The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-18
BOARD OF VISITORS
RI REPLY TO FARMERS \: ! |. ] 5
Its Committee Tells Why pcti-
ton Tor Retention Of Prof. Soulc
Was Not Granted.
FOUND SOME DIsLoYAlTY.
Head Of Department Reported
That Members Of StaffsWcrc
Not Cooperating.

Especial to The Times Dspntch.
,BLACKSBuRG. VA, May little
oard OF visitors OF the Virginia Poly
cchnic now replies to tlcpetitlon OF
he president ana vice-prcsidGnts OF
he Farmers Institute for the rcten-
ion OF Professor A. NJ. Soulc as head
( the College OF Agriculture ard Vlr-
.inia Experimental Station Of Ntrsin'n
It the institute. This petition wax
ut the last meeting Of the
BOARD, April 18th last, and Messrs. j
Thompson Brown and II. NJ. Smith
we're appointed n committee to FRANC
he answer of the board Their state.
mont, meoting fully the charges mad:
against the board and other nembets
,r the College Of Agriculture, Is as fol,
ows:
TO the President and Vice Prcsi-
dents OF the Virginia State
Farmers Institutes:
Gentlcmcn-A petition signed by
the president and n majority Of
the vice-prcsid ents of tho Virginia
State Farmers Institute, and adj
drcssod to the Board Of Visitors of
tho Virginia Polytechnic Institute,
commenting the work Of Professor
Soulc as doan of the agricultural
department. OF the institute and
director Of the Agricultural Tx
pertinent Station, and urging the
board 10 keep him in charge OF
tho work for the remaining time
OF his present contract" was sub
mitted by Major John r. Cowan
to meeting OF the board held at
the institute on April IS, 1907. This
petition has received tho careful
and earnest consideration OF the
board. The board begs TO assure
the petitioners that 1t Is willing
at.all times to give due weight to
the views OF q group OF mon as
representative of the agricultural
interests of the State MS the presi-
dent and Vice presidents of tho
Nirglnin State Farmers Institute,
and to meet. as far as possible,
their wishes, and it greatly regrets
its inability to grant their peti-5
ton, for the following reasons: At
4 meeting Of the board held subse-
quent to the one at which thea
above mentioned petitions was pro-
scented, 1T appeared from Professor
Soule, who was prescnt att the
IlCclliIS, Tia nc IluN dlfeNuyt 4siC-t
cepted the position offered him in
Georgia, and had. committedghim-
self too far to withdraw from his
agreement with tho Georgia nu-s
thorities. 1t was further S GER
tain that Professor Soule had no
complaints to make against the
policy pursued by the board and
the president towards his DEPART
boY 1,aI l,ot IA; ixA
ne had not always recefAed what
he had asked for the board and
tho president had made every rea-
sonable effort to meet his wishes,
as far as proper consideration for
the just claims Of the other de-
partments and the financial inter-
csts of the institution would al
low, and that he had not changed
the opinion fully expressed in his
closing remarks to the members
OF the State Farmers Institute on
the occasion of their Visit to the
college last July. These remarks,
as published in tho pamphlet re-
port OF the proceedings Off the
third State Farmers Institute, held
- in Roanoke, being as follows: ct
should be explained that these re-
marks were made after the motion
Of thanks to DR.. McBryde and Pro-
lessor Soule was carrled.)
Professor Soule-"I want to ex-
press my appreciation to President
McBrydc and the board of visitors
of this institution for the support
they have given my department.
President McBryde has been gra-
cious enough to refer to my work
e j appreciate It. Without his coun-
sci and advice 1 could have accom-
plished little here, and the honor
you have seen proper to confer
upon me more properly belongs tc
him and to the board OF visitors
and If tho work we are doing for
the Virginia farmers meets with
your approval. I am Indeed graft.
fed
Disloyulty Of Some.
Professor Soule, however, refer,
red; to the .disloyalty Of some Of Tho
members OF the station staff to-
wards him. but stated that his com
plants were based very largely OF
rumors which NE had not had tn
opportunity Of verifying, and tina
he did not care to prefer forma
charges against the parties con
cerned. The board agreed witt
him In this position, and wen
on to inform him that no rumor
| whatever as to any unpleasant re
lations existing between him an
his subordinates had -rcached 1t
members since June last. TIL
| board further declared that II
would be at all times willing an
ready to Investigate well.founde
! charges Of disloyalty against an
OF tho college olIlcrlls under 1t
control, as. In its opinion, nothin
could be more fatal to the we'll
being OF an educational establish
mcnt than disloyalty on tha PAL
Of subordinates towards their off
! cial superiors.
"a Further con sideratlon of l2rofes
sor Soules resignation was mad
4 useless by his statement, in al
! swer to question, that even
this cause of complaint could X
removed 1t would now be lmposs
BILE for him to remain at the II
stituto.
Approved by tho board.
S fmnM Ty,1oMpsor nRoyyN