Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-07-22
The Board of Directors Could Not or
Did Not Repress the Evils Com
planned of by President Yam
cey-Says He Would Not
Suffer His Manhood
Humiliated.

GENTLEMEN: l hereby offer my
resignation as President of Hardin
College, to take effect at the close of
the current school year.
Respectfully submitted.
A. K. YANCEY.
Several newspaper men and others
sought Information concerning the
matter. To each one 1 gave answer
that it would be improper to give out
anything for publication while the
matter was pending in the Board.
Someone, however, with apparent au-
thority, before any action had been
taken by the Board, gave the LEDGER
the following:
"On account of i'll health A. K. Yam
cey has resigned the position of Presi-
dent of Hardin College,"
Referring to this, I sent the follow
ing to the LEDGER:
To the Editor Of the Ledger.
MEXICO, Mo-, May 19.-The article
in yesterdays LEDGER touching
change in the Presidency of Hardin
College was premature and, 80 far as
the reason assigned for said resigna-
tion, lis incorrect. At the proper time
may feel it duty to myself and to my
friends to announce the reasons which
have constrained me to present my
resignation. Yours truly,
A. K. YANCEY.
Having quite recently spent more
than SO, 900 to make room for the ever
increasing patronage of the College;
having brought to the Institution, in
times of panic and bankruptcy, a
measure of prosperity that has far
transcended the most sanguine hopes
of its closest friends; that should
suddenly abandon work 80 full Of
rich promises In the near future has
led many friends in Mexico and else
where to ask the reasons that have
constrained me to resign. AS these
friends of the College, true and loyal
to the memory of its founder, not one
whit less than the directors, have a
right to demand the reasons for
changes affecting its veal, deem 1t
due to them, as well as to myself, to
make public the following communi-
cation, which was placed in the hands
of the Secretary of the Board in Jam
uary last:
College, Mexico, Missouri.
mexico, Mo-, Jan. 5, 1S97.-GEN-
TLEMEN: The college President, from
the obligations of his contract, and
from the oft-repeated wishes of the
founder of the college, has spared
neither labor nor expense, In the
limit of his means, to give the college
q high place among American schools.
Despite many adverse conditions, not
the least of which has been official
disloyalty, these efforts have won a
good measure of success. Hearkening
to the request of the founder of the
college to ekeepit before the people, :"
the president has spent over $25,00O
in advertising and canvassing. Thus,
the growth of the school has been
phenomenal. More than once the
increase of patronage has outgrown
the capacity of the buildings, and
when 1t became necessary either
to enlarge or to dismiss students
already secured, the Board, having no
funds on hand, the president borrowed
money on his own account to meet
this demand. The best available tall
ent from the leading seats of learning
in Europe and America has been
brought into the faculty. The stand
ard for graduation has been so raised
that old graduates would require four
years additional work to take the
same degree to-day. These evidences
of solid worth have commanded the
highest respect and confidence of
friends of education throughout the
land, save only that of enemies and
alas, that of the highest official in the
directory.
That dishonest competitors and
ignorant drummers should misrepre-
sent our advantages is not surprising,
but when officials, high in authority,
pledged by the most sacred obliga-
tions to render the president loyal
support, assist in propagating the
most damaging aspersions against the
management of the college, and when
the Board seems poweriess to remedy
or even to hear the complaints, the
burden is greater than I feel able OF
willing to bear.
While the early years of my lease
were not self-sustaining, the school ID
now yielding good income. Blu;
lowing to hindrances which gravely
threaten the life of the college, am
not encouraged to hope for continued
prosperity, unless these hindrancef
can be removed. This constant strair
upon physical and mental energy has
seriously threatened my health, and
am warned that life itself will be
endangered If these condition are
prolonged.
i Having devoted the labors OF twelve
years to the veal Of the college, *
withdraw now would be to sacrifice
In a large measure, the accumulation
of my life, and to deny my family ths
Legitimate fruits of my labors. BuI
1.-THE above considerations, In the
absence OF o remedy, leave me M
recourse but TO surrender into you
hands the cfice conferred upon m,
twelve years ago. 1 am constrained
therefore to tender my resignation o
1.-THE Office of President OF Hardin Col
Ilege, to take effect as soon as tn,
Board and the president can have .
satisfactory adjustment OF their buai
mess. For this purpose, respectful!