The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-20

tute, its achievement. IT'S SHORTCOMINGS
and It's needs, together with the dis
cussian among themselves OF these
matters and the advice received from
IT'S officers, enables the board to have
inoro accurate information ufd witer
knowledge of what Is needed than
any other body OF men In this Com
morWealth or elsewhere.
II another body than the board OF
visitors were encouraged TO assume
to control the board In the exercise
of It's duties, 1t would soon tend to
divorce the power OF governing the
institution from its proper responsible
ity. when that Is done, we may en-
poet to find that condition of chaos
will result unrestraincd opportunity
VIII be afforded to individuals with
a grievance, rumors will come TO have
the value of facts, trivial details will
be exaggerated into matters OF vital
Importance, differences OF opinitn with
subordinate employees will be magnihed
into inexcusabie blunders OF adj
m!nlstratio while diverging views as
to the curriculum will grow into
charges of ignorance OF educational
methods: and faction and parusanshtp
Will have their day.
The result most likely to follow IS
that whenever the board Is called
upon to adopt or change any line oil
policy or to remove any oflcer OF pro-
fessor, with Whatever good faith the
opposition thereto may be in the be-
ginning. the desire to gain the point
Will cause it's advocates to look upon
a board disagreeing with them as
hostile TO the good of the institution,
and the Importance of accomplishing
a, ,,.{i NJ
the welfare of their alma mater.
Priddy's Letter.
This is illustrated in the present
case, for the chairman of the welfare
committee tMr Priddy) wrote DR.. Bar
ringer that unless he would resign
they would appeal to the Legislature,
which, he said in his opinion. would
seriously injure the school" And In
making this appeal TO the chairman
of the Committee of Schools and Col
leges of the Legislature. he stated that
unless the investigation he was de-
manding was made, he would publish
an article which would Subject the
institution to severe criticism by the
people OF the state, and the institution
cannot afford any such criticism"
Tho board has given most careful
consideration to the charges preferred.
The weight to be attached TO them
should be measured, In some degree.
By the consideration whether they
we're based upon spontaneous de-
mand of the alumni generally for the
correction of recognized evils, or
whether they were worked up by a
few, as appeared evident 10 tho board.
However that may be. we have ac-
copied the charges as being serious
demand from u body OF responsible
alumni, though there was evidence
that some of the members of the well
fare committee had withdrawn their
Endorsement and prominentN alumni
filed a formal protest disappearing
of the charges and procedure.
In fact. besides the two members
OF this board who, 1t is not denied, had
co-operated with Mr.. Priddy in max
ing his Investigations, there We're
present only two members OF this well
fare committee who were not residents
of Blncksburg or Christiansburg-
The board must. deplore the fact tina,
Mr. ;oriddy and his associates saw fiji
TO have the charges printed and wide
" circulated before any inquiry by
the board. and even before an answer
was submitted by DIR. Barringer, es-
pecially as there was distinct agree
ment that such should not be done. II
there is any spirit of unrest or anxiety
as to tho v. P. L., it is largely due
to this course. We cannot but reach
the conclusion that a determined eff
fort was made TO force public opinion
and adverse comment upon the insti-
tute before the investigation was held,
It will take time and patience to live
this down, but IL is hoped and be-
lieved that the institute will emerge
from the investigation stronger and
| more useful.
Charges Taken Up.
There are seven main charges. sub
divided into some forty-five specifica-
| lions. The language used in defining
| the charges is of the severest nature.
Assuming that the committee believed
that this language was fair state
ment of the real facts, the zeal dis
played by them can be understood. for
| then the President would cease to
| possess any qualifications whatsoever
| for the office he fills. 1t is manifest.
however, upon reading the specifica-
lions of alleged facts upon which the
| charges are based that the language
| of the charges is harsh and unwar-
| ranted.
In some of them inaccuracy is ap-
parent In others ordinary inNestiga-
ton would have discovered the truth
Some OF them were finally withdrawn
| others are mere difterenceS or opinion
many of them are trivial, and to a
large extent they We're based upon
statements of persons who had former.
I ly been connected with the V. p. /.
| but who had been discharged.
While aimed avowediy at the pres
ident only. the published charges at,
tack the moral character of the stu
dents. the efficiency of the college ant
the good faith, il not the intelligence
of the board of visitors.
1t Is impractcable and needless tc
comment upon the specifications In de-
| tail, but the charges themselves will
be reviewed, except such as had al
ready been fully investigated by the
board. and conclusions reached from
which the board sees no reason to re-
| cedc.
l. Involving a question Of accuracy
| or veracity, or both.
Nothing has been developed in this
investigation or in our knowledge
while visitors of this institution, OF
otherwise, on which any question as tc
the veracity and good faith OF DR.. Bar
| ringer could be based,
Errors Explained.
1 On the subject of accuracy there APP
pear two inaccuracies in figures uset
in publications issued from the insti
tute. One was an unc filcal. unsigned
| 10