The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-30
CLARK HILGO
CONTROVERSY
Mr.. Southgate, President of
Board of Trustees, Writes
to Judge Clark,
CORRESPONDENCE GIVEN
SAYS IT WAS DIR. KILGO AND
MA JUDGE CLARK ON
TRIAL.
CORRESPOND GIVEN
THE BOARDS ACTION NOT GIVEN OUT
Mr.. Southgate Claims That Judge Clark Had
Notice That The Matter Would Come
up Before the Meeting Of
The Trustees.

The trustees,
Durham. \. c., June 29.-(Special.l -
Mr.. James II. Southgate to-day sent the
following letter to Hon. Walter Clark IN
reply to his recent letter, published III
Sundays News and Observer. Mr..
Southgate is President of the Board.
DIR. Kilgo has made no reply, and it is
probable that Mr.. Southgate's letter will
close the incident. The letter is as fall
lows:
Durham, \. c., June 2S, 1898.
Judge Walter Clark, Raleigh, \. &.
Dear Sir: Responding to your favor
of the 25th inst, you will recall being
present at the June, 1897. meeting of the
trustees when the presidents report was
referred to a subcommittee consisting
of yourself, Judge Montgomery and DR..
Swindell The first recommendation IN
this report was: THAT the law which
requires the election of the faculty every
year be so changed as to elect them not
oftener than every four years. If indeed
any time should be fixed other than the
faithful discharge of duty. This should
not refer to the election of new mem
Der of the faculty. He should always
he put on probation till he proves his
fitness for a permanent election. One
of the trustees moved that the president
of the college lie included in this recon-
mendation, but the motion was with
drawn at the request of DR.. Kilg0.
Your committee reported non-concur-
renee on this item of the report, Judge
,.l- ,x1,,,,, 10 Jha hos I'd hat ifS
adoption was liable to lead to legal en-
tanglements." DIR. Kilgo promptly arose,
explained his motive in making the re-
commentator, which was to avoid hav-
ing the members of the faculty in stls-
pense as to their election from year 20
year. and gracefully consented to Il with
drawal of the suggestion because of the
light you throw on it from legal stand
point of observation. In all other partic-
ulars the report was concurred in AMI
adopted as Il whole and ordered spread
upon the minutes. In the organization
of the college its literature, in the meth
cd of approach to and disposition of this
ma tier. there appears to be no real way
to confound DIR. Kilgo, the president
with the faculty or to miscontrue the
benign effort of one in behalf of the
other.
You will further recall. that later in
this June, 1897, meeting. along towards
adjournment. resolution was adopt
ed by a rising vote, you voting, cor
daily approving and endorsing the eff
forts of the faculty, especially of DR..
Kilgo. the president of Trinity College,
in behalf of higher Christian education
with pledge to encourage and aid them
more actively and unitedly in the flu
ture than in the past This meeting of
the trustees was harmonious, pleasant,
in which all, including yourself, APP
peared to take an active, intelligent in
terest.
Within three weeks of adjournment
reports reached the president of the col
lege which were calculated TO damage
him personally and, if true, the institu-
ton which he so ably represents. the
nature of which is set forth in the cor
respondence which follows and with
which you are conversant.
Presidents Office,
Trinity College, Durham, n. G..
Judge Walter Clarke, Raleigh, n. C.
Dear Sir: | have recently heard that
since the meeting of the board of trus
tees you remarked that my motion to
elect professors for Il four years term.
was really an effort on my own part to
secure the presidency of Trinity College
for a longer term. | am not disposed to
believe this rumor, yet l think it but
just to you as well as to myself to in
form you of the rumor. If it is true |
would he very glad to know upon what
basis you made the statement. / trust
you are ali well. Yours truly,
(Signed) JNO. c.. KILGO.
Raleigh, \. c., July LIST, 1897.
Rev. DIR. Jno G. Kilgo,
Dear Sir: Yours to hand. Whoever
made the report to you has evidently
misconceived what said. | did not say
what you state. But | have no obiec-
tion to saying what ! did say if you will
give me the name of your informant.
Mo. truly yours,
tS1gned) WALTER CLARK.
Presidents Office,
Trinity College, Durham, n. c.
Judge Walter Clark Raleigh. N. G.
Honorable Sir: Yours of recent date
has been received. Prof. r. l.. Flowers
of Trinity College. informed me of the
statement to which i called your atten.
ton. ! will be very glad to get this mat.
ter corrected. as it is of importance te
me personally. Yours truly.
(Signed) JNO. c.. KIIGO
Raleigh, n. c., July Ind, 1897.
DIR. Jno. c. Kilgo,
Dear Sir: Yours to hand. Does Prof
Flowers say that ! had such conversa.
ton with him? / have no recollection OF
any talk with him on the subject. Ii
so, let him state time and place so | car
recall what was said.
| have not the slightest objection Il
stating what / said about any matter
that you feel any interest in, but wisl
to know the party who states the con
versation that / may recall exactly AM
fully what did say to him. i feel sur,
] had no talk with Prof Flowers tina