The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-08
THE RACE FOR CHANCELLOR.
HOW SAVANNAH ALUMNI REGARD
CANDIDATES AND THE POSITION.

Asked 10 Withdraw His Resigna-
ton Submitted "A Year Ago-He Is
Favorabiy Regarded by Many in
savannah. Particularly the Older
Administering Men Believed
while in College That He showed
Fnvoritism to Those whose In
auencc Might Prove Useful so Him.
The way Ex-Governor Atkinson Is
Mentioned for the Place.
The alumni of the University of Geor-
,.ia IN Savannah viii eagerly watch the
reports OF the next meeting OF the board
of trustees 70 be held at Athens June 10.
Col John screven. Col. P. W. Meldrim
and Hon f. G. duBignon viii attend from
Savannah.
The question Of vital Importance to come
before the board is the retention of DR..
Boegs as chancellor or the election Of his
successor. Dr. Boggs rendered his resig-
nation year ago, and it was 60 take ef-
feet at the expiration Of this term. II
is by no means improbable that he will
be asked to Withdraw his resignation.
Such acton on the part of the trustees
would please many in Savannah, but 9th
ers would not ike it so well. DR.. Boggs'
friends in Savannah admire him partic-
ulary for his abilities and the energy and
understanding that have built up the
university, raised its curriculum and es-
tablished much higher standard of learn
ing at the institution. Those who are
opposed to him are chiefly among the
younger alumni, and personalities enter
rather largely into their condemnation OF
the chancellor.
As it was few years ago, young men
VINO were then at the university say. Il
was matter Of belief with half Of the
students that Dr. Boggs favored the
wealthy and influential among them at
the expense of others whose parents could
moi command means to advance the chan
cellors interests. These young men believe
such is still the condition of affairs at the
university, and that the present students
look upon the chancellor as showing par
TALLY 10 those from whom he might ex-
pect aid 1t has been said that the doc
tors unpopularity with the students is
one of the strongest objections that has
been offered to his holding The position.
One of the Savannah trustees said he
does not consider il strange that there
should be some young men in the uni-
versity who may be treated differently by
the chancellor from others. That he
thinks no more than natural, and believes
the fact that they are treated differently
Is due TO the chancellor having known
their parents. The trustee says these par
ents would naturally expect DR.. Boggs 10
treat their sons more Ike members of his
own family than the other young men
whose parents he had never known.
The trustee was asked whom he intends
supporting for the position, but that was
a question he did not feel qualified to an
swer. He said his present views might
be altered on reaching Athens, when light
of which he might now have no knowl-
edge might be thrown on the situation.
He will be directed, he says by what
he learns at Athens He regards the uni
veTsity as having made distinct advances
since Dr.. Boggs' election to the chance-
lorship in 1889
A younger member of the University
Club said he has not thought very much
about the matter of changing chancellors,
but be has concluded it would be useless
TO consider a change when there appears
10 be 10 better man available for the po-
sition. He thinks highly of the doctors
GlldnGGllOISniD.
would support him for reelection if he
were a member Of the board of trustees.
He was asked If ne regards a preacher
as a necessity for the head of the inst-
tuition aud answered that he does not,
though 1t seems to have been the custom
to select ministers for the position. The
question was inspired by the report of DR..
Whtsitt, formerly president of the South
ern Baptist Theological Seminary at
Louisville, Ky, being a candidate for the
place. The gentleman considers a preach
er as neither a necessity to be obtained
nor avoided. An ideal chancellor he would
consider 10 be gentleman of not such
great learning, perhaps, as a knowledge
of the world aud its ways, tact, common
sense, and a manner that is pleasing to
wAomsoeVer he may be thrown. Intel
lectuality is all right in its way, but IL
it obtains to the overshadowing of the
other requisites mentioned its possessor is
not the man for the CHARACTERISTIC in the
opinion of the gentleman whose views
We're requested. He does not know a man
of the many mentioned whom he believes
would be the slightest improvement over
DR.. Boggs
A gentleman recently returned from At
lanta says it seems to be the idea there
that ex-Gov. Atkinson will be a candj-
date for the chancellorship. The very
thought of such thing coming TO pass
Is repugnant TO the gentleman who Is
himself a well-known educator. though
not an alumnus of the university. He
said it Is talked in Atlanta that Senator
Bacon, who is an influential member of
the board of trustees, would favor Mr.. At
kinson to prevent his running against him
for reelection to the Senate. Several
discussed the rumor of the arrangement.
and that such political chicanery could
even be spoken of as contemplated was
regarded as an insult 10 the great old
Institution Of learning that should be con-
Quoted for the good of the state and for
no mans personal aims or profit.
DR.. Whitsitt is a man well known nv
reputation in Savannah, as he was the
subject of a wide and animated discussion
something more than a year ago. Ii was
due 10 certain articles published in a peri.
odical that were not thoroughly in keepine
with the tenets of the Baptist Church Il
was held BY his brethren that IL ne were a
man who could entertain such views hs
was not the proper one for the position a,
head Of a Baptist institution of learning
and for that reason his discharge from III,
position was talked of. DR.. Whitsitt him
self finally settled the matter by resign