Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-02-06
& Line or Two From Prof. Vandiver


desk this morning, from which l see
that you call upon me to explain why
l signed a certain resolution relative
to the Marvin Collegiate Institute at
Fredericktown.
I do not see why you should cali
upon me personally for such explana-
ton when was only one of a commit
tee which drafted the resolution; was
not the author of it, nor the chairman
nor secretary of the committee, but
only a member of the committee, and
when not a single vote was cast against
it either in the committee or in the
house of more than a hundred mem
bers which adopted it.
However, waving these technical
tiles, / proceed to answer your ques-
ton, as to why my name is attached to
the resolutions saying that the people
of Fredrickstown shave offered to the
St. Louis Conference a guaranteed
subscription of twenty-five thousand
dollars and ten acres of land, etc."
First, special committee of honor
able and Intelligent gentlemen had ex-
amined the bids and reported the
above amount as offered by Fredricks-
town; and as 1 am not at all suspicious
in my nature l was not inclined to go
back of the statement of these gentle
men to inquire whether they had told
the truth or not.
Second, saw the Representatives of
Frederickstown stand before the Con-
ference with a paper in their hands
and heard them declare that it was a
guarantee of twenty-five thousand dol
lars and the signers to it were good
for more than four times that amount.
This paper was then turned over to
the officers of the Conference and l
saw it closely scrutinized by represen
tatives of other places and no one
questioned the above statements re-
garding it. I heard only two points
made against it. One was by an en-
inent lawyer who said the paper spec
flied no particular time for completing
the work. / thought then and still
think this was an important point.
The other was by an eminent clergy
man who has been for many years con-
nected with the educational work of
the Conference and was to the effect,
that, although the guarantee was
good, any church would be very slow
to enforce it, if it should have to bring
suit and sell the homes of individuals
to meet a church subscription. My
opinion was and is that this, and not
the technical point which you raise
about the subscription list, may prove
to be the really practical objection to
the action which was taken in accept
ing the Fredericktown proposition.
Thirdly, when at the succeeding
Conference, the committee of which
was member received a report from
the Fredericktown committee, reiter-
ating the statement above quoted ("a
guaranteed subscription, etc.,') and
simply asking for an extension OF time
to complete their contract with the
Conference, did not deem it part of
my duty to dispute a statement of
facts which had already been passed
upon and which l had not heard ques-
toned; nor did l think it would be a
gentlernanly or generous thing to re-
fuse to acknowledge the liberality and
public spirit of the people of Freder-
icktown in undertaking such an en-
terprise in a time of financial depres-
sion throughout the country. But if
you will read the resolutions, you will
see that the only one of Importance is
the one recommending an extension OF
time and this I voted, for because as
above pointed out the Fredericktown
people had not bound themselves to
complete the work in one year. True,
the Conference had only accepted the
offer on the condition that the work
should be finished by September, 'a5,
and was therefore not legally bound
alter that date. But it certainly would
have been very unreasonable in the
Conference to refuse to grant an extern
sion of time when it was assured ON
the word of honest gentlemen that
about three-fourths of the entire
amount had been paid and that the re-
mainder would be paid within year.
This extension of time is the only ac-
ton recommended in those resolutions,
blame me for signing them.
Now, Mr.. Editor, think have an
swered your question, and l only wish
to add that have had little or nothing
to do with the founding of the Marvin
Institute, only having been Ia the town
once since it was started, and ! do not
desire to be dragged into any dispute
concerning it. The fact is we'll known
that was naturally opposed to moving
the school from Caledonia, but am
also opposed to throwing anything in
the way of its success at Fredericks-
town; though will be as ready as
yourself to oppose final settlement of
the question Of location of the Confer
ence school until the conditions of the