The DeLand weekly news. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1887-190?, 1903-04-10
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! Letter From y
! Mayor Fletcher
Observation-Disclosures

trustees or the University, writes as
follows to the Jacksonville Metropo.
lis under date of April 8:
For months the public has been re.
called with all kinas Of attacks ON the
president and trustees of Stetson Uni.
versity, and they have been content
to stand on the action OF the board
aud let that speak tor itself. The
president has been assailed in the
most unjust, wicked and barbarous
manner IN The public press and other.
wise. The trustees have been held
up az unworthy Of confidence and
wanting in sincerity and principle.
Malicious and false these statements
have been, but we have not troubled
you tor space to reply. ! do not pro.
pose to enter into any discussion OF
the matters now. Latterly these as.
saults are beng aimed at the Univer.
sity itself, and, IN it's defense, as one
who cherishes Its welfare even though
that involves opposition 10 its abso.
Lutte domination by one influence, l
feel, in that behalf, called on to cor
rect the Misrepresentation embraced
In the article copied by you yesterday
from DeLand paper under the fam
ing head lines, 'Seveuty.TwO Left
School," "1he StetsOn University Is
Now Suffering" The head line is not
true. The usual number OF students
who 60 out at the clUse of the winter
term have gone, including the Chica.
20 students, who always leave to take
up their studies in Chicago Univer.
sity,w wi here they left of In Stetson.
THE NEW STUDENTS,
The usual number, per haps a little
more, Of new students have entered
tor the spring term and there are in
actual attendance at the University
today more students than ever before
in its history at the beginning of any
spring term. The statement that the
sentiment over the state IL almost
unanimous for DR.. Forbes retirement
IL not true. This IL equally mislead-
ing with the statement that this SEN
tinent favois 1.-THE reinsta tt ment OF
Mr.. Stetson on the Board of Trus-
tees" The author Of that statement
must have known that MIR. StetsOn
has never been removed as a trustee.
He knew, as Others who have given
publicity to like expressions have
known or could have known, that Mr..
Stetson Is a trustee to-day. MIR. Stet-
son is not president of the board. His
term as president expired at the last
meeting. He was not reelected, and
what self.respecting body could be ex-
pected to elect as its president any
man who had denounced it as un-
worthy of confidence and declared he
could not work with it and that he
had abandoned the University and
cared nothing for its future? But
these scribblers and perverters Ut
truth prefer to tell the public that
Mr.. Stetson was displaced as a trustee
when they must know that is not true.
Other statements and conclusions in
the article mentioned are equally at
variance with facts and untenable.
THE SITUATION.
So far from DR.. Forbes connection
with the University being detri-
ment, it is it's hope and salvation.
The prediction that "there will not
be a corporal's guard there at the
opening of another term If he re-
mains" IL on a par with similar pre-.
dictions made year ago as to the
term beginning last October, and yet
the records show the matrlculation
has been greater and the character
of work accomplished by the students
has been more satisfactory than at
any previous term in the life of the
University. There 10 more ''poison-
Gus atmosphere" where newspapers
publishing such stuff circulate than
there 10 In all DeLand. Kent Hall 10
occupied by one of the University
force and the rent of house is saved
thereby. The University does not
own Kent Hall, but pays rent for 1t to
Mr.. Stetson, and when the Chicago
stadents returned, as they do every
year, other students In Kent Hall we're
moved into their places and Kent
Hall was occupied a. stated and the
rental Of another house was saved.
These are the real facts. Compare
them with the scare.head article pub
lished yesterday and zee what uncon.
scionable misre presentations are be-
ing made and how the public is being
imposed upon In the effort to manu-
facture a public sentiment for the
Accomplishment of one purpose-the
elimination of the most diabolical
J persecntion of which the mind can
conceive. And what does 1t avail?
Where 10 the comfort or the benefit
to ,thus attempt the destruction Of
arest Z educational institution? The
Institution will live just 40 sure az
xifist triumphe and truth prevails.
Yours truly
b s4zasassssrs 2. 2. IIETons.
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