Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-01
STUDENTS IN REVOLT
Against Howard
University President.
ALUMNI TAKE PART
BOARD OF TRUSTEES REQUESTED
TO REMOVE DIR. GORDON.
The Latter Declines to Discuss the
Matter-Charges Of Race Dis
elimination Preferred.

The students and alumni of Howard Uni
versity have combined in an effort to GUST
Rev. John Gordon from the presidency of
the institution, and a petition setting forth
their grievances was presented to the board
of trustees yesterday. Charges of incom-
potency and lack of sympathy with the pur-
poses of the university are in general terms
the reasons set forth why change should
be made in the head of the institution.
There have been strenuous times at the
university all the year. it is alleged. and
President Gordon has been Kissed and
otherwise insulted whenever he appeared
before the students
From a careful investigation made at the
| university by reporter of The Star to-
day 1t is disclosed that the trouble begin
when the president supplanted two colored
officials with white men. This angered
the students. Later, when an effort was
made to do away with the commercial de-
partment, the recommendation of President
Gordon was regarded as unfrlendly
Some days ago. so the students say Pres
fdent Gordon notified the professor of math-
ematics. Mr. Kelly Miller. that. If he ex-
pected to continue in his capacity as In
structor of mathematics next year. he
and that he would not be permitted to go
about the country delivering lectures The
students resented this because as one of
them said. Prof. Miller was a good talker,
ana his lectures did much to help Howard
University.
lndustrlalism Disapproved
Then there was President Gordon's al
legged lack of interest in athletics. as ex-
planned by the students. and worst OF ALL
his evident purpose to subordinate the
teaching ftthe higher education to indus
trialism.
They think it is the Presidents purpose
to fashion Howard University after Tus-
kegee. and teach the men to work with
their hands instead of their brains. These
are some of the causes which led up to the
presentation of petition to the board of
trustees yesterday by members of the
alumni of the university
Monday night there was a meeting called
at Galbraith Chapel by some of the leading
Spirits IN the movement, and at this meet
ing committee was appointed to draft a
suitable petition and present it to the trus-
tees. rms committee consisted of ex-Rep-
resentative George II. White chairman:
Rev w. A. Sinclair. Rev. D. A Wiseman.
Kew. s. r. Corothers, E. NJ. Hewlett. A. W.
scott; Perry W. Frisbee, Whitfield McKin-
Iey' MISS M. X. Bowen, Mrs. Ida Bailey
Lewis Neill. j. w. Cromwell, secretary of
the American Negro Academy, and Mrs.
Eva Heath.
After the committee had perfected it's
protest against the continuance of Dr. Cor
don as president, permission was asked of
the board of trustees for an opportunity TO
De heard That came yesterday when the
podI r Ihet at the university in regular an
huai session. Rev. w. A. Sinclair, in the
absence Of Chairman White presented the
petition 1t recited the belief of the com
mlttee IN President Gordon's inability to
conduct the affairs of the institution not
only because of his lack of administra tive
ability, but also because of his limited edu
cational qualifications.
charges were also made that he discrimi-
mated against colored professors and no.
Ing out of sympathy with the negro race
was OF no practical benefit to the institl,-
ton The petition also called attention 70
fresloent Gordon's inability to assist the
university financially, and stated that since
ms lncumbency but $1,000 had been col
Iected in its behalf.
The board of trustees took the matter
under Amusement.
Students Discuss Situation.
AT the university this morning the sub
Ject was freely discussed by the students.
The graduates discussed the matter among
themselves but hesitated to saw anythir o
for publication. The undergraduates. how
ever, had no scruples. One of them put IT
this way: -
president Gordon may be a good man
Tor all l know, but he has no business All
this university. His lack of sympatbv with
the students and his peculiar ideas about
the future of the colored man, expressed on
many occasions, coupled with his evident
prejudice, have destroyed whatever useful
ness he may have had here The entire
student body is opposed to him and the
good or the institution would seem to srg-
geSt that he be separated from it, When
ever he has appeared before the students
ne mas been hooted Missed and at thu. grad
uaIon exercises OF the Training School for
Nurses ne was actually spit upon Few of
the tudents attended the baccalureate SER
mon delivered by him last Sunday and his
reception 10 the graduates was attended nv
only seven This gives some idea of how,
he is regarded here. Tonight. when the
upper glasses graduate at Convention Hall.
L look for disturbance. The bows feel a o.
grieved, and will show their displeasur If
he takes any part in the exercises
Another one of the causes which led IN
90 the unfriendly demonstration agains.
the president was his recommendation that
hereafter students be required to nav a
, Zee OF $50 This. it Is understood the trus-
ICES nave oecided Will not apply to those
students VINO have already matriculated.
MIR. Whites Statement.
chairman George H. White of the com
mittee that presented the petition summed
up the situation from his point of view to
a representative of The Star this morning.
Howard University" he said. was des
tined for the higher educational develop
ment of the negro and is the crying neces-
sity OF the age. 1t Is the evident purpose
OF president Gordon to subordinate the de-
velopment of the brain to the training of
the haEds In Industrial pursuits. We can
get TINS at Tuskegee and Hampton How
ara University should be a university in