The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-10

cial capacity, except as might be Inferred
from the fact that I was notified by
Stephen d. Lee two years ago 10 join the
History Committee In It's discussions.
That was simply an act OF personal cour-
tesy without any official significance.
That meeting was held In this city. I am
now member OF the Grand Camp Oh
Virginia. | assume that my resignation
as chairman should be. member) Of the
History Committee. might or might not
terminate my connection with the His
tory Committee. / was Grand Commander
OF the Grand Camp for the term preced-
ing this present one.
Q. DO you remember when you sent In
your resignation as a member OF the His
tory Committee?
A. About the 26th OF October. as re-
call. II was on reading the proceedings
OF the camp here.
q. You resigned the Craftsmanship OF
that committee and also resigned your
membership OF H. VIII you please state
your reasons for taking that course i
viii state that. as chairman Of this COM
mttee. have received a communication
from you which will hand you. and You
can read your letter first and then make
your statement. or make your statement
and then read your letter, either you pre-
fer
a. | have no statement 10 make apart
from what is here set down unless II
should be in reply to questions which
might arise from a perusal OF that
TEXTOF THE LETTER.
Captain Cussons here read his letter TO
Chairman Woods, as follows:
Glen Alien, Va,
December Z. 1897.
Hon. Mlca.a h Woods, Chairman Of Com
mittee Of Investigation, Grand Camp.
&. V. Department OF Virginia:
Dear Sir-I have received through Adj
jutart General Elicit your communica-
ton stating that the Investigating Com
inittee Of which YOU are chairman would
be pleased 10 have from me any written
statement which might throw light on
certain charges which have been made
affecting a member or members OF the
History Committee Of the Grand Camp.
Inasmhch as ! have neither made nor
circulated charges against any person
must assume that this request arises from
the supposition that I had some vail
reason for stubbcrnly declining TO accept
"a second term as Grand Commander
and for shortly afterwards rcsigning my
| position on the History Committee.
| recognize the right OF the camp 10
ask the reasons for the course which l
then took and I will therefore comply
with your request by briefly describing
| the relation OF the Grand Camp to the
| School History question on such points
| as viii emhody all the pertinent facts OF
WhcN I have any knowledge.
| AS You are aware the History Com
\ mittee was formed six years ago, its
! specific purpose being the substitution OF
| fair and honest school histories in place
| of the false and misleading ones which
| then were and now arc in common use.
| For four years I have been member OF
l that committee and when gentlemen
/ would earnestly ask me what had actu-
| ally been accomplished ! could only tell
| them that VIZ had succeeded In getting on
| the list of "cligiblcs" two additional
| books, books of perhaps rather obscure
| merit. the works of Hansel and Shinn.
| Meantime splendid histories by southern
| authors, histories which had been called
into being by the fair promises of our
| committee. were lying dust-coVereu Oh
| their publishers shelves
WHY HE RESIGNED.
1 wear ago my comrades called me 10
| the great place Of Commander of the
1 Grand Camp. should have shrunk
alike from the honors and from the re-
| sponsibilities of the post had j not
| felt that by strenuous effort toward a
| single end a beginning might perhaps ne
| made I'm breaking up the routine which
1
| lar question. And so last summer ! d.
! rected Adiutant- General Elicit TO keep
| the work of the Grand Camp well IN
| hand. and particularly TO ascertain "hat
| measures the History Committee pro-
| posed to adopt. In answer 10 THIS ques-
| ton. Chairman Stubs replied that inc
proper time to make a hght lot SUIT
| histories as the Grand Camp might re-
! commend would be next spring, Wneh the
/ BOARD of Education should award new
| contracts for the ensuing four years,
| feared that il might then be TOO iate' Una ,
| q change 60 sweeping as the one sought
| Superin endent Massey as the educatoh-
| SUPERINTENDENT Massey, as the eN,icauon-
| nj expert of the Board. had lonE peeh ~
| controlling spirit. and ne se'ineu W "
| cutie satisfied with things as theN Weie'
| II TINS apeared that the only way III
| which our schools could be rid OF THESE
| faiee histories would be by making an
| anneal 10 the best thought OF the state
/ and To that end / sent out a clrcular ie'.
| ter which resulted in the maghinceh'
| aeseublage over which Dr. Hunter Nc
| Guire was called TO preside on the evening
| of october 18th.
| Tn taking this step did not consult inc
| chairman of the History committee VI
| course the measure was distinct usuIP
| ation ~ that committees function. but
,,'anted results. and was willing to take
| tho consequences Such action Is Cd
viously subversive OF official authority
, and I'm itself was 20 me a sufficient rea
son for declining a reelection. But nae
also given my word to the ofhcer mex
| In rank that under no Circumstance
xyould I accept a second term as Crane
| Commander There was another reason
which influenced me. ] did not desire
that the then-existing status should o'
maintained. | wanted a change. II nae
accepted commandership, 1t was quiu
clear that the chairman of the Historl
| COMMITTEES would have been continued II
t,ts nosition. and l knew that that gen
tIeman had had dealings with Mr.. ). w
Womaok. the agent Of the American
Rock Company. the concern which Is sup