The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-22
PRESIDENT WINSTON
He Gives the Facts III the Tren-
chard Affair.
NOT GUILTY or FORGERY
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Thomas Approved Of the Use 81
His Name.
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AND THANKED DR.. WINSTON
The Telegram Was Sent to Protect the
Honor and the Reputation of the
University and Of Stud
ent Thomas.
ANp rHANKgn oR. wINsToN
ent Thomas.


about my signing the name of stu
dent To telegram rcvolSing an order,
previously given by the student, for q
testimonial to the trainer of the foot
bali team last fall have been
charged with forgery, and doubtless
many persons have believed that
acted, to say the least, with great i'm
discretion. 4 statement of the facts
will show that / acted not only wisely
but with delicate and kindly considera-
ton for the honor and reputation Of
the young man whose name ! used and
the students whom he represented.
The facts are these: At the close OF
the football season last fall, the team
was met by the body OF students and
faculty, on its return home, and
speeches of reception were made. In
the enthusiasm of the moment and
from sympathy with the trainer who
had done unusually good service as q
coach, it was suggested that we give
him special testimonial Of regard.
A committee was appointed TO select,
purchase and present the testimonial.
The chairman of this committee was
Mr. John Stanly Thomas, who had been
active in promoting college athletics.
Mr. Thomas Immediately took charge
of the matter and was generally recog-
nized as its chief promoter. The testi-
monial was to be gold watch, a chain,
and charm. Mr.. Thomas proceeded
to solicit and collect subscription; and,
just before the Christmas vacation, or
dered the testimonial from q jeweler
in Asheville. He then went away from
Chapel Hill To spend his vacation, in-
tending, as / knew, to go somewhere
South, either to South Carolina or
Georgia.
During the vacation / learned that
the trainer, while acting as a trainer,
had been guilty of gambling and drink
ing with students | was surprised,
amazed, Disguised and thoroughly hui
inflated. Investigation was made and
the University was Immediately
got rid or all who were
known TO be concerned iii this
disreputable immortality. then
proceeded to stop the giving OF
grace and dishonor that its giving
would involve, both to Mr.. Thomas and
the University. My knowledge of Mr..
Thomas warranted me in believing that
he would shrink from any connection
whatever with the affair, after he
learned about the gambling and drink
ing; and was equally confident that
the students of the University would
q = 81 IT,.
Thomas is a candidate for the ministry,
and has performed ministerial duties.
He came TO the University after con-
suItation with me, to perform eYangel-
istic ministerial work among the stu
dents, while at the same time perform
ing his own studies He is entered on
our books as a ministerial student, and
has free tuition as such. My relations
with him, both personal and official,
warranted me IN having regard for
his reputation and character. / knew
him personally as man of pure moral
life and manly ideals, which he was
endeayoring to inculcate among his
fellow students. Besides, have been
for nearly twenty years u personal
friend of his family. 1T was my plain
duty to act in such way as would pro-
tect his honor and reputation, as well
as that of the University. The only
way TO do this was to act for him; to
do what he would have done, If present.
/ could have acted officially, forbidding
the ieweler to make the testimonial
and forbidding Thomas TO present it.
But such official action would have
implied the belief ON my part that
Thomas and the students of the Dni-
sersity would desire to give the testi-
monial after learning about the gaInb-
ling and drinking, and, therefore,
would be lacking both in Judgment and
III moral perception. ! had no such
opinion Of the student body nor Of
Mr.. Thomas. / preferred to stop the
matter in his name until his return,
when he himself could decide, with
his ewes open, whether he would pro-
ceed further Not knowing where he
was. I could not consult with him by
mail or wire. There was need of inn
mediate action, as the leweler was
about to begin work on the testl-
monial.
When Mr. Thomas returned TO the
University after his vacation. | I'M
formed him of everything that had
happened and especially how ! had
used his name and my reasons Tor 50
doing. He approved Of my using his
name. and thanked me for manifesting
such confidence in and regard for his
character. / informed him that | thor
oughly disaprosed Of the testimonial,
but chat preferred for it to be stopped
by him and the students, as they had
ordered ii. This action has been taken,
and my confidence in the judgement
and the moral sense Of the student
body has been justified. The whole
matter Is well understood here, al
though grossly and apparently wilfully
misrepresented elsewhere.
The students of the University, in
open mass-noeeting met, and, as | am
informed by the chairman of the meet
ing and the committee on resolutions,
have unanimously adopted the follow
ing resolutions:
- That we disapproye Of giving
Mr.. Trenchard d testimonial Of regard.
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