The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-05-21
CAPTAIN REYNOLDS
TO THE PEOPLE
Tells of His Removal from Girls
School.
tt.OAur o-.,.1...0
HADN'T SLIGHTEST WARNING
Dr., Eager Spent the Night With Him
But Gave No -Charae-
terized Act AS Being Plan
ed by Master Hand.


ident of the Girls Industrial school at
Montevallo, has written a communication
to the people of the state explaining some
matters in connection with his sudden re-
moval from the head of the institution.
The communication follows:
To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
Being profoundly grateful for your words
of praise and commentator in my behalf
as president of the Girls Industrial school
and being in receipt by every mail of SO
many letters expressing words of sympathy
at my removal, and appreciation of my
efforts in the past, l desire through your
columns to make public acknowledgements
OF my heartfelt thanks, and to give to the
people of the state at large a short account
OF what you will term a mystery about
all this trafficking in regard to the Monte
vallo school, l have no desire to parade
before the public what 1 have in my feeble
efforts accomplished for this institution.
My every thought, my life, my whole ex-
istence had become interviewer in its for
tunes and to say / loved it and the four
hundred noble young women who have
just gone out from its wallis, does not ex-
press my feelings.
Taking 1t in hand when 1t was an in
FAINT, with no means, with but few friends
and sympathzers, after a battle for its To-
cation, l started in the work with my
heart full to overlooking to build up an
institution that would be a harbor and a
refuge of learning for the long and sadly
neglected girls of Alabama. Ny personal
affairs were abandoned-my business inter-
ests were turned over to my son, who, in
turn, catching my spirit and enthusiasm in
the great work, linked his fortunes with
the great school, Together we labored
night and day and month after month to
carry out what l conceived the grandest
effort in the cause of education ever inau-
gurated in the world. Wanting in build
ings, equipments and means, with my own
means 1 built and supplied them. Deposit
ing the schools money and my own In the
Commercial bank of Selma, the first blow
came to, my hopes. After heated dis
cussion and divided board, it was voted
that I should be reimbursed for my loss.
In this Governor Johnston was vehemently
opposed to my reimbursement At sub
sequent meeting l returned what had been
voted me, and what 1 rigihtfully knew was
my own, because l felt that it might injure
the school. Going then to the legislature,
1 asked for increased appropriations, which
by hard work 1 obtained. Believing that
something could be done in congress,
went there and asked for a grant of land.
For three years l fought step by step for
this great donation Success has crowned
my efforts and on the day of the meeting
. of the board, $125,0OO was offered for the
grant
The longer / was connected with the
school, the greater and grander possibilities
and avenues opened before me, for the ulti-
mate building of the greatest industrial
school for girls that the world had ever
seen. 1 had visited every school of this
character of note in the north, and saw
their mistakes and profited by their expe-
rience. Nearly every southern state had
applied for admission in its wall, our own
state had been pro1ted by it's upbuilding,
and l am sure the general cause of educa-
ton had received a great awakening and
impetus from the success of this institu-
ton.
My fondest hope was to erect magnificent
buildings with the federal appropriations
1 had just let contracts for large num-
Der of brick, which are being made. / had
arranged to put up temporary buildings to
accommodate not less than five hundred
girls for the coming session. l had put i'll
at my own expense, when the school had
no means, complete system of water
works. had arranged to reduce the
charges to minimum, in order that no
poor girl should be shut out. L had opened
my home for their comfort; the school was
my life, and its pupils were my children
Up to last Thursday morning I thought
l had the hearty support and corporation
of the board of trustees. They had ap-
plauded my efforts and said: well done,
good and faithful servant" The chairman
thorough. and exhaustive examination of
my financial connection with the school.
On completion of this examination he said
to my son, who assisted him: "This is the
most complete and systematic system I
have ever seen; your accounts and books
are correct, and l will let you write nv
report"
several days ago 1 was in Montgom-
cry and called on the governor and
asked him If he would be present at
our next meeting, that important mat
tiers concerning our land etc would
come up. and was not willing to go
into it unless he could be present He
assured me he would be there. l con-
suited him in regard to some changes
that should be made, and he heartily
agreed with me. Wednesday evening
was the time set for the meeting He
failed to arrive and wired one of the
members asking him what members
were present, and to postpone a busi-
ness meeting until he could be there.
Dr. Eager came Wednesday morning,
and was a guest at my house. L con-
suited with him freely as to all my
recommendations and advised with him
in every way. He spent the day and
night with me, but received from him
not the slightest intimation that a
change in the presidency was ever
dreamed Of An angel from heaven
could not have made me believe that he
was seeking the position. The next
morning after breakfast, L again talked
and advised with him, and he was still
silent on a subject that he admitted af-
forwards he had been approached on.
On going into the meeting of the board
after the governors arrival, DR.. Eager
was present, and after other matters
were disposed of, it was moved to go
into executive session for the election
of officers. My son and 1, of course,
retired leaving DR.. Eager in the room
with the board, and not the faintest
idea did he give me of what was COM
ing There being some delay in inviting
me back, ! thought perhaps my fitness
for the position was being discussed.
told my son that / knew l had one
friend there who was my friend indeed.
and who would stand by me. deferred
to DR.. Eager. After time one of my
friends came out and told me that DR..
Eager had beer elected by a vote of
to 3. the governor voting with the ma
jority. Had he told me every man IN
the room had dropped dead, ] could not
have been more astonished. OF course.
the whole affair had been planned by
master hand. The lamb had been led to
the slaughter, the butcher had trained