Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-03
IN ANIMATED DEBATE
North Carolina Editors on
Trinity College Troubles.
BASSETT INCIDENT
COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO FORM
ULATE RESOLUTIONS.
Addresses by Representative Page and
Others-Closing Session This
Afternoon.
BASSETT INCIDEN T

CarOllna, were tTdnSIeTFtu u "dSHiu6 tVi
for an hour or so this morning. and threat
ened to disrupt things in the midwinter
convention of the North Carolina Press
Association. which met for the second day
of its sessions at the National Hotel. The
members of the association took issue with
the trustees of the college In the most de-
cided way, and two parties were developed
In the organization, which clashed in their
attempts to bring peace and order out of a
chaos of mixed sentiment. Everybody
seemed to think the same way, but there
was a hesitancy on the part of some of the
| members about taking decided. action in
the name of the associa tion, while others
urged the most radical measures.
The debate was heated at times, although
but once was there anything personal said.
The cause of the difficulty in which the
association found itself was set forth in dis
patches from North Carolina this morning.
making the announcement that the trustees
of Trinity College at Durham had refused
to accept the resignation of DR.. John g..
Bassett, professor of history on the ground
that it was not presented from voluntary
desire to sever his connection with the col
Iege, but that it was rendered under coer-
Give influences from the outside, and be-
cause of a feeling that his further connec-
ton with the college might bring injury
to 1t.
The outside Influences referred to, 1t IL
said. were the freely expressed opinions or
the citizens of the town of Durham and OF
the editors of almost all of the newspapers
in condemning DR.. BaSSett for the puhl1ca-
ton of an article by him in praise Of
Booker 7. Washington The feeling against
DR.. Bassett ran high throughout the state.
The institution which employed his services
is controlled by the Methodist Church, and
it is understood the church press took as
active a part in the campaign against him
as 1t could. The matter was made so prom
inent that DR.. Bassett resigned, but the
trustees at a meeting yesterday refused
to accept his resignation.
The students at the college were mostly
In favor of the retention of DIR. BasSett,
and when they heard of the decision of the
board of trustees they proceeded to make
merry In the most enthusiastic manner.
Their spirits took high form, and as part
of the jollification they. hung in effigy the
editor of the Raleigh News and Observer,
Mr.. Josephus Daniels. who was one Of the
most emphatic in his denunciation of DIR.
BaSsett.
Sets the Ball Rolling.
Shortly after the meeting of the North
Carolina Press Association had been called
to order this morning Mr.. q. w. White
head, editor Of the North Carolina Lumber
Journal. OF Raleigh. N. c., offered a resoiu-
ton calling for the appointment of a COM
mittee of three to prepare suitable reso-
luton expressing the sentiments of the
members of the North Carolina Press AS
ISOLATION In the matter of the action of the
trustees of Trinity College. He said no
language could be too strong in denouncing
the action of the trustees in refusing to
accept the resignation of Mr.. Bassett,
whose sentiments as expressed over his
own signature had "precluded all right to
the title Of Doctor"
Mr.. Whitehead spoke at length on his
resolution urging prompt and decisive
action He wanted the association to be
put On record as condemning such conduct,
he said
Major H. A. London editor of the Record
of Pittsboro'. N. c., secured recognition,
and stated that he could not exactly UNI
derstand why the association should be put
on record against a private organization
1t " ould not be the best policy to urge the
resolution of Mr.. Whitehead. he said. The
association was forced to take cogniZance
of the action of the student body. however.
This organization of boys and young men
had appeared in the light of adopting lynch
law, for, said Major London hanging in
efflgy is lynch law. Mr.. Josephus Daniels,
whom the students hung in efflgy. he said.
is member of the Press Association. and
1t Is the duty of the association to look
after its members and to denounce all at
fronts to them. This speech was heartily
applauded.
Urges Moderation.
Mr.. Thomas r. Manning. editor of the
Henderson Gold Leaf of Henderson, N. c.,
was the next to speak. though several
| members were clamoring for recognition,
among whom was Mr.. Whitehead. Mr.
Manning urged the members to be moderate
in their action.
He warned them that 1t Is easy to say
| things that one would wish were unsaid,
and that it Is a great deal better not to
do a thing than 1t is to do 1t and have to
regret it. 1t Is very serious thing, he
declared. for a body so representative of
/ the public Opipinn the the
press association to take issue with the
trustees of Trinity College, and with the
students of that institution. Mr. Manning
said that all members of the association
deplored the occasion for such an out
burst and that he, for one, had con-
demned the statements of Dr. Bassett
and would do so again IN the columns of
/ his paper.
That paper. he said, Is his property. as
| the papers of the other members Of the as
! ISOLATION are their property, and he urged
that whatever the members might think of
| Prof Bassett and the action of the stu
| dents. they should make their expressions
| individually, through their papers and not
| place the association on record. 1t is not
| the province of the association to interfere
| in such matters, he said.
| MIR. Whitehead was recognized again after
1 MIR. Manning had concluded his remarks
and said he wanted the association to &C
| on record as sustaining their members in
| the opinions they have all editorially ex
| pressed, and that was the purpose of pre-
| senting the resolution. Rev Mr. Blair
| editor of one of the papers Of the Meth
1 odist Church. urged the convention to take
| the matter cooliy. He said 1t would not be
| found to pay. in the end, to take cognizance
| of the incident Mr.. Dan els would under
| stand the situation, he said, and would not
| demand any action of the kind from the as
| ISOLATION. Mr. Blair said he was a FRIEND
| of Mr.. Daniels and of many of the trustees
| of the college. and he did not believe thai
| any action by the association would meet
| with the approval of either the people OF
| the state or those involved in the difn
Guilty.
| Mr.. Blair said further that he had severe
ly condemned DR.. Bassett editorially and
| might do so again. but that he could not
| ccn1ure this up an excuse for such ac.
| ton by the association as proposed by Mr.
Whitehead, nor even the more conservative
methods proposed by Maj. London.
| Mr.. Nd. A. Farris followed with a speech
| in the same strain. He said he did not
| propose to put himself on record as against
| lot of school boys. Mr.. White secured
| the floor for a few moments to again re-
iterate his sentiments and was followed by
| Mr.. r. C. BeaZley of Monroe NJ c., who
| urged moderation and conservative action.
! Calls for Show Of Hands.
| At this juncture motion was made to lay
| the whole matter on the table and with
several members clamoring for recognition
4 ;,Jnr "a,