The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1906-07-31

whom we conclude 20 be no other
than our good friend Joe Taylor,
now on the editorial staff of that
paper; has the following splendid
article about the University
The board of trustees of the
University of Mississippi will
meet at no distant date to elect a
chancellor. Upon the action
taken at that meeting much will
depend. A wise selection will
mean a maintenance of the dig
! nifty and prestige of the institu-
ton. A mistake will mean a
gradual lowering of its standards
sure impairment of its useful
ness. For this reason the State
is profoundly interested in the
coming action of the board. 1t
will watch it with attention and
j@dge it with impartiality. Par
ticularly do the old students,
alumni and others, who went out
from the school with grateful
memories feel that the present
moment is critical; that the
soundest judgment is required
in the interests Of the institution
and the general educational sys-
tenn of the State. Some of them
feel that the board made a mis-
take in practically calling for the
resignation of Chancellor Fulton.
Others. while recognizing his
eminent services in the past, are
inclined to think change would
infuse new life and vigor into
the management Of affairs.
There is room for an honest diff
ference of opinion on that point.
No man has ever pleased every
body.
The board probably realizes the
difficult task before it. Good
men who measure up to the
standard that should be exacted
in candidate for chancellor of
a great institution are not too
numerous these days. Not many
of them are unattached and to
be had for the asking. Not many
would care to leave a position of
even less dignity than the one
offered unless satisfied that con-
ditions were such as to permit
them to entertain the hope of an
uninterrupted career. Scholars
of high ability, clean character
and deep devotion do not care to
essay the role of soldier of for
tune. They prefer to hold fast
to what they have. OF course,
there are men in plenty; good
enough men for certain positions
and no doubt capable of growth,
who may in time find their worth
level with their ambitions. The
board of trustees could enlist
battalion of those without difficult
ty. But the chancellor of the
head of the educational system
of the State should not come
from their ranks. He should be
a man whose ability has been
ripened by experience and whose
experience has been of a charac-
ter to~fit him pre-eminently for a
high and dignified charge. He
may be diplomat, but he should
not be a politician. He should
be a man who would not suffer
by comparison with the chancel-
lors the university has had up to
the present time with Gen. Stew
art. that rigid old martinez whose
mind was of a military cast and
who was respected while he was
feared; with Edward Mayes, pro-
found lawyer and gentlest of
men; with r. B. Fulton, capable
professor and businesslike chan
ceIlor-a man capable of interest
ing himself at the same time in a
difficult electrical experiment and
the state of the turf on the cam
pus. Above all, he should have
the support of the board and
snouId be made to feel he has
that support. Without that,
there is an end to authority.
Youth is aspiring. youth is COM
bative, youth is prone to discon-
tent. And if a college boy feels
there are men on the board who
are not friendly to the one whom
he dislikes he mentally forms a
league with them and feels his
l.