The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-10

son III; He -, ~. re test hut upon what ground
eannot ba learned the BOARD refusing to
saw anything. Mr.. Hurt unlli tne e i ~
two years has been l ~ Years. and Mr.
Johnson is just from tIe ,an1n pp.tss
Islands, having very receIl. 4sse
tered out out Of the united 9s Of the Kind
IN the county. and will be watched sWlth
keen interest. Both are sons OIL ooll-
federate soldiers.
Colonel Miles and the University Chairs.
nanship.
Editor Of The Times:
sir.-There are two considerations tnat
prompt n,a to give public expression "
nv a proval OF the reported movement
70 make Professor George w. Miles per
manent chairman of the University OF
Virginia. In the first place, l nave
the honor to be an alunn1us OF TINS N
stitution, and feel O profound 1ntecst III
its grwth and prosperity. IN the seo-
ond place, it was my privilege 10 SEW
for two sessions as an associate o. ~
lessor Miles at the ST. Adams School'
during which time I had full opportunity
to measure the man from every
sential point Of view
Much has been said and written N
nassion and perhaps prejudice regarding
this important matter that can oniy
he productive Of harm to all concerned.
It is most important that sargumentatlEe
cas1istry and traditional bias should %
waived at this juncture, and thas tiie
real question at issue should pc VleWeo
in perfectly straightforward and prac-
teal manner.
There are apparently two questions OF
leading Importance in this discussion:
Does the University need perma-
nent chairman who can devote pract1-
cally his who'll time to the duties OF the
?. Is Profes (or Miles the best avail
able man for the position?
Upon ature deliberation, ! am Huil1
clear that these questions should be an
swerd afflrmatively. It is needless to
complicate matters by discussing the
Qualifications Of Professor Miles as an
economist: the issue is thus evaded, and
1ha discussion made academic and tech-
meal The real question is as TO ms
qualifications for the craftsmanship ana
his ability to supply the need OF tne
University in this direction. It may pc
necessary, technically, that the chairman
shall assume certain professional duties'
but It is certainly possible for man OF
the unusual training and academic eA-
nerience of Professor Miles to find a
place in some one OF the many depart
ments Of university work to engage nus
talents as teacher for few hours each
week This becomes. as already lnol-
"a tad merely a matter of technical de-
tail and adjustment of courses ana
should not be allowed to divert the at
tention of the public from the main
proposition.
The greet need of the University is
permanent executive head with certain
specified powers: not a president, neces-
sarily. but q permanent chairman With
enlarged opportunity to represent the In
stit,,tion before the public, who snail not
! at the same time, be hampered with SO
excessive an amount of classroom work
as to interfere with his executive eff
cheney. I believe this need is recognized
nv a great ma iority Of the alumni OF the
! University. and it must be satisfied eth
err now or hereafter.
The issue has been sharply MADE IN
the past few weeks and this would seem
to be a favorable time to lnaugurate
this long-needed reform. Opposition mas
been raised, as was to be expected; but
such opposition is always encountered
in an apparent departure from tradition
| al usage. The University needs to be
brought more widely to the attention Of
! the public, especially in other States:
| it needs endowment for the expansion of
! It's work. These needs will be best sup
nlied when there is an executive Of
| ficer to devote his chief attention to
| them.
To fill the important position Of chair
! man with enlarged powers. will re-
o,1ire an unusual man. A strong and
experienced hand an active and saga
cious mind q loyal and enthusiastic
heart, an eloquent and persuasive
| tongue. These are the qualifications
needed.
After an Intimate association with
Professor Miles, j do not hesitate to say
that it is altogether unlikely that the
| Visitors will find available the services
Of any man who combines the qualifi-
cations named in a higher degree than
he does. He has. too, the yigor and en-
| thusiasm Of comparative youth. He
| will make plans, and has before him
| the best years of his life to carry them
/ out Besides. no one can question his
! intense interest in the University; he has
! proved his faith by his works. He
knows the needs Of the University: he
knows the difficulties of the situation;
| and he has distinguished ability. to meet
them.
! Finally, it should be said that any im-
preston that the alumni are united in
opposition to the policy here advocated,
is altogether erroneous. There is divf-
sion of sentiment, perhaps. as was 20
be expected Granting that such division
exists, is. it not proper that the Board
Of Visitors, who have given careful
study to the situat ton, and who best
understand its needs, should be left to
pass upon the question without embar-
rassment?
Very respectfuIly
h. c. FORD. q
Lexington. va, October
/ Mr.. William cray !ef last night for,