Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-11-29
Board of Visitors Insist on Ex-
pressien of Regret

pfS5Sl0n Oh negESt
The Board Of Visitors of the
Virginia Military Institute held a
meeting in Richmond last We'd
nesday night, November 22nd, for
the purpose of taking action on
the compromise paper presented to
the recalcitrant members CT the
third class by Governor Montas ne
and signed by them. At that
meeting the members of the Board
reiterated their former action ind
declined TO take any STEPS that
would in their judgment weaken
the force of the demands for dis
cipline at the Institute. Follow
ing is the report of the meeting as
published in the Tines Dis patch
of Thursday:
After earnest and careful de-
liberation, continuing through
more than four hours, and .Onclud-
ing after o'clock this morning,
the Beard of Visitors OF the Vir-
sinia Military Institute unanimous
ly rejected the paper sub nitted ty
the cadet third class, charged
with insubordiDatiOn. and, as final
action disposing of the matter for
all time, ordered that the extreme
penalty of dismissal be enforced
upon all who shall at che expiration
of seven days have failed to comply
with the regulation hereafter
made,
In the course of the long dis
cussion nearly every nember of
the board and several distinguished
gentlemen Invited to he present
and participate in the session,
spoke briefly or at length as he de-
sired, urging his views as to the
most advlsable action or making
suggestions tended to relieve the
remarkable situation confronting
TIE infringement of the institute.
1t was generally recognized that
the future of the historic old school
was at stake. Concessions were
urged, Governor Montague, Lieu
tenant Governor Willard, Judge |
Thomas N. Wilcox of Norfolk,
and others appeared and attempted
to stem the tide, arguing that the
insurgent cadets were thoroughly |
peni.ent; thot they were holding
back simply because they could uot
in honor go farther than they had
done and that in fact they had in
t. ne military spirit,if not in express
terms, submitted the the decision
of their superiors and complied
with the demands Of the board.
Every consideration was given
to the statement made by these
gentlemen. but the argument was
of no avail. Members of the board,
one after the other, arose and dc j.
clared that to recede would be
disastrous to the Institute, and
that il the future of the school
would be preserved the board
must stand firm in it's position
elready taken and insist upon
express compliance with its re-
quirements. There was tut one
dissenting voice. Captain f. l..
Smith oil Alexandria, while cast
ing his vote with the majority,
expressed satisfaction with The
paper which, he declared, coupled
in substance with the demands of
the board. The others, to u man,
were opposed to any concessions.
Mr.. Shields was the first mem
Der to address the chair. 1t was
important, be thought, that the
board should not recede from les
position. He had just received
telephone message from Licking
ten, saying that the third class
was then in session, and that all
but seven members had agreed tc
sign an expression of regret, and
there wa, hope of getting the
entire class into line. Any re-
cession by the board would have
bad effect. Mr.. Shields said the
academic department of the Instl
tute had placed itself on record to
the effect that ii the beard settled
the Eatter on any other basis than
that defined at the last meeting it
would prejudice discipline and
would Fave a disastrous effect on
the corps end particularly on the
third class.
Mr.. Hamilton, surrendering the
chair, made an earnest speech, in
tho course of which he pointed out
the grGvityN0f the situation and
sailed for decisive action. A COM
promise, he said, would strike At
inc very foundation of the Insti.
tute. Discipline must be MAIN
tanned rigidly or the board might
rs we'll close the school. The
sentiment prevailed. Only the
TACT that the intervention of Gov
,rnor Nc ntague created among the
cadets the impression that through
ais great influence the paper sub.
nitted last night would be accept
ID, saved the class from summary
dismissal. In view of this condi-
ion the board allowed time for
'rrther consideration.
The time is extended seven days
rom the date of the publication