Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-11-22
Governor Montague Visits the
VIM. /. as Peacemaker

Military Institute, and so uncom-
municative have been the Institute
officials, that the true status has
been difficult to find out. Since
our issue of last week, however,
several important developments
have been learned, which have
tended to increase interest in the
situation. The visit of Governor
Montague as a peacenaker, and
the reported compromise paper
submitted by him and signed by
the members of the third class,
and the publication of the paper
presented to General Ship on
November 2nd, are some of the
Incidents which have occupied
public attention.
Governor Montague, accompani-
ed by former Lieutenant-Governcr
Joseph E. Willard, State Senator
Henry .Wickham of Richmond,
Col. Tazewell Elicit of New York
and Richmond, and Mr.. -.
Richie, private secretary to the
Governor, arrived in Lexington
Thursday morning at 1925 O'Clock
in a special car over the Chesa-
peake and Ohio railroad, They
left that evening at $3.50 O'Clock
on their return trip. The day Yves
spent at the Institute. Governor
Montague called on General Shipp,
and after a short conference with
him on the situation, the dis
tinguished party proceeded to the
barracks where the Governor held
conferences with the recalcitrsnt
third class, whose acceptance OF
the conditions by the Board OF
Visitors for their acts of insubor-
dinaticn, was in doubt. Thursday
afternoon Governor Montague adj
dressed the members of the third
class in tire Y. NJ. G. A. hall, ard
his talk was such C heart-to- heart
presentation Of the situation ss
viewed by him that his young
auditors were visible affected. At
his request the whole class signed
a paper which he prepared. The
exact contents of this paper cannot
be learned, but from information
obtained from several gentlemen
who are in a position to know, 1T
is believed that the statements
subscribed to by the cadets will be
considered as sufficient to meet the
requirements of the Board of Visi'
tors,
Several days after the Cover
nor'e visit to the Institute, informa-
ton leaked out as to the contents
of the paper which he prepared
for the cadets to sigu. 1t is re-
ported that he had considerable
difficulty in convincing the
misguided young men that they
were doing a greater wrong In
persisting in their refusal to recede
from a position which they re-
cCngnized as not right, than to
take the manly position of ex-
pressing regrets for a hasty ana
ill.advised action in doing that
which afterwards was shown 20
be a breach of discipline. The
paper, in substance, is said to be
as follows:
"We, the undersigned members
of the third class of the Virginia
Military Institute, recognize that
in signing the paper dated Novem-
Der End, we violated Section l23
of the Regulations, and we hereby
respectfully request that the paper
be withdrawn as far as possible.
We do net wish that our signatures
be construed in any way as
withdrawal Of the complaints made
in regard to the food at the mess
hail."
Mr.. William T. Shields of Lex
ington, the resident member OF
the Board of Visitors, was given
charge Of the paper, and copy
was sent to each member OF the
Board for action on the same. just
what view the Board will take OF
the matter cannot be learned, but
it is believed that they will accept.
the paper as sufficient expression
of regret on the part OF the
mutinous cadets. But OF this
nothing definite can DO asserted.
The action of the Board, published
last week, showed that every effort
was made bv that body of gentle
men that could be done consistent
with maintaining high standard
OF discipline.
Not until-the latter part Of last
week could copy be secured OF
the paper of November End,
presented to General Shipp by the
third class, in which they threaten
ed to leave the school unless there
was improvement in the fare. This
paper constituted what the Board
of Visitors regarded as a breach OF
discipline. 1t had tie signatures
of twenty-three corporals and
seventy-eight rrivates. Follow
ing is the text of the letter:
Virginia Military Institute,
Lexington, Va, Nov. 2, 1905
To Adjutant Virginia Military In
stitute, Lexington, Va.
Strive, the undersigned men,
bers of the third class, do hereby