The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-16
OabneY for the University.
Editor Of The Times-Dispatch:

Sir-Knowing your interest In the vel
fare of our University. | write to give
YOU some Of the facts in the record OF,
DR. Charles w. Dabney. who is being
urged to allow his name to go before the
Board of Visitors for the presidency. Or.
Dabney has been doing great work, but
he has done 1t so unostentatiously that
many Virginians do not seem to know
him. and no doubt would be glad to learn
his qualifications for the high position
referred to.
DR.. Dabney is a Virgnian, B. A. of
Hampden- Sidney College. a graduate OF
the University of Virginia an LII. D. OF
Davidson, Johns Hopkins and Yale, and
PHI D. of Gottingen. He was the State
chemist of North Carolina, organizer and,
director Of the experiment station, and
began the development Of the material
resources of the State which has made It
SO great He has been for years presi-
dent Of the University of Tennessee, tax
ing charge of that work when there were
only 125 pupils and an income of $4,000
and building 1t up until the income Is
over 100000, the number OF pupils $50 and
the equipment Increased over 100000. lie
has at his University the largest academic
attendance of any university In the south.
and has organized the Summer School OF
the South there, which Is according to
world"
Because OF his success In North Caro-
lima and his eminent fitness. Cleveland
selected him as his first assistant Secrc-
tary Of Agriculture, and the University OF
Tennessee gave him four years leave of
absence He was eminently successful In
this position. and his powers of organiza-.
ton were wonderfully displayed In shap-
ling the bureaus which are of SO great
value to our farming interests. When
Mckinley came in, he and Secretary Will
son urged DR.. Dabney to remain, and he
=, Efn,,r -,,aor c.' nf h
sence expired, rendering valuable aid TO
the new administration In the Agrlcul-
tural Department.; sg,r S% s5
On his return. To- the University OF Ten
nessee he continued his work of develop
mcnt and became the central force Of
the Southern educational movement. maxi
ing his University the center Of this In
nuence in the South. DR.. Dabney has
done great work for the free schools OF
Tennessee and has brought them in close
touch with the University. BY his ability
and tact he harmonized the situation IN
Tennessee, where the jealousies between
East, West and Middle Tennessee We're a
serious menace to any concerted educa-
ticnal effort. He did this largely by going
| into nearly every county in the State,
meeting the people face to face and show
| ing his interest In and ability to aid the
| local schools.
TOO much cannot be said Of DR.. Dab
ney's connection with the Southern edu-
cctional movement. His great success as
an organizer Is now being shown In this
work, which seeks to aid the South
| through the established system and the
appointed authorities of the South. He is
| in close and sympathetic touch with the
men OF the North who are just now deep
| ly interested In this work, and who arc
a powerful aid In its financial aspect Ask
| Ogden, Peabody, Baldwin, Walter Fl.
Page. Albert e, Shaw. what they think
| - Tn1o -. nv noh nn OF ha
| head of tho University OF Virginia, would
not that institution be the center of In
! Guence In Southern education which
Thomas Jefferson intended It to be?
DIR. Dabney has been called upon to
represent State governments and the
| United States Government at various eX-
positions and at Paris In 1900. That his
great abilities have been appreciated are
| testified to by the fact that he has had
| the opportunity OF being the president OF
| five State Universities In the most progres
| sive OF the Southern and Western States
! He has In addition been called North Il
| positions where the salaries were greatly
| in excess of those the South could anort
to pay. William r.. Curtis. In the Chicago
/ Record Herald, writes regarding the pres
idency OF the University of Virginia: pr
| Charles W. Dabney. president OF me UHl
Secretary Of Agriculture during the sec
| ord Cleveland administration, has peer
i mentioned. As an organizer ana dlrecIo
and for energy. ability and Influence. l1r
i Dabney has no equal among the educn
tors In the Southern States. He has buil
up the University OF Tennessee TO y.
present important position. Tie Is als'
the recognized leader of the, new educa
tional movement In the South. Dr. !oap
ney has not sought the presidency OF TN
University Of Virginia. nor IS y Know
whether he will leave his present respoh
sbilities to accept It.
He is a loyal son of Yirginiai a mar
OF broad and comprehensive grasp;
man Of determination. yet approachanl
| and ready to listen to counsel; schola
and thinker. yet practical and Worke
among the people; an organizer OF un
! surpassed ability. tactfnl and harmonlzlnl
conflicting forces. He Is forty-eight year
old, OF tireless energy and Of high mora
and Christian character. + we could &c
him at the head of the University or plr
GINA, 1t Ia safe to say that learning
would be advanced, the scope OF her ~
nuence Increased. and Of the mllllons be
ing donated IN America to educationa
Institutions. due share would come
"a NII1FI, Il. WOODS,