The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-12

]. 6. fERNEYHOUCH 10
DOCTOR c. I. SURFACE
Spicy Retart Concerning Attack
of Mr.. Priddy ON President
Borough.
Editor Of The yirginian:
Sir.--In q recent issue of your pa
per ! have seen letter from Mr..
@. 7. Surface. written from New Ha-
ven. Conn, in which he has under
taken to reply to certain questions
which have been propounded to Mr..
Lawrence Priddy. OF New York city,
concerning his fight against the pres
ent administration OF the Virginia
Polytechnic Institute at Blacksbure.
/ regret that l am unable to accept
the explanation which Mr. Surface has
undertaken to make as to Mr.. Prtd-
dy's authority for proceeding In this
matter as the authorized representa-
tive either Of the, Alumni Associa-
ton or OF the welfare COMMITTEES. At
the general meeting of the associa-
ton In June, 1909. no charges what
ever were preferred against the prest-
dent OF v. p. l., nor was any men,
Der OF the association authorized to
take any steps looking towards the
prosecution Of any charges which
might be made by any members Of
the association or any one else. My
understanding OF the object In tho
creation OF the welfare committee was
tp have in existence a committee
which might look after the welfare
OF our alma mater and get such in
formation as might be possible dur
ing the interim between the annual
meetings OF the association and report
such findings as might come to their
knowledge to the next meeting Of the
association; this certainly appears to
have been the function Of the welfare
committee heretofore. but Mr.. Prid-
dy and few Of his associates seem
to have assumed that this committee
was formed for another purpose. and
acting upon this assumption he ap-
pears to be proceeding with the idea
that he has The full authority OF the
association to prosecute this case
against the president OF the v. p. i.
Now to what extent is he authorized
to de this by the welfare committee?
The only meeting OF the welfare COM
mittee / have any knowledge OF since
the general meeting of the association
at V. p. /. in June. 1909. was meet
ing held at V. p. l. on January 3,
1910. 1t appears that Mr.. Priddy no.
titled the rector of the board OF visi-
tors that charges would be preferred
by the welfare committee against the
president of V. T.. /. at a meeting Oh
the board of visitors held at v. r. /.
prior to Christmas, 1909. AZ that
time this committee had not even
held a meeting. and had not had an
opportunity to say what they wantea
to do in the premises. Mr.. Priddy
was unable to appear at this mcettng
of the board. and in spite of the fact
that several members of this COM
mittee were at Blacksburg and the
chairman Of this committee only q
short distance from Blacksburg. no
meeting was called prior to this meet
Ing of the board. nor was there a
single member of this committee who
appeared before the board at this
meeting. to make any suggestions In
the interest of the welfare OF the In
stttutton. ] claim that IL the welfare
committee was interested to the OK
tent that Mr.. Priddy claims that
they would not have allowed this op.
portunity to 60 by without at least
appearing before the board ana max
Ing some suggestions as to the case
In point. Mr. Priddy. It seems. came
down from New York and got a meet
ing of the welfare committee called
for January 8. 1910, which was the
first meeting called since the general
meeting In June. at which time, a.
has already been stated,. no action
whatever was taken In this matter
The meeting In January seems to have
been attended by seven members OF
the welfare committee and Mr.. q. r
Surface, whose name does not appear
among the names of members of this
President Priddy in bulletin No. s
July. 1909. In view OF the fact tina,
Mr.. Surface was asked to sit with
this committee. I would like to AJAX
the question why were not other
members OF the Alumni Association
who were at ". p. l.. In equally as
good standing. extended this same
courtesy? The vice president OF the
association. for instance. who lives
near Blacksburg To my certain
knowledge these men. whose names
appear as signed to these charges
which have been preferred against the
president of v. p. l.. have not all
authorized their names to be used, al
has been done. nor the action which
has been taken. nor have all those
to my certain knowledge who were
not present whose names appear as
concurrtng in the action taken by this
committee. authorized tho use OF their
names. as has been done In this con-
nection. l. therefore. reiterate my
charge that Mr.. Prtddy's attitude In
this matter Is not authorized by the
Alumni Association, or by the welfare
committee.
Now as to the printed charges
which have been circulated over the
State. There - internal evidence thai
some Of the charges contained therein
were added after the signatures oil
those present had been attached. and
It appears clearly that this Il true al
to the matter Of what IL related In
connection with what happened Janu.
airy Z under co. page -. Now 1t II
dtfiicult to say to what extent other
material may have been added with.
out the knowledge or consent OF those
who may. have attached their names
to the original paper.
AS to the statement in Mr.. Surfaces
letter, that those mon who do not
agree as to the way this matter Ii
being conducted be allowed to speak
for themselves. wish to say thai
these men arc speaking for them.
selves, and submit for Mr. Surface.
information the following over Mr.
Clark's signature. Extract OF letter
from Mr.. J. A. Clark, under date OF
February q 1910 to Mr. priddv.