The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-07

r,hc inauguration on April 10, 1906. JEFF
ferson's birthday, at the University OF
virginia, OF Dr.. Edwin d. Alderman as
the first president of that renowned ana
: venerable institution of learning with
appropriate and imposing ceremonies, was
participated in by the visitors, lie 1a &C,
i,l,y. the alumni. the students and the
friends of tho University itself, and by
representatives OF other educational In
stjtutfons. More than n Thousand OF the
alumni attended these ceremonies, anu
the occasion will mark the beginning OF
a notable epoch in the Universitg's ms
tory.
In view OF the Importance OF the event,
some account of the origin and develop
ment of the Office of president at the
University may be deemed not inapPro-
pirate at this time, when the old insu-
tuition is attracting not only the atten-
tim or Tho South, but that of tho whole
country.
The scheme of government proposed ny
Mr.. Jefferson In his original plan OF
the University of Virginia was denlar'
cratic in the extreme 1t was SIMPLY
that the head OF the institution should be
a chairman of the faculty, with defined
powers. chosen from the members OF that
. body in rotation and at fixed periods'
until each professor in turn should nave
served as SuCn ClidiiHbdii' nc 7Si''-'i''i'
which was put into effect with the open
e1ing OF the University, continued UNI
changed for n while, but the innovation
Inevitably crept in that the Individual
chairman began to succeed himself; ana
II was not long before the rotation prlh-
ciple dropped out of sight. But the char
manship remained, and the roll of those
who have held the office is distinguished
one, containing among others the non
orea names of Gessner Harrison, Charies
S. yenahle. William NJ. Thornton, p. b.
Barringer, and James Morris Page.
1t was not until the beginning OF the
session of loo4-1e05. more than seventy
4 five wears after the University was
opencd. that the rens of government
/. fell into the hands OF the modern Ameri-
(. can University president. man supposed
to combine the distinctions of scholar
ship and literary achievement, with
broad capacity for business, and to stand
individually as the representative OF ms
institution.
DR., Edwin a. Alderman then assumed
the duties Of the new position by virtue
Of an amendment enacted by the Cen
eral Assembly of Virginia, to the statute
relating to the duties of the board or
visitors. which amendment became law
of the State on the 9TH day of April, ivy.
This law provided that the visitors "shall
appoint a president. with such duties as
NAV be prescribed by said board.
In the present attitude OF the public
mind, induced by the pleasing personality
of DR.. Alderman. by his eloquence aga
charm as public speaker, by his sue
cessful administration UP to this time,
and by the widespread movement inaugu-
rated and prosecuted through his eff
forts. with those of DR.. Thomas Nelson
Page, the present president of the alumni,
aided by an enthusiastic following, to
raise large endowment fund for the
University, 1t Is difficult to conceive of
the tremendous opposition which char
acterzed, but few years ago, the IN
ception of the movement to create the
office of president of the University. This
4 antagonism was largely the result Of a
twofold influence, highly potential IN.
either direction--frst, Of the general
knowledge that Mr.. Jefferson had LETT
on record his strenuous protest against
the scheme, and, second, of the native
conservatism that has characterized both
the University and the political and So
cal State in It's dealings with 1t. 1t was
vainly argued by the friends of tho move
ment that many other institutions had
tried the craftsmanship plan, and. find
ing 1t wanting, had discarded II, and
THAT this had resulted only from the
standpoint Of utility, because all of the
great universities of America. which haC
tried Mr.. 'Jefferson's other distinct uni
versty principle--eclecticism in studies
had ad0ntcd and persistentlY maintained