The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1908-08-08
70 accept the situation and do my duty

In view of conditions l regard Presi-
dent Hardy's letter of July 20 to the
people, and his other communications
and utterances since that time as a
piece OF brazen efrontery, in open de-
fiance of what / understand and believed
and accepted as the professed and ac-
cepted policy or conditions of settle
ment. In my opinion President Hardy's
attitude, which will be detailed at the
proper time, is calculated to either
deeply humiliate and embarrass certain
parties who had testified not to his lik-
ing, or else coerce them into line, or
else make conditions so ~unbearable as
to cause them either to leave the col
lege or give him an excuse for dis
charging them. l do not appreciate to
the least degree President Hardy's
cond uct and attitude in this and other
regards since the action of the board,
and it looks very much to me like he
either does not know how, or does no
intend, to profit by past unfortunate
and hurtful experience. Insofar as |
know or believe, there was no trade or
understanding, as has been frequently
stated, by which the trustees were to
sustain or compliment him, then, after
wards, hat President Hardy would re-
sign. The public should bear in mind
that this investigation was directly
caused by a resolution introduced by
me and passed by the board on June 2,
1908, and which is as follows:
"'Whereas, There has been charges
of neglect of duty, inetficiency of serv-
ice and i~ncompetency to fill the posi-
ton, and counter charges thereof, by
some of the higher employees of this
college, and there being an apparent
feeling of unrest, dissatisfied on, lack
Of confidence in and antagonism be-
tween certain of such high employees,
and in view of the fact hat such con-
dition, and a continuation thereof, will
unquestiOnally and too soon work to
the serious harm of this great institu.
ton and it's broad field of usefulness,
therefore be it
Resolved, That this board of trus-
tees, in order that justice may be done,
and the future best interest of this col.
lege may be had and safeguarded, that
they hereby agree to meet on notice
of the chairman, within the next sixty
days, for the purpose of thoroughly in
vestigating conditions generally at this
college,
1.-The public should also remember
that in accordance with above resolu-
ton all the members of the faculty
were summoned by the board to ap-
pear, and that they testified under oath
hence no testimony offered bears the
semblance of being voluntary or of a
'tattling' nature, and If the general
public knew how hard it was in many
instances to get the facts from many
witnesses they might wonder why. 1t
should also be remembered no immun-
ity was offered or granted in order to
induce or encourage testimony, but on
the contrary was explicitly denied.
1.-The following open letter speaks for
itself, and a copy thereof was sent each
member of the board by the same mail.
AS yet the same elected no recognition
response from or action at the hands
OF the governor or any member of tho
board except hat of Hon. A. II. Me-
harg, who signed and returned the let
ter above referred to, which follows,
and commented favorably thereon in a
personal letter:
"'West Point, Miss. July %, 1908.
Gov. E. F. Noel, President of Board
of Trustees, Jackson, Miss:
Dear GOvernor-President Hardy's
letter in the Commercial Appeal of
July 2lst is, in our opinion, an open de-
fance of the board and the true condi-
tiOns, for the reason that portions of
his statement are altogether out of
harmony with the admonition given
him when he was called before the
board and urged to a conciliatory
of dealing with the situation.
Then, too, as we see it, be mistakes
certain important matters, and, upon
whole, the article is misleading.
Truly b creature seems greater
han the creator. The facts are that
his breach is SO grave and serious that
We are of the opinion that the board
to act at once in this matter.
Formerly accepted conditions have
lot been regarded and we do not and
'annot subscribe to anything which, in
he very nature of the case, will tend
o keep up this fight.
"'We may feel it incumbent upon us,
however much we may regret to do 80,
o make a public statement.
~"'Sincerely yours,
~. w. NoRMENT, Trustee.
"'J. NJ. WHITE, Trustee
whilst naturally averse to going
nto print, and especially 30 about
hese college troubles, however 1 de-
lore having so to do, l have endeav-
red to state facts as l regard them, in
mild tone and manner, and l am will
ng to be accountable for my position