The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-13
PROF. MASSEY WRITES
He SAYS THAT PROF. C~s MBGR-
LAIN WAS MOI DISMISSED.
That is True But He Ought to Rave
Been Driven Out--Other
Statements.
Raleigh, June y.


To the Editor: In your issue this
morning you state that 1t IS propaple
that Mr. Hyams, of Iredell, will be APP
pointed to fill the position OF station
Botanist and Assistant in the Botanical
work of the college. | wish to say that
no one will be appointed to this position
for whose entire competency cannot
youch. l have had no chance to become
fully acquainted with Mr.. Hyams' ca
pacity for the position, and have no
opinion to give in regard to him. But
you may be assured that the placing of
an incompetent man III that position
land it is not at all probable that it
will be done) would be followed by my
instant resignation. The board very
cordially agreed that / was better able
to judge of the qualifications of a man
in such place than any one not
scientist.
In regard to Mr.. Mccarthy, the only
difficulty was that his physical in firm
ity prevented his being a teacher.
In regard to the action of Prof Cham
berlain as a member of the Board | wish
TO put this much ON record. Mr.. Cham
berlain only consented to take the APP
pointment on the board on the persuasion
of President Holiday and myself, and
he stated to the Governor before the APP
pOintment was made that he would not
vote for any change in the Presidency of
the college. As to the action he took
in regard to the combination of the sta
ton with the college, he was doing just
what he and l have insisted from the or
ganization of the college, was the right
thing to do. The station is by its or
ganic law made department of the col
lege and not an independent organiza-
ton as it has heretofore been consider
ed. As a department of the college ii
should be as every other department is,
under the control of the President. The
station established by the government
for purely investigatiOnal purposes has
been hampered by the work of the fer
tilizer control, which has no proper con-
nection with experimental work, and is
only the detective work of the Agricul-
tural department, and should be under
the sole control of the Board of Agricul-
ture. The United States law says OK
plicitly that the Experiment Station
known as the Hatch station shall be
department of the College or the Agri
cultural department of the college. 1t
was to make it what the law requires
that the combination has been made. and
its control put in the hands of the men
who are doing the work of experiment
alton. The organic law does not con-
template any such officer as Director,
evidently assuming that as a department
of the college, the president is its presid
ing officer. In working for this change
Mr.. Chamberlain had the hearty coop
Grafton of the college faculty affected by
the work and not one of us had any
but the kindest feelings for Dr. Battle
and admiration for his ability, and we
can only regret that we win be deprived
of his help. As to Mr.. Chamberlain
motives for his action in any case |
have nothing to do. He did all that he
promised TO do when appointed on the
board. For my own part in working
for the transfer of the station to its
proper position, ] have no apologies 10
make. / have been working to this end
since / have been connected with the
college, because ] believed it to be the
right thing and the thing that the law
required Stations in other States have
been recognized on the same plan, nota-
bly, the Tennessee station under Presi-
dent Dabney, and the plan conduces to
the success of the work.
In juctice to Prof Chamberlain please
say that he was not dismissed from the
college faculty, but resigned months af-
ter the board adjourned to take another
place.
w. r. MASSEY.