Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-26
LILLE V. NJ. 1. cApET CORPS.
why should They Not ATTEND the "e
union and Take Part In Parauc'

To the Editor Of the Dispatch;
Looking over the register of the virginia
Military Institute a day or two since
counted hurrledly the number OF graHu-
ates who served as commissioned oileerS
in the Confederate army during the wal
I was surprised TO see that there VIZ
o,,e- 400 This count does not incluue
those men who served in the Contede-
rate States army as priyates. Stohe"an
Jackson was n professor at the virginia
Military Institute; General Robert r.
Rodes was a Virginia Military institute
man. But | will not attempt 10 haihe
All Of them. for Il will take 100 hluC"
of your space. This cadet corps - 'he
only one i'm the United States that TOOK
nart en- the late war In battle as corps.
Their record is we'll known TO all VINO
have read or heard of the Valley cam
naie-n of 1854. To hesitate for one moment
ahout having this gallant corps In line on
UnIy, % seems strange. It Is an uniortu-
nate state OF affairs, and one caiculateu
TO do much harm 70 the young men AZ
the institute TO have any discussion on tne
subject. The public unth receh'ly
seems TO have had no idea that the Coips
would not come. What is the trouDleF
I have heard that the matter was taken
ND by the board some months SINCE ana
they decided the corps would not COME
because the board could not hold the
corps together. and had not the tundS az
hand TO pay the expenses.
NOTHING IN THE WAY.
Now hear that the corps will stay to-
gether. and are very anxious to come
and that there r. money AZ mana WIN
which TO pay expenses. With sucn facIS
before me. / am at loss 10 know lhe
cause for not having me corps IN me
Who has the authority TO oruer lil'
corps? / saw I'm your paper lew Gay
since a request from the Governor TO the
SUPERINTENDENT Of the Virginia Military
Institute asking that the corps shoul
he in the parade. Does the Superntend-
emf of the Virginia Military Institute
control the movements OF the corps, or
! dos the Board OF Visitors? It does seem
| IN me that when the Governor, VINO APP
points the board, requests thing 10 be
| done. and the ways and means are OBJ
| tainable. that there should be no dOub'
or hesitation on the subject The sltua-
| ton IS truly a grave one, and 10 deiay
| positive and prompt action In this matter
can only do harm TO the institute as a
| State college Of long standing. and thf
! young men who are the cadets. Ihese
| Young men. many of them the sons OF
| the veterans who will be in the line
desire to escort the veterans In their
march 20 do honor to the memory OF thS
! President OF the Confederacy. / have
before me the names Of the members OF
! the board, and / also have your paper
| with the letter OF the Superintendent OF
the Virginia Military Institute, IN which
arfg|H- If eli or
members. All save two were present
The affirmative vote was s; negative
/"
THE BOARDS ACTION.
If the board thought IL would cost the
institute 500 or 500 there might nave
neen some cause then TO hesitate. Blu
now things have changed. Why does no
the board also change? Can the super
intendent or board invent or suggest AM
better way OF advertising the school
! even IL il cost 81. 900? Does the man o
business count the cost Of advertising
when he knows he will get IT back II
trade? The corps went 10 Atlanta las
fall and the cadets paid their own way
and the institute got the benefit OF tn
/ advertisement This reunion Is no Rich
nOnd-boom affair, as some may think
IL Is the affair Of the whole South. an
might say the whole nation. If tn
Virginia Military Institute expects
build up and increase in usefulness an
strength, II will have 10 show itself aliv
at any and all times. for there is n
more show for a school without push an
20 in these days Of progress than ther
is for the merchant who sits down an
waits for his trade TO come to him. tn
men of the present day will not sen
their sons TO any school that persists 1
keeping in an old rut of fifty years back
but they will send them to those place
where the most advanced ideas are pu
into practice Apologizing for taking s
much OF your space, am. yours respect
| fully, PROGRESS."