The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-05
WEDNESDAY. JULY s. 1906.
The University of Virginia.

F.
in the Inauguration of DIR. Alderman
as First President of the University OF
Virginia, the Popular Science Monthly
deplores the abandonment of what 1t
conceives to have been Jeffersons ideal
OF a democratic university In a demo-
of administration
In Says the article In part:
st ''While the accumulation of wealth and
i certain kind OF efficiency are undoubt-
eddy attained by present methods in
politics. In business and in education,
they are probably passing phases in our
democracy. 1t would DO a severe ar
ragnment Of democracy and Of higher
education to hold that those who make
n university can not conduct IT,.
II the people will not directly support
university, they will not continue to do so
indirectly through the gifts Of million
aires IT eem pity that some of the COM
,plcations inevitable In IAN imperfect de.
mocracy and the temporary backwnrdness
of the South in appreciation OF educa-
tional matters as compared with the
+ central and western States have led the
University OF Virginia to diverge in the
direction OF our private eastern institu-
tons instead of maintaining intact the
ieocratIc ideals Of It's founder"
Senator Martins address at the install
lation of DR.. Alderman made 1t
clear that Jefferson was not op-
posed to n President OF tho uni
aversity per Sc. His Ideals was
education for everybody. and he cared
oh hon ~
-the university was called. To-day were
he here Thomas Jefferson would rejoice
with his fellow citizens over the oppor-
tunity for widened usefulness which has
come to the university by the creation
Of a Chief Executive. Nor would be
real democracy.
No bodyIof men have ever discharged
their duties" With moro fidelity or dis
tinction than the members OF the Faculty
of tho University Of Virginia, who from
1926 to 1905. created and kept a world
wide reputation for scholarship and an
unparalleled standard OF honor.
There has never been the slightest re-
Election on either the capacity or the
actions of the professors who had SO
long and so well directed tho influence
and energies OF the university, but uni
yersIties as we'll as States are utopias on
~ in dreamy imaginings. With evcry
increase OF efficiency or widening scope
in education or government there fol-
lows the inevitable demand whether for
buildings or railroads, libraries or post
Offices. and all the complex machinery OF
modern life.
To loosen the estraying sea between
the wished for and the possible. 1t was
essential that the duties necessarily In
cidcnt TO the working OF q great univer.
slty should dc divided.
In making this apportionment the state
OF Virginia had the singular good for
tune TO find In DR.. Alderman an educa.
tor who both knew the needs OF the body
corporate, as well as the soul of q uni
versity. To him has been given the high
task of harmonizing not only the aimcs
OF the university with its capabilities blu
OF awakening in tho people OF this State
qu!ckening sense OF their personal re
sponslbuty LOT the SUCCESS or lhelr chle
institution OF learning.
TO regard President Alderman as
mere wleedler of mllionaires is to ut
terly mistake both his calibre and th'
temper Of our people.
Virginia knows tho va!uo Of educatio,
and is willing to pay the price that al
success in education or any other rcn
pnosrcss cxncts. But none the less {
The State ito be congratulated upon hay
Ing Us q leader in the struggle for NOR
and better education. such man az d,
Alderman. even II his coming involve
q charge in the form OF administrator
created by Thomas Jefferson.