RESIGNED.
Nearly the whole of Mondays session
had been devoted to "A discussion OF now
far the proposed inquiry should so. ana
the trustees decided not 10 open the mat
ter of the fitness Of the President-eiec'
rs they had themselves passed upon this'
but 10 confne those who appeared before
the body to specific charges against fro-
fessor Boatwright's personal character.
There were twenty-five trustees present,
and the sitting was. as usual. with closed
doors. Representatives OF the press were
denied admittance. and advised thRt III.
Ryland. always an accommodating on
ciai. would give out such information
as should be made public. DR.. Ryland flr-
nished the Dispatch with the results
bat the more Interesting details hHi 10
be obtained by other means.
Professors Puryear and Harris both
O. started TO address the board. but. as
their remarks were not in the nature
Of charges. as contemplated In the pan
Of procedure. they were ruled out. As
Professor Harris was about 10 take ms
seat he handed pr. Curry his resignation
as a member Of the faculty of the college,
TO take effect at the close Of the present
session. II is as follows:
"A hasty glance over an unof1cial copy
furnished by the secretary Of the Ttgula-
lions edopted December II, 1874. satlstles
me that II will bc impossible Tor me 10
work cordially under them, ana therefore
i present my resignation OF me losI'ion
/ now hold. to take EFF c. al the close OF
the present session. | take leave in pro-
found sorrow Of the trustees, with whom
my relations have been, until recently, so
In order 10 give ample ime for the sclec-
ton Of some one else 10 fill the place
which 7 have. with many shortcomings,
occupied since the 1st Of October. lSt6'
The RESIGNATION was voted to be laid on
NE table. and Professor Harris then asked
md received permission to lay upon the
able n more formal paper, this one hav-
M been very hastily drawn up.
THE PRESIDENT ENDORSED.
After the excitement which this resigna-
lion had caused had somewhat subsided,
md some time had been given for others
% appear and speak against the character
OF the prcsident-els ct-but none had done
so-Judge Barksdale. OF Halifax, offered
the following. which was unanimously
adopted:
'Resolved. That after sufficient inquiry
as TO the private life and personal char
ac,er OF Professor +. W. Boa;wright,
president-elect of Richmond College, we
cordially reaiiirm our confidence in his
integrity and personal honor. as wei as
his fitness for the position 10 which We
have chosen him.. and that we pledge &c
him our most earnest support DIS presi-
dent of Richmond College"
While the vote was being taken on this
resolution one OF the members passed GU
OF the room without voting. so that IT.
passage was practically unanimous. there
being no dissenting vote.
WAS NOT HASTY ACTION.
When this was disposed Of the following
was offered by Hon. II. r.. Pollard ant
was adopted with but few dissenting
votes:
Whereas. the election Of a presiden
has excited discussion as TO the futur'
policy OF the college, and some criticism!
OF the president-elect: therefore, be it
Resolved. That the trustees assure TN
faculty, the alumni. and the public ina
this change was not made hastily. bu
deliberately and after a'full consideration
OF the disadvantages OF the former sys
TEN and of the excellent qualification
OF the person chosen for the executive
officer of the college: that IL is the pur
pose OF the trustees 10 give ADEQUATE
owe TO the president. and TO hold hin
responsible for the exercise of that powe
and the discharge of the duties of hi
high Office that. in our judgment. 1t is IN
duty Of all friends Of the college TO l.
loyal to the powers that be" and I
who are by law the governing body o
the institution. in the operation an
maintenance of their exclusive right Z
determine the rules and policy Of tn
control of the college.
DIR. DAVIS RESIGNS. TOO.
After this had been done DIR. II. Myth
Davis took the floor and announced tina
he did not approve OF the manner 4
which Professor Boatwright had bee
elected TO the presidency. and hence h
desired TO resign from the board. Hi
resignation was received. as was that o
Professor Harris. and was laid on tn
table.
The meeting adjourned at 2 o'clock, an
the members Of the board left for thei
homes at once.
Mr.. Conway r. Sands desires II TO b
understood that In his correspondent
about the election OF "A president for IN
college ne never dissentcd from the sec
retary's statement Of the final recOrdatio
Of the vote. He and the secretary Ia
a conference yesterday at the close @
IN. trusiees' meeting. and the matter
Thoroughly understood 70 their mCnua
satisfaction.
PROFESSOR PURYEAR'S POSITION
When Professor Puryear was recognize
In the trustees meeting. he stated that h
was there 20 testify as 10 the un'itncs
or fitness OF Mr.. Boatwright for the pos
ton 20 which he had been elected. an
further, that he was prepared TO iorti
the opinions he had OF his qualification
for the Office by the citation OF tact'
when seen by a Dispatch man at his HON
last night, Professor Purycdr said: "
tod them that I was not prepared an
was altogether unwilling to say anythin
about Professor Boatwrlght's- privat
character. as l only knew him from ON
cal relations. I stated that ! arose I
say that 1 thought that the proper bus
ness OF the trustees was TO inquire int
the fitness OF Mr.. Boatwrlgh, for the pc
sition 10 which he had been elected.
Was reminded by the presiding oiiicsr tina
what I had TO say must be strictly con
rned TO Mr.. Boatwright's private li
and character; that the question OF qua
f~cations was a res tudicata. and TO r.
open II would be chlld's play. To hi
I replied tina TO invite from gentlene
an attack upon the private life and char
ecter of Mr.. Boatwright. with the. as
eurance that nothing would result fror
such a procedure was certainly chld
play, and l could not engage In any wor
OF the kind. ] was two or three Time