Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-20
POPULAR INSTRUCTORS
SUnMAR|LY DISMISSED.
REGENTS OF THE STATE UNIVEE-
SITY DISPLACE TWO ANTI
RAYMOND PROFESSORS.
NO CHARGES WERE OFFERED.
DISMISsALS WE'RE MADE ON THE
| DUBIOUS GROUND THAT GOOD
| OF SCHOOL REQUIRED 1T.

Special to the Register
PARKERSBURG, w. Va, Dec. 49,
Two heads have fallen at the Univer-
sity, and it may be that others are
to go. The two members of the fac
ulty who have been removed are Rob-
ert A. Armstrong and DR.. J. w. Har-
tigan. They were removed to-day by
a resolution adopted by the Board
of Regents declaring it was for the
best interests of the University that
their connection with it should cease.
They were therefore removed, Prof.
Armstrong; removal to take effect
April LIST, at the end of the six months
leave of absence with pay granted him
last fall, and Dr.. Hartigan's on the 1st
of March. He is given leave of alb
sence, with pay, until that time, so
that while one draws salary for two
months and the other for three, all
connection of either with the Uni
versity is terminated at once.
The vote on the resolution of remov-
al was six to two, Regents John J.
Davis, of Clarksburg, and P. C. East
ham, of Point Pleasant, voting against
it. Nor did they stop with voting and
arguing against the resolution, but
they prepared and had spread upon
the records of the Board two similar
protests, one in regard to the removal
of each of the two professors. The one
in regard to Prof. Armstrong, which
is similar to that in regard to Dr. Har-
tigan, is as follows:
Regents John j. Davis and P. C.
Eastman protest against the action OF
the Board of Regents in removing Prof.
R. A. Armstrong from the professional
chair occupied by him in the West
Virginia University, because there
were no charges preferred against him
of immortality, incompetency or un-
fitness for the position or good
grounds shown for his removal. And
for the further reason that said Arm
strong was denied the right to appear
before the board in his own defense"
No charges are preferred against
either one of the deposed professors, no
trial was held and no opportunity was
given either one of them to be heard
in his own behalf No reason was as
signed for their removal Other than that
the best interests of the University de-
manded their removal. Both the de-
posed professors have been identified
for some time with the anti-Raymond
element at the University, and this is
not the presidents first attempt to re-
move them. Encouraged by the result
of the late election, which he is SAID
to consider a vindicatiOn OIL his course.
hn oiV, Id
moval, and this time he has secured it.
Dr. Hartigan and Prof Armstrong
are both West Virginians, '+haw eat
ers, as the president is alleged to
speak of the natives of this State, and
both have long been recognized as
among the ablest and best men in the
institution. Prof. Armstrong has been
the professor Of English and was for a
time the vice president of the Univers-
ity, while Dr. Hartigan has occupied
the chair of biology.
Prof. Armstrong was the Democratic
nominee for the Office of State Superin-
tendent of free schools at the recent
election, and politics as we'll as per-
sonality may have had something to do
with his removal
So far no action has been taken with
regard to the successor Of Prof Miller,
who was elected State Superintendent
Of free schools. One OF the regents
said that probably no action would be
taken in the matter at this meeting
Of the Board for the reason that the
meeting was called for other matters,
and Prof. Miller's resignation was only
handed in since the meeting began. 1t
ic, no al
his position the work Will be rearrang-
ed, the principal Of the preparatory de-
partment being relieved OF other work.
Prof. Miller has been given leave of alb
sence with pay to April list any way,
and no change will be made until that
time.
This afternoon c. A. Ellen6erger, in
structor in music, was authorized TO
establish school of voice culture.
The regents are az work tonight and
expect to remain in session till after
midnight. They have gone over care
fully the presidents recommendations
for running expenses and have agreed
upon an amount which they will ask
the legislature TO appropriate for this
purpose. 1t is less than $4,000 in ex-
cess of the amount appropriated by
the last legislature.
The total appropriation which the
president wants the board to ask for
is 100000 The total appropriation for
the last two years was s169, 600. The
amount this year includes appropria-
tons for the new buildings being
erected for a girls dormitory and a
residence for the president
DIVORCE GRANTED.