The statesman., 1905-12-08
REV. HAMLIN AND HOWARD UNI.
VERSITY

IN washington last week was din
ner party given at the home of DR..
Teunis s. Hamlin, president of the
trustee board of Howard university.
This is significant from the fact that
only the white men of the investigat-
ing committee were present The
committee have held several meetings
and as far as can be learned the
charges against DR.. Gordon, the presi-
dent, OF incapacity. inefficiency and
lack of real interest in the general up
building of the institution have been
sustained The desire to remove DR..
Gordon has been growing in the minds
of all the people interested in this
university for months. 1t has become
a conviaSsss that he is utterly unfit
and doss not possess in any degree
one sinSsp qualification. Besides, he
has proven very expensive luxury,
for before the trustees saw this man
they accepted him on the sole recon-
mendation of his brother-in-law, Dr.
Hamlin. AT the time of his appoint.
ment his salary was increased $1,000
more than had ever been paid to any
former president DR.. Gordon does
not teach as did former presidents,
but has stenographer, a typewriter
a regular routine OF paid helpers, in
creasing the expense of the uniyer-
sity several thousand dollars.
The year before, Dr. Rankin Sc
cured his full salary although he had
taught only half the year. But the
trustee board magnanimously voted
$4,000 OF the university's funds to Ir.
Hamlin for bullying, brow-beating and
bulldozing the students and not a few
Of the teachers during the formers
unexpired term. If anybody can tell
what he did to earn the $4,000 let that
person come forward and explain.
The university did not get any bet
er service but in words Of the popular
song each of the presidents might
say: q got mine; my $1,000 leave
with pay" / got mine, said Hamlin-
my generous gift from the trustees.
DR.. Gordon spent the greater part
of the summer going about in the
north ostensibly for the purpose Of
securing contributions to increase the
endowment of the university-of
course, at the expense of the uniyer-
sity-but, up to date, the large sums
he set out to obtain, have not yet
materialized. Certain it is that had
he been successful the fact would
have been loudly proclaimed. But
why such result should have been ex-
pected. we outsiders are at loss to
understand. One needs only to see
him in the pulpit or on the platform
TO feel that in every sense of the word
he means failure. He possesses Meth
er learning nor eloquence, no mag
netism, nor even the homely qualities
of sincerity and good will
DIR. Gordon would not be kept at
Howard university a single day were
II not for the influence of his brother
in.law, DR.. Hamlin, who is pastor of
a large and fashionable church. He
it is who Is the controlling spirit
plainly debating all DR. GOrdon's ac-
tions. Every one knows Hamlin's at
titude so far as the Colored people
are concerned. He set himself square
on that question in the Presbytery
last summer when he elected the Col
ored churches in order to unite the
WHlle SOuIH Win tHe nOftD. imagine
the hypocrisy of this man assuming
to dictate the policy of an institution
designed especially TO meet the needs
of the Colored people of this country
who strive and aspire to higher edu-
cation
Since DR.. Hamlin Is the head and
front of the institution, instead Of
spending his lime in honestly building
up the several departments. putting