The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-08
N4rta eEN TN H@s fMt#sAM
SAYS F[RNEYHOUGH
LACKS DISCRETION
Alumnus Of Blackburg Writes
from Connecticut on Point of
Personal Privilege.
SPOKE FOR TOO MANY
Charges Doctor Used Press Letter
to Express Personal Opinion
Of Others.

The Richmond virginian is in re-
ceipt of h following letter from Mr..
q. T. Surface. of New Haven, Conn.
IN reply to a communication written
Dy Dr. j. G.. Ferneyhough, a membe
Of the Virginia Polytechnic Alumni
association. and published here re-
Gently:
Il have no desire whatever 10 en-
gage In a newspaper argument with
Or. J. G. Ferneyhough. or anyone
else. but In a lengthy communication
from him. under press date of Feb
ruary 81, he asks for certain infor-
nation which 1t seems to me he
should have. / recognize DR.. Ferney-
hough as an officer In the Virginia
polytechnic Alumni Association, and
he unquestionably has a right to ex-
press his opinion In private or in pub
lie. But, judging from the letter in
question: he has arrived at some con-
illusions which are not warranted by
the facts insthe case. His first ques-
ton LIS, When and where did the vir-
ginia Polytechnic Alumni Association
authorize Mr.. Lawrence Priddy to
speak for the said association as he
has done regarding the fight which
he Is conducting against the president
OF the v. p. LIZ Prior to the APP
pearance OF the representatives of the
welfare committee OF said association
before the board In Richmond on
January IS, az meeting of that com
mittee was held at Blacksburg for the
purpose OF considering whether
charges should be presented and the
discussion of such charges as were
presented.
Every member present. which. ac-
cording to the constitution. constitutes
q quorum, endorsed Mr.. Priddy's at
utude. This represented the recogni-
ton OF him by the welfare commit
tee, as will be clearly indicated by
reading the resolution OF the commit
tee. The charges were discussed fully.
and after this discussion a resolution
passed unanimously i~nstructing that
said charges be preferred at the next
meeting OF the Board OF Visitors. In
addition, a majority of the alumni
chapters have clearly expressed Their
concurrence with the welfare COM
mittee In their prosecution of the in
@v~estigation at the v. p. i. II ] may
Judge by the observation of in
gfitutions and by a common n
view sf the case, the welfare commit
tee and the different chapters consti-
tute an authorizing part of the assoc
citation on such matters as need delie-
Grafton In the interim of the annual
meetings of the association as a whole.
In fact. the purpose of he welfare
committee In Its inception is TO take
such steps and make such recommen-
dations as, In its opinion. are for the
best interests of the institution. The
chairman has the right 70 call a meet
ing at Will, and the. members IN at
tendance constitute a. quorum
.Dr. F~erneyhour assumes
~ to speak for certain individual MEM
hers Of the welfare committee IN
such a way as to place them before
the public in a contradictory light.
IL. therefore, seems to me he would
do well. In justice to these men, to
allow them tn speak for themselves.
1t would. for example, seem strange
that a clear headed business man OF
good reputation weald listen to a dis
cussion OF charges to lac preferred,
sign, a resolution endorsing their pre-
ferrnent. and then state that he did
not agree with the substances or the
charges; and II DIR. F~erneyhough
had taken the trouble 20 write to h
chairman OF the welfare committee he
could easily have become enlighten-
ed on this important point first hand
The sans applies to the other MEM
bers Of the committee discussed by
DIR. F~erneyhough. he processes has
earnestness IN this matter to tne eno
of dealing Justly with Or. Barringer.
but II seems to me that he will stand
the chance of minimizing his moral
support by dealing manifestly un-
Justly with certain brother alumni
whose interest in the institution 8 as
loyal and genuine as his.
"Dr. Ferneyhough ake occasion 70
use fmy name in connection with the
Investigation and TO weaken the in
fuence which his letter might have
had. he berates tho character n in
ffueuce of Northern education IF the
gentleman in question VIII refer to
he records OF the v. p. T., he vii.
there find thai some OF these gentle
men who have been contaminated by
Northern institutions received a part
Of their education in the V. r. l.. and
that their record In that Institution
will compare favorably with his. /
say this In no spirit OF boasting, for
I am a loyal V~irginian. a taxpayer
In, the State and resident of the state
during a part OF each ear
1T fear also the doctor will have
serious difficulty in detracting from
the merits and reputation Of Mr.. Law
renee Priddy in referring to his efforts
III behalf of the Young Mems Chris
taan Association of the v. +. l.. /
have had occasion TO come In contact