The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-14
ONLY CONFESSION
AND AVOIDANCE
The Card From Class OF
Professor Williams
ALTERS NO FACTS.
The Incident as to the Remarks of tic
Lecturer on the Confederate Soldier
Was Correctly Reported from In
terview with Hon. inc. C.
Scarborough.

Readers of the News and Observer
will remember the story of the rehec-
tions cast upon the Confederate sol
dier by Lecturer Williams, at the A
and Nj. College Summer School Mon
day afternoon.
Yesterday the matter took the form
of u communication from the ''class,
signed BY several ladies and gentle
men, with the request that it be pub
lished. The communication is as fol
lows:
THE Civil Government Glass of the
"A. and NJ. Summer School begs t.
submit the following corrections tC
the article which appeared in the
News and Observer OF Tuesday, the
18th, concerning the instructor, Prof
Williams. of Clayton.
"In the article referred to it wa.
stated that Prof. Williams was inter
rupted during the course of his lee
ture by Hon. Jno. G. Scarborough
x-Superintendent OF Public Instruc-
ton, who begged to differ with Prof
Williams os to his views concerning
Confederate soldiers. In speaking OF
the military form of government Prof
Williams stated that he believed thai
as rule soldiers are liable to have
more or less prejudice towards a gov
eminent against which they have
fought, and that war is therefore Sc;
riously unfortunate for any nation.
At this point Prof. Scarborough
asked Prof. Williams if he meant t.
reflect on the Confederate soldiers
Prof. Williams replied coolIy that he
did not; that his father was a Con
federate soldier, and that no man haC
a higher regard for them than he, ana
certainly if there be. any prejudice
ii is fully balanced by thai
among the Federals.
"In the discussion, so far as wa
could see, no indignation was shown
by either gentleman. both of them af
forwards stated that they were not a .
all indignant. No sensation or Tex.
element was created, as your re,
porter stated and there was no ap
plause whatever.
"our reporter reflected seriousl.
and unjustly OH Prof Williams by
saying that the lecture was dry ant
unoriginal. This is grossly untrue
The lecture was entirely original an(
was interesting to an unusual degree
The membership of Prof. Williams
class has steadily grown till the au-
thorities of the college were forced
to give him much larger room. This
is proof that he is not a dry speaker
by any means.
prof. Williams is a most excellen;
and interesting teacher. He is q pop
ular at the Summer School and we
regret that such exaggerated state
ments gained entrance into your col,
umns.
"Respectfully submitted,
(Signed)
"W. FL. SYKES.
NELLIE LUNCEFORD,
@ELIZABETH LI1WELLEN,
KATE EDWUNDSON.
EDWARD w. MANN,
81. B. SMITH,
COMMITTEE appointed by the class
agricultural and Mechanical Col
lege, July IS, 1904"
Now, the above letter is both pal
Native and adroit. 1t embraces thf
truth, but with the transient clash OF
of an evanescent figure Of the ole
quadrille If you will remember the
original article. it is neither weaken
ed nor amended in its facts. The
difference is but a seeming one-the
difference of students in close com
munion with a daily instructor and g
reporter hot from a long hunt after
the principal actor in the incident.
The facts as printed in this paper