The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-05
ALUMNI INTENSELY MOVED.
Excited Discussion Of The Question q
a University President.
A VOTE CARRIED AGAINST THE PLAN.
Both Sides Claim To IIaVethe Best ot the
Contesi-The Committee Decline TO
be Bound by Amy Expression of
the Alumni Present,

After a stormy session or nearly thTee
hours the alumni of the University OF
Virginia present at the committee meet
ing held this afternoon. by a vote Of 90 TO
9e expressed themselves as unfavorable
to the plan OF president for the Univer-
sitv. Feeling ran high aud every speak
or seemed TO be laborlns under intense
excitement
The impetuosity Of youth among those
advocating the change was no less mark
cd than the almost supersutious reyer-
ence for all things old. shown by the op-
ponents of the reform. .,
From the time the debate was opentu
until the announcement OF the vote there
! was not a dun moment. .
No poliiical committee meeting eyer
called forth such fcrvid oratory ana I'M
p''S'oi,Sy R0Tu ~ SIDES CONFIDENT.
Tonight both sides claim 10 have the
| best Of the fight.
Tbe lovers OF the present system say
! that their majority among inc alulnhl l"W
| Visiting the Springs is much greater thah
The vote would indicate as many VINO OPP
uoscd the measure did not attend the
| meeting. They also point 10 the idct tll"t
| their opponents are composed ior lne
most mari of the younger members oi the
I society of Alumni, whose judgment is nm
seasoned ON the other hand, ihese lal-
/ her claim that they know what they want
and profess 10 be more in touch WIN
modern conditions and the present ana
| future needs OF the institution IMAM '"'
| chairman system supporter
Thev saw that while the vote was
against them by q bare majority OF lonI
Mr.. Meredith held proxies OF 10, ineli,,t,
Of the Society residing ID Hlauy ,',"''''a
of the South and claim 10 nave b,hl"u
them a large majority Of the Society.
THE COMMITTEE.
When the chairman Of the commltl'e
Mr.. James =. Harrison, OF )anNlilt, opeu-
ed the meeting, five members, james ~
Harrison w r. Abbott. William w. Oiu'
h. R. Munford and Edward EchQls. We're
present. one member Mr. b. i, buoh-
anan of Marion. having telegrapned lh"t
he was unable TO attcnd. Inc cHaii ma"
stated at the outset that this was a meet
ing of the committee appointed Joy ln'
last meeting of the Society of Alumni 20
consider This question ana report 10 ,hS
president of the alumni. lie lhtn 'aii'u
attention to the mistakes which were
current as no the nature and object OF
this meeting. stating. as told in ytstef-
days Times that this was simply q meet
ing of the committee and not OF the DEL
oeates from the various chapters. .,.,r
THE COMMITTEE $ ULTlMATUM.
lie said however. that the committee
was very glad 10 have so many dIuilll
present and would Ike TO nave ihe views
of AN of them. but the committee, ir-
consider itself bound by any resolution
tho meeting might adopt.
This last uterance of the chairman lea
10 q lively discussion.
Mr. Meredith stated that he thouEhl
the Views of the majority Of the members
present were worth as much as the oplh-
ion OF the committee.
That body. nevertheless, held TO IT'S
position as expressed 10y the chairman,
thus seeming to render useless any ac-
tiOn taken by the alumni outside ol lht
committee. but this conclusion on tnt
committees par apparently had hltlr
effect upon the enthusiasm ana pusnacily
Of either side. ..,....
MIR. MEREDITH SPEAKS FOR RICH
MOND.
Mr.. Meredith presented ass his credcn-
tials am extract from the minutes ol lh.
meeting lately held by the Idchnuuu
CHAPTER. which. besides stating lhat MI
Meredith was appointed delegate tp the
Hot Springs meeting contained thls ieso-
"Resolved That tine Richmond chap
fer of fine Society of the Alumni of the
University of Virginia are heartily lh
favor of the plan Of appointing pIeHi-
dent for the University -
Mr. Meredith called attention 10 tnls
clause and stated that he oHeied 10 lII7
meeting the resolution ~,
Resolved That The alumni or the lnl-
vcrsity OF Virginia all over the country
are heartily in favor of thc plan oI pIeHl-
dent for tho University
Mr.. James Peasants. or kcnmohu'
moved as 90 substitute.
Resolved That the Alumni Of the
University " Virginia present ON TINS oc-
casion are not in favor Of the plan or
president for the University.
AN EARNEST FIGHT
Then the fight was ON in earnest. Mt.
Meredith. although frequently interrupted
hv questions and interpretations. pItarlt-
ed tbe views of the Richmond meeting
!n an eloquent ana lmpass,olt,IS y, 10 iir, rennrte
After paving his respects 10 the Iepoi ~
publlshed iu the newspapers cohcti ililhs
tho meeting at Richmond. saying 'theN
were just about as lncofiecl aS hut"
reports generally are. Dc uealt WIZ ~, l,g
arguments against the chdhse' N"i""h
other things he SAID:
"lf Mr.. Woodrow Wilson in ms hn-
dr,es Tomorrow before the Ear Assocla-
tior needs am example OF lcadcrlcss gov
eIpment" whore could he, ma n pe,'''
one than the University or virginia
I'm conclusion. he read letter from
Colonel Archer Anderson supporting lhe
proposed change in the strongest terms
THE OPPOSING FORCES.
HIM Holmes Conrad OF winchester I'D
am earnest speech opposed l4g Nov,
.nonts CAPTAIN Charles VI. Blackioid
followed Mr. Conrad. also i'm ouuo-iucn'
and gave way 20 Judge n. Il. W. Duke
Y 70 likewise was strongly against any
change. - ~.
n
don cary. of Richmond. and T. Harris.
Of Rockingham. followed each Other IN
favor OF the plan of a president. Mr.. r..
Pandolnb Williams of Richmond. OPP
posed the movement. as did also Colonel
Charles Marshall Of Baltimore and Ma
for Charles s. StrinefelloW, Of Richmond.
closed the debate In an enthusiastic
speech advocating the proposed change.
The Chair then put the question. and
the meeting decided against any change
by a vote Of 80 10 26.
WITHOUT EFFECT
N must, in fairness 90 both sides, how
ever be noted that this vote has no direct
effect either upon the conclusions Of the
committee or upon the general meeting Of
the Society of the Alumni. should such
be called before the next meeting Of the
Board Of Visitors, nor upon tho board
itself.
The vote only shows the opposition of
the alumni present on this occasion. Az
ter the announcement Of the vote the
committee adjourned.
----
THE BIR ASsOCIITION,