Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-02
CHOICE OF PRESIDENT
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA 10
CHOOSE ONE APRIL 10.
The Alumni Hoping for Satisfactory
Solution of Vexing Problem
Rumor of Friction.

The University of Virginia alumni In this
city are soecuiating as to who will lie
chosen president OF their alma mater April
10 next. Since the law was passed over n
year ago by the Virginia state legislature
requiring that the university be governed
by a president instead OF by a chairman
of the faculty. as has been the custom since
the establishment of the institution In 1926
by Thomas jefferson. there has been con-
tinued uncertainty as to who would be
chosen for the position.
The board of visitors. which is the su-
preme governing body of the university.
has met again and again for the purpose
of electing the president, and each meeting
has resulted In no choice. There have been
many men. both from the north and tire |
SOUTH named for the place. but in each in
stance some objection has been made that
prevented selection. Even now those
alumni who keep on the inside OF what is I
being done at Charlottesville in regard 70
the university are doubling that any elec-
ton will take place, although Eppa Hunton-
jr.. member of the board of visitors an
nounced In Richmond, Va, this week that
an election Will surely be made next month
These doubts, they point out. are caused
by the many failures of the board curing
the past year to choose m m. a great
cause for disbelief In the rumored elect on
is the known state of friction between the U
board of visitors and the faculty or the
university. 1t is stated that ii Is very hard}
for the board to md a man who would be
acceptable to the professors. especially az
in the past they have been accustomed to-
conduct their departments they chose,
the whole be 4g under the general super
vision of enc of Their number. WHO held
the position. chairman of the faculty. To
hold the place of president of the Univer-
s;ty of Virginia for the first time Is regards
al If hnnnr esDpci iily salts
factory iBcumbency would call for rare}
powers of administration and great
amount of tact IN establishing friendly re-
lations with the D: ofessors, who would nat
urally feel aggr.eved at the slightest IN
roads upon tier ancient rights and priv
ileges.
Member of Faculty Favored.
When the law authorizing the election or
a president was first passed. ii was thought
the best plan would be to secure the serv-
ices of an outside man. With this idel
prevailing several eligibles were put for |
ward, George w. NJ les of Rldford. Va. ]
Bassett Moore of New York and DIR. Nc
Bride, the press mt head of the Virginia.
Polytechnic Institute. being among those
mentioned. This spring the argument has
been advanced that the w.sest selection
possible would be man from the ranks OF
the faculty itself. and IL is claim ID that
this idea has gradually gained ground.
The argument in favor of 1t is that the
faculty would fall with better grace under
the new regime If the man over II were
one of its own number. who could. by his
past experience, adapt himself to the Pc
cular conditions and the delicate situations.
that must necessarily arise at first. SomeI
of the local alumni state that several OF
the Virginia professors have openly saidI
that they would prefer one of their own
number for the new honor.
In this connection DIR. James NJ. Page.
professor of mathematics. has been thu.
most prominently mentioned. He Is now
acting as temporary chairman OF the facul-
ty until some permanent arrangement has
been made. Some years ago he filled the
position of chairman, making himself inn
mensely popular during his service. and
showing a marked ability for practical mat
ters and administrative routine. There Isl
little doubt that his associates in the facul-
ty would support him If his name were put
before the board of visitors, and II ia
thought that this will be done.
The selection OF man for this position
has come to be a necessity. but the alum
nj here and in Virginia fear that nothing
definite Will be done in the matter before
next autumn. at the earliest. When the
president assumes control at the university.
it will be in opposition to the expressed
policy of the institution IS outlined and put
into effect by Thomas Jefferson. The legis-
lature authorized the reform only after
much hesitation and with the fact staring
them in the face that the conditions had
become such as TO make the duties Of the
head of the university so arduous I'd
prevent the incumbent performing them
satisfactorily without interfering with his
professional work.
Jefferson's Idea.
1t was Jefferson's idea that the profe ;sors
as well as the students. were TO have as
much freedom as possible in the performs
ance of their duties. In order to insure
this he made no provision for strict gov
erning power. but In fact took care tina
each professor should have the authority &c
conduct his classes as he saw fit without
intervention from the nominal head of the
university. With the incoming of a presi
dent this order of things will necessarily
be changed. ard each professor VIII have
to conform TO the rules and laws of the In
stitution as adopted and set forth by The
president.
In view of the difficulties of the situation
the board of visitors which is body ere
ated by the governor of Virginia. has de
layed matters, hoping that there woult
come a solution of their trouble. The con
sequence is that today the whole AFFAIR
unsettled. and apparently no man has bee
fixed on as a likely candidate, unless ii b.
DIR. Page.
II the board keeps its promise. as express
ed by Mr.. Hunton. a decision will be reach
ed within a month. If this is done. the difhc
uties now in the way of A satisfactory set
Element of the matter will have to be swep
away, it is conceded. by master of diplo