The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-29
.PENDLET0N WINS
OVER MEREDITH
Elected Member Of State
Library Board Last
Night.
PRESAGES END OF
JOHN p. KEN NEDY
Newly Constituted Board Will
Meet Early In July When
It Is Believed the
Librarian Will
walk the
Plank"

BY vote of to 3 the State Board
OF Education, after spirited contro-
versy last night elected Mr. Edmund
Pendleton. OF this city. to succeed Hon.
Charles v. Meredith as member Of
tho State Library Board. and this re-
suit clearly foreshadows the passing
OF Librarian John P. Kennedy at the
first meeting OF the newly constituted
body. early in July.
Indeed, there was never any con-
cealment of the fact that this was the
real issue in the fight against MIR.
Meredith. which started Immediately
upon the determination OF the Library
Board to retain Mr.. Kennedy as lib
rarian and 1t was pressed vigorously
to the end.
The election Of Mr.. Pendleton will
cause no great surprise. certainly
among those who are in fairly close
touch with the situation. for the anti
Meredith leaders In the board have
freely asserted for more than week
that the Richmond lawyer would be
defeated. and 1t was pretty generally
known that Mr.. Pendleton would be
the man.
Tho newly elected member is editor
OF the Richmond Evening Journal. and
has from the inception OF the library
controversy expressed strong opinions
in favor OF Mr.. Kennedy's removal
from office Therefore, II Alessrs. Cor
don and Ftshburne, who voted to call
Tor the Librarians resignation at the
la st meeting. have not changed their
minds on the subject, which appears
altogether unlikely. the situation as
II stands now is exactly the reverse
of that which then existed, and in
stead OF standing three to two in ia .
vor OF Kennedy's retention, the board
stands three to two for his removal.
Put Up Strong Fight.
The State Board OF EducatIon
wrangled over the matter for nearly
two hours last night and Mr.. aIere-
dith's three supporters made a strong
fight for his reelection, but the Pen
dleton men had the votes, aud upon
rcll-call they won "hands down"
Neither OF the candidates was pres
ent, and there were but few persons
other than board members about the
Capitol. though this was no Indication
OF any lack OF interest in the fight.
MT. Pendleton goes into of1co on July
1st and shortly thereafter meettrp
of the board Is expected
What Will be the exact method OF
disposing OF the present head OF the
library is not known. He may resign
in the meantime, but this is not likely.
The board may call for his resignation
| or resolution may be adopted rsmoy-
ing him sunmarily from office. But
the latter course will hardly be ne..
essary, as the librarian holds office at
the pleasure of the board, and the
mere selection OF another in his place
would be sufficient.
At the last meeting OF the board
- lot To-
the vote was: ~
For Kennedy-Messrs. Meredith, Pat.
teson and Garnett-3.
Against Kennedy-A1essrs Gordon
and Fishburne-2.
Familiar History.
The history Of the entire fight ova,
the library sltuation Is still fresh !,
the minds OF the people, The school.
book Investigating committee last Mn.
ter went into the affairs OF that insti.
tuition, and. though their. report is no,
yet out. tho evidence was OF such
nature as to suggest second inquiry
oy the Library Board This was had
una atter the examination Of marr
Witnesses ,s, the board, decided qlat thte
librarian should be retained, -
Ihen the advocates of his remov,
started on different line. Mr.. Mere
dlth's term was about to exn,re56nn,
they determined to defeat him, If nos
sihle, which they succeeded in doin,
last night. ''eE
Meanwhile. there had been much tall
OF the removal of certain members o
the libray staff but so far as is known
this came from the outside. rather thar
from members OF tho board. Anyway
It had its effect. and tended only t
aggravate the feeling against Ken.
nedy and to stimulate greater activit,
among Mr.. Meredith's opponents.
The action of the Board OF Educa
tion last night is regarded as a sigma
victory for the employees In the librar,
under Mr.. Kennedy.
There are already several probabl,
candidates in the field for librarian
These include Messrs. J. G. Iankins. O.
Halifax. and John S. Patton. Of Albe
| marle