The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1908-09-02
THE HARDY
PERSECUTION.
IT Is FITLY CHARACTERIZED BY I. p.
BARR OF JACKSON.
"A Strong Appeal in Defense Of Pres.
Hardy by One Who Knows
Him Well.
The Public Asked to Compare His Ex-
ample and Influence With That
Of His Chief Accuser.

L
From the beginning of the pres.
ent trouble at the A. & M. College
| have carefully read everything
that has come to hand, and to my
mind there has been a desperate
attempt to create a great stir about
nothing. II you will rob the mat.
ter of sensationalism, of all exag.
geration, you will find absolutely
nothing in the whole thing but 9
spirit of revenge which seeks te
blacken the character Of the Presi-
dent of this institution for exercis-
ing not only his right, but his
bounden duty in squelching insubor-
dination and thus maintaining that
discipline which is essential to the
very life Of the institution.
What are the facts? Mr.. We'll
born was dismissed by the Presi-
dent for cause. The Board of
Trustees competent court, and
the proper one to pass on the mat
ter-composed of fourteen high
toned, honorable men, who have
been selected at different times and
from different parts of the State
selected because of their honor and
integrity called to look into
the matter, and after hearing the
evidence, found the cause sufficient
for dismissal.
Mr.. Welborn, still insubordinate,
cries unfair! unfair
The matter was called to the at
tention of the War Department of
the U. S. Government, who sent ar
agent to Starkville and after an in
vestigation sustained President
Hardy, and relieved Capt. Welborr
of his post.
Capt. Welborn, still insubordin-
ate to constituted authority, and
it seems determined to have re.
venge on the President, proceeds tc
put on his fighting clothes. He
goes back into the administration
of affairs for the past eight years
and every thought, word or act Of
President Hardy that could be
imagined into a basis for a charge
is taken advantage of, and although
no complaint had ever escaped
Capt. Welborn's lips during his
connection with the College, he
draws up long Indictment, with
many counts. But evidently real
izing the weakness of his cause ano
fearing that any fair investigation
would result in President Hardy S
exoneration, he proposes to rob him
of any benefit of the vindication by
having his friends to publicly i'm.
peach the integrity of the Board OF
TRUSTEES by charging before hand
that they would "whitewash'' him.
Such has been the course as see
it. Talk to me about unfairness
after such action as this AS a
Mississippian, feeling an interest
in the great A. & M. College and
believing that these men who have
shown that they are insubordinate
to all authority, are willing, in
order to Wreak revenge on the
President, would blacken the char
acter of the Board of Trustees and
even wreck the institution itself
| think the people of the State
should speak out and let these hon.
orable Missisisppians know that
we do not believe them to be lot
of perjured scoundrels and time
serving politicians who are there to
disregard their oath of office by
whitewashing' any man or set of
men. But we believe them to be
men of honor, who after hearing
all the evidence, have exonerated
President Hardy because they be-
lieyed it was the right and proper
thing to do, and after having de-
cided the matter, are not to be
whipped into a reversal of their
verdict.
What educational institution can
hope to succeed in its great work,
if at any time a few students or
other subordinates can get up an
insurrection and bid defiance To the
President, and show disrespe,.t to
the regular constituted authorities
who are charged with the admins
tration of its affairs.
Without going any further into
detail in regard to the char ges
which Capt. Welborn has made
against President Hardy, suffice it
to say, if we decide that he Is
right, we must inpeach the Board
of Trustees under both the Varda-
man and Noel administrations.
We must impeach the War Depart
ment of the u. S. Government.
We must impeach man who for
the past eight years has labored il
season and out Of season for this
institution; man who has thrown
all the energy Of his being into the
work Of building up this great Col
lege, during which time no serious
friction has ever before occurred
between him and the faculty or
body.
Personally. / know VI ~ l;ftla If