The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-02-10
SOUTHERN STATESMEN.


tin. gives the following interesting re
sumo of the. Bailey Alderman con
troversy:
Senator Joseph W. Bailey. of Texas
Is very indignant because of a speecl
recently delivered before New Yorl
audience by DIR. Alderman. president
Of the University of Virginia, il
which he declared that there were M
trained men In public life from the
SOUTH and asserted that Southern
craftsmanship has greatly deterioratet
from that of thirty years ago.
The speech provoked considerable
resentment among southern men IN
public life at Washington, not so much
because of the criticism of them which
1t involved as for the spirit which
prompted a southern man to single out
FOR criticism his own section, and
Senator Bailey addressed to Nj.
Thomas Nelson Page a letter on the
subject. The reason Mr.. Bailey wrote
, the letter to MI. Page, rather than to
DIR. Alderman, is because Mr.. Page is
chairman of committee of alumni OF
the University of Virginia, from
which the Texas senator felt bound to
resign because OF Dr.. Alderman s
speech. His reasons for taking Thu
step are set forth In full in the letter,
copy of which follows:
Washington, Jan. z, 1905. MIR.
Thomas Nelson Page. Washington. D.
C.-Dear Sir; Some time ago you and
Others were good enough to designate
me as member of committee
whose duty it is to raise by subscIIp-
tlon suitable fund for the University
of Virginia. 1 did not at that time
hccept the appointment. because /
doubt the propriety of man while
engaged in the public service solicit
ing large contributions, even for the
most worthy purposes, but did not
feel 1t necessary to protest against the
use OF my name as member of that
committee. Recently, however, a
circumstance has arisen which compels
me to insist upon the withdrawal Of
my name from all connection with the
work which your committee was in
tended to promote.
t'The circumstance to which l refer
lie the speech which Dr.. Alderman, the
present head of the university, de-
livered before the Southern Society of
New York, in which he makes a mean
and wholly unwarranted reflection
upon the intellect and standing OF
southern senators and representatives
in congress Ii thought the estimate
expressed DR.. AldeIman's candid and
unbiased opinion of the southern men
who are now engaged in the service OF
their respective states would feel
less resentment; but as | am con-
strained to believe that ne was seeking
the favor OF those milllonaiTes who are
supposed to abhor certain principles
and policies advocated by southern
senators and representatives, find it
is impossible tc be patient with his
criticism.
ut would seem that those Of our
own section, who complain that the
south no longer supplies the republic
with such men as John g. Calhoun,
Henry Clay and jefferson DAVIS, would
also remember that other sections no
longer contribute such men as Daniel
Webster, Rufus Choate and Abraham
Lincoln. Without entering into an
explanation of the fact that changes in
the habits and occupations of our
people have established different,
and, perhaps, lower test of excellence
in our public servants. I need only
Iemind thoughtful and candid men
that southern representatives and sena-
tors of this time compare as tavorably
with their associates in intellect,
character and conduct. as did their
PACuOCcbSOIb, anu IL IL NO UudU Iu6
quality of southern leadership is not SO
high as it was in the other days, the
same can be asserted with equal truth
as to all other sections With this fact
obvious to every thinking man, have
scant respect for southern educators
who unduly dispraise their own neigh
b0rs.
Much as would rejoice in the
prosperity of the University of Vir-
ginia, would rather see its ancient
halls of learning deserted than to see
them made the place where false and |
unjust opinions of southern men and |
southern principles are instilled into
the minds OF southern youth.
'RegIetting beyond expression the
which has rendered it
impossible foi me to cooperate with
you IN your undertaking. I have the
honor to be very truly yours.
-. W. BAILEY. :"