The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-14
RICHMOND MAY
LOSE COLLEGE
Lyncllbnrg, Charlottesville and
Bristol Bidding for Great
Baptist School.
MATTER SOON TO BE DECIDED
Report Of Education Commission
Will Be Discussed This Week
at Charlottesville.

/ On the eve Of the session OF the Ban
list General Association Of Virginia.
when Important events shaping the fu-
| ture OF the denominations educational
! work In the state arc likely to occtire.
Richmond stands In imminent danger OF
sinking to secondary place in great
system of girls schools expected In the
course Of time to make it's Influence
felt through all the Sousn
1t has long been the talk OF Virginia
Baptists TO found a central woman's
college. sufficiently endowed and thor
oughly equipped that VIII be the nucleus
OF a group scattered over the entire
state. With a calm assurance that has
had about the same effect as utter neg
#lect, Richmond has apparently taken 1t
for granted that her position as the nat
sural center OF UNCONVENTIONAL activity
in Virginia issunnssailable, and that the
school will necessarily come to this city
whether any effort is made to secure 1t
or not. There has been a good deal of
mild discussion, and not a little self
congratulation Mt tho prospect of an inn
portant addition to the Imposing roll of
educational institutions located here,
but nothing came Of it but talk No
proposition was made and not a single
5inducement has been offered
III Meanwhile three other Virginia cities
have been quietly at work. with the re-
suit that the chances of any one Of the
three are to-day better than those of
Richmond. Bristol, Charlottesville and
Lynchbulg are clamoring for the col
lege the business men uniting with the
Baptists themselves In making it adj
svantageous to the association to select
the particular location they advocate.
An effort will likely be made to force
the issue at the meeting which begins
this week, and if this effort is successful
Bristol or Charlottesville will in all prob-a
ability walk off with the prize. Rich-
mond will be strongly advocated, not
wthstandng her failure to compete, but
the powerful opposition with which this
movement will be met unless the city
does something at the last moment,
promises to sway the association.
Precise Situation.
The precise situation In the education
commission which under the supervision
OF the association is directing the work
of co-ordinatng the Baptist schools of
I
yesterday by a member of the body who
will have Il weighty Influence in shaping
the report to be made. The commission
has held a number of sessions and will
meet again Thursday in Charlottesville,
where the association will assemble. I'm
der the instructions of the association
The commission has directed its first ef-
forts to plans for lifting the debts on the
Baptist schools of the State. but its
time has also been largely devoted to
consideration of the coordination scheme
with more particular reference to the
proposed new woman's college.
1t may be stated positively that several
members OF the commission, perhaps
majority, are in favor Of settling the
question OF the location Of the college at
this session of the association, and that
they will endeavor to goito the bodysthis
week with a report pledging tho Baptsts
10 locate the school In Richmond. ...s
matter will come UP at the meeting
Thursday. and will be threshed out with
results not easy to predict. The propo-
sition will be vigorously fought in the
commission and If it gets before the
association will be even more vigorously
met there. All of ~tnis is BASEL upon the
assumption that Richmond continues
easily GUST all competitors If 1t made
proposition, and the school
would unnuestionably come here.
Will Take Chances.
In the absence Of any such proposition
the advocates Of Richmond Will ask that
this city be chosen, trusting to the get
ting later on Of the property cons'der;r-
tons and money offered at the outset by
the other three places.
The fight will occur! right here. The
It is learned. has asked for
bids. Lynchburg has offered
S100oo0 ms an induccmcnt. and Charlottes-
vile the Rawlings Institute property and /
4 subscription amounting to about |
SIS 900. Bristol, it Is understood. will go
TO the association preparcd to offer the |
Virginia Institute property, |
with 100000. Richmond will offer moth