Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-08-07
the U. VA. PRESIDENCY.

The result OIL the meetluS Vi VIC
Board OF Visitors of the University OF
Virginia last week, when they assem-
bled to elect a president for that in
stitution, was very disappointing.
This IS the second or third abortlve
attempt made to perform this work
and the public is growing weary. IL
is not very long now until the session
will begin and surely there cOnid
have been something done by Ibis
time, if not before. What is to be
gained by delays no one seems to know.
Such delays Often-and this case has
been no exception-cause the worst
blood to be stirred. Had the election
been made promptly months ago the
situation could not have been half 30
bad, no matter who succeeded In OBJ
tanning the office. Now all are ashamed
OF the "muss" that has been kicked
up. We do not think that the like has
been seen in Virginia In a long time,
and we hope the like of it " i'll not soon
be seen again. The fight has been
made principally on Col. Geo. w.
Miles.
Without expressing any opinion as
to whether be was the best man for the
place, we must admit that he came
more strongly endorsed than any one
else. We must admit that the fight
made On him by the faculty was un
seemly, undignitied and i'll advised-we
do not want to be MISUNDERSTANDING
do not mean to say that the faculty
had no right to express an opinion
but we do say that the assault made
ON Mr.. Miles personally has been be
littling, and was the means of putting
the signers of the protest issued te
avoid his election sin hole" as the
expression goes. On the other HAND
Mr.. Miles has now issued IAN address
to the people of Virginia, intended tt
indicate himself. We are not advO
Gates usually of ''self vindications.
They often lower the dignity of a con
troversy and most generally fail il
their object. This may be case il
point. We believe his paper SHOULD
not have been written.
Now what we wish to emphasize II
our unqualified disapproval of the de
lays resorted to. They have bred thi
trouble, and they will be the means o.
bringing all the Odinm that can result
from this heated controversy, upor
the University, and if it goes on mucf
longer the results will be far more dis
astrOus than anything that has evel
befallen her. AS bad as may hav'
been the election of any man applying
for the position, or even considered
such a condition would have been in
10 sense comparable to present condi
tions. After the election all would
have settled down to the work allot
ted, and the State would have been
spared the humiliation of the present
situation. After all no man knows
just who will best fill such position,
and we regret that in recent years
most positions are not generally award
ed to the meritoriOus, but are given to
those who have pull, or whose ances.
try had pull, or who cannot exist
without pull on the leg of somebody.
The Board, as we have said, has made,
We think, a great mistake in the dila
tory methods adopted. They seem to
be afraid to tackel the proposition, and
this situation is like many others, it is
no place for weaklings or towards, or
even hesitating persons. The game
must be fought to finish and should
have been ended long ago.